Founders House has officially expanded its successful model to Finland with the launch of a new hub in Helsinki. This highly selective, equity-free workspace aims to unite the nation's most ambitious technology founders under one roof. Following its Stockholm counterpart's success, which supported over 80 companies in its first year, the initiative seeks to accelerate globally significant startups.
A Proven Model for Founder Success
The core of the Founders House model is its equity-free approach, providing a free workspace to carefully selected entrepreneurs. This allows founders to focus entirely on building their companies without diluting early ownership. The value is built on curating exceptional talent and providing direct access to top-tier investors, serial founders, and experienced operators.
The mission is to consistently produce companies capable of competing on a global scale, thereby driving national economic growth. The first cohort of residents already boasts impressive backgrounds from organizations like Oura, Supercell, and ICEYE. Founders are chosen through a competitive open call, inviting applications from entrepreneurs based in or relocating to Finland.
A Strategic Hub for Finnish Innovation
Located on the top floor of Helsinki's iconic Sähkötalo building, the new space offers over 600 square meters for 15 founding teams. This central location is poised to become a major nexus for the Finnish technology ecosystem. The environment is designed to foster intense focus and collaboration among the country's most promising ventures.
By 2026, the Sähkötalo building will further solidify its status as a hub for economic growth. Founders House will be joined by influential ecosystem players Slush and Wave Ventures, who are relocating to the same building. This co-location will create an unparalleled density of talent, capital, and operational experience in a single location.
Leadership and Vision
The Helsinki initiative is co-founded by former Slush leader Camilla Komulainen and exited founder Johannes Korpela, also CEO of Wave Ventures. Both founders emphasize the critical role that environment and peer community play in a startup's success. Their shared vision is to create an environment where global ambition is the daily standard for all residents.
"Our goal is that the companies built at Founders House have a GDP-level impact on Finland and Europe," stated Camilla Komulainen. Johannes Korpela added that the model centralizes top founders to push each other to move faster and think bigger. This intensity is crucial for ensuring Finnish startups have the peer support required to succeed globally.
Ecosystem-Wide Support and Endorsement
Founders House Helsinki launches with significant backing from a coalition of Nordic investors, operators, and key organizations. Supporters include Slush, Illusian, Business Helsinki, Sitra, and leading venture capital firms like Lifeline Ventures. This broad support underscores the community's belief in the initiative's potential to elevate the entire Finnish ecosystem.
Industry leaders have also voiced strong endorsements, highlighting the importance of a tight-knit community. Marianne Vikkula of Wolt noted that ambitious founders surrounded by peers grow faster and stronger. Ilkka Paananen, CEO of Supercell, compared the model to the Finnish gaming industry's success, which was built on community collaboration.
The launch of Founders House Helsinki marks a significant milestone for Finland's technology landscape, promising to be a launchpad for the next generation of industry giants. By providing a curated, equity-free environment with unparalleled access to resources, the initiative is positioned to foster innovation and drive economic growth. This new hub represents a concentrated effort to ensure Finnish startups not only scale but also lead on the global stage.