FINESTSTARTUPS
FIN-EST start-up development programme
- Thematic cluster:
- SMEs education;
- Programme:
- Southern Finland - Estonia Sub-programme
- Priority:
- 2. Economically competitive and innovative region
- Direction of support:
- Creating and supporting innovative and competitive environments
- Duration:
- May 2011 - Dec 2013 (2 years, 8 months)
- Total funding:
- 889 077 €
- ERDF funding:
- 685 311 €
- EUSBSR Priority area
- Exploiting the full potential of the region in research and innovation
Promote entrepreneurship and strengthen the growth of SMEs
- Website:
- http://www.start-smart.me
Development idea
Young high-growth firms enjoy a pivotal role in bringing radically new innovations to the market. Compared to the U.S., the EU has significantly fewer young innovative companies. Within the EU, both Estonia and Finland are low in their level of youth entrepreneurship compared to the average. The reasons are seen to be cultural as well as structural. It is therefore essential to foster the emergence and development of new innovative businesses in the region through improving attitudes towards entrepreneurship and increasing its attractiveness.
Aim of the project
The FINESTstartups project strengthened the region’s competitiveness and the level of innovation by increasing the number and international competitiveness of Estonian and Finnish startups.
Main project activities
The project fostered an entrepreneurial mind-set by introducing internationally successful startups from Estonia and Finland to the wider public, as well as bringing world class startups from all over the world to the region to share their experiences and act as role-models. The project mapped and benchmarked startup ecosystems in order to create a logical and consistent startup support structure. Through building networks and matchmaking people, the the project helped to establish internationally recognised startups in the region.
Partners
ESTONIAN DEVELOPMENT FUND
- Country:
- Estonia
- Region:
- Põhja-Eesti
- ERDF funding:
- 154 421 €
- Amount of eligible national funding:
- 43 554 €
Enterprise Estonia
- Country:
- Estonia
- Region:
- Põhja-Eesti
- ERDF funding:
- 107 328 €
- Amount of eligible national funding:
- 30 272 €
BDA Consulting OÜ
- Country:
- Estonia
- Region:
- Põhja-Eesti
- ERDF funding:
- 154 850 €
- Amount of eligible national funding:
- 43 675 €
AS Technopolis Ülemiste
- Country:
- Estonia
- Region:
- Põhja-Eesti
- ERDF funding:
- 64 448 €
- Amount of eligible national funding:
- 18 177 €
Aalto University School of Economics Small Busieness Center
- Country:
- Finland
- Region:
- Uusimaa
- ERDF funding:
- 204 264 €
- Amount of eligible national funding:
- 68 088 €
Results
StartSmart! video lessons
A variety of thematic and practical workshops, conferences and other type of events organised between May 2011 and December 2013 which were designed and carried out in the benefit of young entrepreneurial minded people in Estonia and Finland.
Internationally renowned and recognized opinion leaders of the start-up world contributed to the events as resource persons and speakers. Videos of the events are accessible by following the link below. Additionally, free consultation services on various topics (e.g. how to attract seed funding for your start-up and how to find proper mentors) have been offered to start-up enterprises.
StartSmart! website
One-stop-shop for information about setting up a start-up business in Estonia and Finland.
Examples of services offered are: a marketplace, allowing to look for team members, mentors or investors or make other related advertisementsan ecosystem map, describing the major enablers and financiers who can assist one in starting and growing one's business in a smart way. The website also contains a start-up database as well as publishes information on past and future events.
