Brazil has more than 12.7 thousand startups in an advanced stage of maturation, according to the Brazilian Startup Association. Finland is an attractive strategic destination for internationalization and business expansion in the technology and innovation sectors. This trend is no coincidence: the Finnish ecosystem offers a highly fertile environment for the development of global businesses, combining strong infrastructure and robust business support.
Looking to expand his 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 begun structuring an expansion project. ‘Having a branch here is a game-changer for our company, which has been in Brazil since 2016, turning stories created by students into cartoons or narrated games. Finland is a world leader in education and for us, it is a hub for distributing businesses to other European countries such as Germany, Denmark, and Ukraine,’ he says.
To facilitate this connection between businesses and ideas, the Slush 2024, scheduled for November 20 and 21 in Helsinki, is the world’s premier startup event and a unique opportunity for Brazilian entrepreneurs to connect with the global market. The event expects over 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 and Permits Development Manager at Business Finland, the official Finnish government agency for promoting trade, investments, financing innovation, tourism, and talent attraction.
With over three trillion dollars in assets under management, Slush stands out as the world’s largest venture capital gathering 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, emphasizes that the ease and speed of starting a business were essential factors in facilitating the internationalization of his company. “Here, we don’t face the bureaucracy we know in Brazil. Everything is very accessible, practical, and fast.” De Criança Para Criança plans to invest around R$ 700,000 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 looking to the international market, Alessandra Leone, Talent Manager at Work in Finland, the talent and business promotion unit of Business Finland, notes that Brazil already has a solid number of startups ready to explore the global market. “Finland offers a strong structure that includes startup acceleration programs, networking events for entrepreneurs, and comprehensive support for international talent,” she explains.
Support
Content designer and founder of the Secret Club, Tássia Rebelo, 36, moved to Finland in July 2021, transitioning from a successful UX writer career in São Paulo to a remote role. The combination of long Finnish winters, lack of close friends, and the challenges of remote work in Finland led the Brazilian to turn pain into a successful business.
Seeking to make connections in her 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 over 50 women responded, sharing their own experiences and challenges. We met in a cafe, and that’s how the Secret Club started,” she recalls.
Tássia shares that she 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 Secret Club as a case study, which helped me turn it into a business. Before, I would gather people in a café; now, I am organizing more personalized events,” she explains.
Finland is among the top ten most innovative countries in the world, according to the Global Innovation Index, and is home to famous brands like Angry Birds, the popular game developed by the Finnish company Rovio Entertainment; Kone, one of the leading elevator and escalator companies; and Nokia, the Finnish multinational telecommunications company. This innovative environment provides a 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, which has fueled the success of the startup ecosystem. The country is at the forefront of emerging trends like artificial intelligence, quantum computing, 5G networks, innovations in sustainable energy, and advanced biotechnologies. There are also various soft-landing services for startups and relocation services for startup founders, spouses, and talents offered by Finnish cities and organizations,” says Annamari Soikkeli from Business Finland, for those interested in moving to Finland. Finland also offers the Startup Permit, a specific residence permit for startup founders who have a competent team, an innovative and scalable business idea, and sufficient resources to start their commercial operations in the country.
