Helsinki seeks new sustainable urban solutions for business incubator
Urban Tech Helsinki is a business incubator that supports innovative and growth-oriented companies that focus on solving the challenges of modern cities. The main objective of the incubator is to seek clean and sustainable urban solutions. The operations are focused on clean energy, mobility, sustainable construction and urban development, the circular economy, urban food production and wellbeing.
With the help of the incubator, the City of Helsinki wants to attract talents and companies as well as accelerate the creation and early growth of new companies, especially research-driven ones. In addition, the digitalisation of the city’s own operations and solving sustainability challenges will benefit from new innovations and networks.
“This time, we are specifically looking for startups that focus on solving the challenges of the energy sector, built environment data and the circular economy. Our partner network is eager to help companies move forward,” says Kaisa Ahonen, Project Manager of the incubator at Aalto Startup Center.
The Urban Tech Helsinki incubator has opened a new call for applications for startups. Applications can be submitted until 19 March. The application criteria are:
- the company must seek solutions for the challenges of sustainable urban development;
- the company has been established less than three years ago;
- the company has a product that can be tested and validated in real life;
- the company must have at least two team members.
There are no other restrictions, for example for the company’s field of activity. Urban Tech Helsinki also welcomes international teams that want to settle in Helsinki to do business. The incubator operates on the premises of the Maria 01 startup centre in Kamppi, Helsinki.
The companies in the incubator programme will be located on the Maria 01 startup campus
The Urban Tech Helsinki incubator programme consists of workshops and starts with an 8-week intensive period of group coaching sessions. The workshops focus on team building, business modelling, the impact of sustainable development, communications and funding that are vital to startups.
The companies selected for the programme will receive membership to Maria 01, the leading startup campus in the Nordic countries, and support from the City of Helsinki and the top universities in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area. The partner network includes Aalto University, the Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, the University of Helsinki, KIRAHub, Testbed Helsinki, Mobility Lab Helsinki, Forum Virium and Helen. The partners will also support the selected startups in their marketing efforts and help convey their message to cities, investors and potential business partners.
“The world of digital built environment has developed quickly, but the need for new data-driven solutions in b2b processes for better productivity and b2c services for better user experience is still there. We offer our support to Urban Tech Helsinki startups in networking, matchmaking, and our common goal in creating a sustainable built environment,” says Teemu Lehtinen, CEO of KIRAHub.
Helsinki wants to be Europe’s leading platform for innovative businesses
Helsinki aims is to be Europe’s leading platform for experimentation and innovation in business. The city also wants to develop business environments, promote employment for the residents of Helsinki and enable sustainable and knowledge-based economic growth. The Urban Tech Helsinki incubator contributes to all of these objectives.
Read more about the Urban Tech Helsinki incubator
Photo: Petri Mast