Kasvivalinnoilla

Kasvivalinnoilla is a Finnish innovation program that focuses on promoting sustainable and scaled entrepreneurship within Finland’s technology sector. The program is administered by the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra in partnership with several local universities and industry clusters. Its purpose is to bridge the gap between early-stage startup ideas and growth-stage business models by providing financial capital, mentorship, and access to industry partners.

The main mechanism of Kasvivalinnoilla is the allocation of seed and growth funding to firms that demonstrate a high potential for large-scale impact. Companies usually apply through a competitive selection process that evaluates technical feasibility, market potential, and scalability. Once selected, recipients receive a combination of grant money and equity-free investment, which is meant to support product development, market expansion, and workforce building. In addition to capital, the program offers a structured mentorship curriculum that connects founders with experienced entrepreneurs, investors, and domain experts.

Kasvivalinnoilla also places a strong emphasis on collaborative development. Selected companies are encouraged to participate in joint workshops and incubator spaces that bring together businesses across complementary domains, such as software, renewable energy, and digital health. This collaborative environment accelerates the creation of cross-industry solutions and helps to embed the firms within a broader innovation network.

Since its launch, Kasvivalinnoilla has supported more than a hundred companies, many of which have gone on to secure additional private investment or to go public. The program is considered a key driver of Finland’s reputation as a hub for high-tech entrepreneurship and is actively promoted by national policy makers as an example of effective public–private partnership in innovation.