Brazil has more than 12,7 thousand startups in an advanced stage of maturity, according to the Brazilian Association of Startups. Finland is an attractive strategic destination for the internationalization and expansion of businesses in the technology and innovation sectors. This trend is not a coincidence: the Finnish ecosystem offers a highly fertile environment for the development of global businesses, combining a strong infrastructure and robust business support.
Looking to expand your company and take advantage of the benefits offered by the Nordic country, Gilberto Barroso opened a branch of his educational startup, From Child to Child, in Helsinki, in March of this year, and has already started the structuring of an expansion project. "Having a branch here is a game changer for our company", that has been in Brazil since 2016, transforming stories created by students into animated cartoons or narrated games. Finland is a world leader in education and, for us, it is a business distribution hub for other European countries, like Germany, Denmark and Ukraine, he claims.
To facilitate this connection between businesses and ideas, the Slush 2024, scheduled for November 20 and 21 in Helsinki, it is the main startup event in the world and a unique opportunity for Brazilian entrepreneurs to connect with the global market. The event expects more than 13.000 participants from 100 countries, including 5.500 startups and 3.300 investors.
"Slush is an excellent opportunity for entrepreneurs seeking international contacts to gain access to a solid base of technological innovation and robust markets where they can establish strategic partnerships and expand their operations", says Annamari Soikkeli, International Startups Manager and Permissions Development ofBusiness Finland, the official Finnish government agency for trade promotion, investments, financing for innovation, tourism and talent attraction.
With more than three trillion dollars in assets under management, Slush stands out as the largest venture capital gathering in the world and a catalyst for the next generation of great entrepreneurs. This year's speakers include Javier Oliván, COO of Meta; Ann Mettler, Vice President for Europe at Breakthrough Energy; Jeffrey Rayport, Professor of Entrepreneurial Management at Harvard Business School; and Carolina Aguilar, co-founder and CEO of INBRAIN Neuroelectronics.
From Brazil to Finland
Gilberto, who moved with his family to the Nordic country, highlights that the ease and speed of starting a business were essential factors in facilitating the internationalization of his company. "Here, we do not face the bureaucracy that we know in Brazil. Everything is very accessible, practical and fast. A De Criança Para Criança must invest around R$ 700 thousand in its structure in Finland, with the aim of increasing revenue by 30-40% and ending the year with a turnover of R$ 7 million.
For Brazilians seeking the international market, Alessandra Leone, Talent Manager atWork in Finland, the talent and business promotion unit of Business Finland, note that Brazil already has a solid number of startups ready to explore the global market. Finland offers a strong framework that includes startup acceleration programs, networking events for entrepreneurs and comprehensive support for international talents, explain her.
Support
Content designer and founder of Secret Club, Tássia Rebelo, of 36 years, moved to Finland in July 2021 and transitioned from a successful career as a UX writer, in São Paulo, for a remote position. The combination of the long Finnish winters, the lack of close friends and the challenges of remote work in Finland led the Brazilian to turn pain into a successful business.
Looking to form connections in your new country, Tássia created a social community for immigrant women, offering a space for friendship and support. "I created a support program for international spouses in Finland", and more than 50 women responded, sharing your own experiences and challenges. We are in a coffee shop, and that's how the Secret Club started, she remembers.
Tássia shares that she has always dreamed of having her own company and was able to launch the project thanks to the various business support programs in Finland. I started studying at an entrepreneurship academy, often using the Secret Club as a case study, what helped me turn it into a business. Before, I gathered people in a café; now, "I am organizing more personalized events", explain.
Finland is among the ten most innovative countries in the world, according to the Global Innovation Index, and houses famous brands like Angry Birds, the popular game developed by the Finnish company Rovio Entertainment; Kone, one of the leading companies in elevators and escalators; and Nokia, the Finnish telecommunications multinational. This innovative environment offers fertile ground that helps entrepreneurs develop new ideas and dream big.
Finland offers a stable business environment, ideal for startups, especially as a testing ground for new technologies. People in Finland are highly educated, and the country has the best expertise in digital technologies, what drove the success of the startup ecosystem. The country is at the forefront of emerging trends, as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, 5G networks, innovations in sustainable energy and advanced biotechnologies. There are also several 'soft-landing' services for startups and relocation services for startup founders, spouses and talents offered by Finnish cities and organizations, remember Annamari Soikkeli, from Business Finland, for those interested in moving to Finland. Finland also offers the Startup Permit, a specific residence visa for startup founders who have a competent team, an innovative and scalable business idea, and sufficient resources to start its business operations in the country.
