The EriCa Reactor program is designed to assist sustainable deep tech startups and spinoffs in their transition from laboratory concepts to market-ready solutions. By collaborating with established industry leaders, the program provides participants with the resources to validate their technological approaches, acquire crucial market and customer insights, and accelerate their path to global scalability. The initiative combines the agility and innovative ideas of emerging companies with the extensive global reach, R&D expertise, and market knowledge of its industry partners to foster a resource-efficient and sustainable future.
Program Focus and Themes
EriCa Reactor operates in themed cohorts, each concentrating on a specific area of sustainable innovation. Key themes include:
• Ensuring clean water
• Enabling circularity and material recovery
• Replacing fossil-based raw materials
• Advancing industry digitalization
Participant Benefits
Participants in the EriCa Reactor program receive comprehensive support tailored to their needs. Benefits include:
• Hands-on mentoring, guidance, and insights from industry experts, investors, and business developers on go-to-market strategy, customer acquisition, scaling, distribution, fundraising, and technology development.
• Opportunities to collaborate with leading industry R&D teams to gain feedback and validate technology.
• Enhanced customer understanding and insights across various industries.
• A deeper understanding of global market scaling requirements, supported by market knowledge, experience, and networks.
• Peer-learning opportunities with fellow participants and curated matchmaking within the broader EriCa ecosystem.
• Full membership to the EriCa Green Chemistry Park, which includes 24/7 access to coworking and lab facilities in Espoo, Finland.
Community and Collaboration
The program emphasizes a community-driven approach to foster innovation through collaboration and shared knowledge. Key features of the environment include:
• Peer-learning with fellow founders: A curated cohort of innovators provides a platform to share challenges and successes.
• Curated matchmaking: Participants are introduced to relevant industry experts, potential investors, and business developers.
• A high-trust environment: The culture is built on respect and openness, encouraging candid feedback and effective collaboration for accelerated growth.
Program at a Glance
• Program Structure: Runs in themed cohorts, with 5-8 participants selected for each.
• Format: A hybrid model combining onsite activities in Espoo, Finland, with online participation.
• Facilities: Access to coworking spaces, labs, and meeting rooms is provided.
• Focus: The program concentrates on market exploration and scaling from lab to market through mentoring and curated matchmaking.
• Eligibility: Open to startups as well as spinoff cases from academia and industry; a pre-existing company is not required.
• Cost: The program is free of charge and does not take equity.
Upcoming Cohort: Enabling a Circular Future via Fiber-Based Renewable Packaging
The second cohort, running from January to May 2027, will focus on fiber-based renewable packaging, with Kemira as the lead industry partner. The program invites startups, scaleups, and spinoffs developing high-impact solutions in areas such as:
• Renewable packaging and advanced functionality.
• Improved end-product properties and recyclability.
• Enhanced product performance.
• Digital and AI-driven innovations that improve process efficiency and enable new technologies or business models.
Ideal Candidate Profile
The program seeks teams that exhibit the following characteristics:
• Offer differentiated, market-shaping solutions in fiber-based packaging and related materials.
• Possess scalable technologies with initial technical validation (TRL ≥ 4) and a credible business model.
• See clear value in collaborating with a global industry partner.
• Are targeting international growth and market expansion.
• Are driven by a committed, ambitious, and capable team.
• Have secured initial funding or other forms of external support.
Cohort #2 Schedule
• Application Deadline: October 25
• Selections: November
• Team Onboarding: December
• Program Kickoff: January 11–13, 2027 (2-day, onsite in Espoo, Finland)
• Program Duration: January–May 2027 (Workshops, coaching, and mentoring)
• Demo Day and Offboarding: May–June 2027 (Onsite in Espoo, Finland)
Location and Facilities
Selected teams receive full membership to the EriCa Green Chemistry Park in Espoo, Finland. This includes 24/7 access to lab spaces, coworking facilities, and a deep tech ecosystem focused on sustainability. The program's hybrid model offers flexibility, but all teams are required to attend the Kickoff and the Demo Day/Offboarding sessions in person.
Mentors and Coaches
The program provides access to a diverse pool of mentors with industry, investor, and business development backgrounds, including:
• Sampo Lahtinen – EVP, Research & Innovation, Kemira
• Peter Ersman – EVP, New Ventures and Services, Kemira
• Nina Nurmi – VP, Research & Innovation, EMEA, Kemira
• Paavo Räisänen – Partner, Maki.vc
• Kustaa Valtonen – General Partner, FinestLove VC
• Pontus Stråhlman – Partner, Voima Ventures
• Matti Rönkkö – Managing Director, Kiilto Ventures
• Miikka Liimatainen – Growth funding expert, Grants
• Henrik Keinonen – Aalto University / CKIR
• Balzhan Orazbayeva – University-Industry Partnerships, UIIN
• Florencio Campomanes – Investment Associate, Stephen Industries
• Tommi Uitti – Startup expert, Crazy Town
• Toni Pienonen – Coach, Ecosystem expert, Crazy Town
• Mikko Korpela – Coach, Deep Tech expert, Crazy Town
• Oona Sulkunen – Ecosystem Lead, EriCa / Crazy Town
Previous Cohort: Ensuring Clean Water
The first EriCa Reactor cohort, which ran from March to August 2026, focused on solutions for clean water and sustainable water management. The program supported seven selected teams from five countries in validating their solutions and exploring industrial use cases. The participating teams were:
• Anferra, Sweden
• CAAMA / University of Oulu, Finland
• Countertrace, USA
• NPHarvest, Finland
• P-Agro Minerals, Latvia
• Spectromarine, Netherlands / Latvia
• Wellmatix, South Korea
Contact Information
For inquiries regarding the program or application process, please use the following contacts:
• General Inquiries: Toni Pienonen (toni.pienonen@crazytown.fi, +358 400 737 238) and Oona Sulkunen (+358 400 634 406).
• Kemira-Specific Questions: techscouting@kemira.com
The EriCa Reactor program is implemented by Crazy Town Oy, the operator of EriCa Green Chemistry Park and an established builder of innovation communities. It offers a unique opportunity for deep tech innovators to leverage industry expertise and a collaborative ecosystem to bring sustainable solutions to the global market. Interested parties are encouraged to review the application details for the upcoming cohort.