Kypsytysvaiheessa

Kypsytysvaiheessa is a Finnish entrepreneurship initiative focused on the maturation phase of early‑stage companies. Launched in 2014 as part of the Innovation Finland portfolio, the programme targets founders with a fully fledged product or service that has passed the proof‑of‑concept stage and seeks to accelerate growth toward Series A financing or market expansion. The initiative combines structured coaching, financial support, and access to a national network of investors, corporate partners, and research institutions. Participants typically commit to a 12‑month cohort, during which they receive weekly mentorship sessions, quarterly sprint reviews, and workshops on topics such as intellectual property protection, customer acquisition strategy, and international market entry. Funding from the programme is provided as grant‑based capital, often in the form of non‑equity, non‑competing seed rounds, supplemented by additional investment arrangements facilitated through the initiative’s investor network. Since its inception, Kypsytysvaiheessa has reported that more than 120 companies have completed the programme, with approximately 45 % securing subsequent Venture Capital or strategic partnership funding within 18 months of graduation. Notable alumni include FinTech startup Lumiknagg and sustainability platform Välity, both of which have achieved significant market penetration in the Nordic region. The programme continues to evolve, incorporating lessons from the Finnish startup ecosystem to refine its curriculum and partnership model, thereby positioning itself as a pivotal catalyst for scaling Finland’s high‑growth businesses.