Scaleups Collaborated in Tampere – Passion and Practical Sparring to Support Startup Growth

Scaleup Launchpad
Jun 30
3 min read

A workshop hosted by Business Tampere brought together growth companies from Finland, Estonia, and Sweden.

The event gathered startups, growth experts, and public sector representatives under one roof. The workshop was part of the ten-month Scaleup Launchpad programme, which offers tailored support for growth companies in areas such as strategic development, funding, team building, and entering new markets.

Throughout the day, the companies had the opportunity to work with experienced experts in both group and one-on-one mentoring sessions. Key growth challenges were tackled together, and solutions were explored for international expansion, funding strategies, and organizational development. Tools like HippoMeter were used to help the companies assess their current maturity level and identify key bottlenecks to growth. Petri Seppä, CEO and founder of HippoMeter introduced some real numbers from one company participating Scaleup Launchpad showing how company has developed during the project.

Expert Input to Strengthen Growth

A key presentation titled Internationalization capabilities when planning a new business abroad was delivered by Joonas Ferm from Aamupartners. The presentation emphasized that internationalization doesn’t need to be done alone – support is available. Ferm also underlined the importance of proven processes that can help companies enter new markets in a structured and successful manner.

The basics: internationalization readiness checklist (by Aamupartners)

• The owners’ objectives are clear → full commitment.

• The company’s internationalization capabilities have been assessed and defined.

• Target markets, criteria, analysis, and prioritization are established.

• The company has a strategic plan for internationalization (roadmap and financial plan).

• The company has a model for gathering market feedback and learning.

“It’s not easy – but it’s possible”

One of the workshop’s most inspiring moments came from Jarno Saarinen, founder of the Finnish company Subsoccer, who shared the growth journey of his business. Subsoccer’s simple but original concept – a football game played while sitting at a table – evolved from a playful experiment into an internationally recognized product now featured at events by brands like Adidas and UEFA.

You can watch Jarno’s interview here.

– “Passion can grow into international success – but not without hard work,” Saarinen summarized.

He also highlighted the importance of storytelling and visibility on social media. A credible, unique story and strong presence in the right channels are essential when introducing a new product to the global market.

Stories of Growth from the Tampere Region

Another inspiring case was shared by Miika Vuorio from OAC, a company based in Kangasala, Finland. Vuorio emphasized the importance of keeping product on processes close and reliable – “You can’t outsource everything to places like China,” he noted. One of OAC’s key success factors has been its decision to maintain manufacturing in Finland and focus on trust and quality.

While the general public may know OAC for its outdoor products – such as their signature skin-based skis – the company has successfully scaled its composite expertise into a wide range of other products.

Exploring the Citiverse and Urban Innovation

Participants also had the opportunity to visit the IMAGINE the Citiverse event held in Tampere at the same time. One of the highlights was the Citiverse Challenge, where startups and companies from around the world pitched solutions to real-life urban challenges presented by cities.