• The Nordic countries utilise a mixed-market system combining capitalism and socialism, fostering a thriving environment for unicorns and startups.
• Finland’s emphasis on tech and engineering skills has led to the creation of numerous tech-driven unicorns.
• Finland boasts high-performing VC funds and offers significant government incentives for R&D, making it a promising investment hub.
• As a rapidly growing unicorn factory, Helsinki’s collaborative environment and strategic location are attracting increasing VC investment, surpassing growth in other major cities.

How to build a unicorn factory, the Nordic way 

Small but mighty, the Nordic countries are some of the happiest and most innovative in the world – producing a higher share of billion-dollar exits (unicorns) compared to gross domestic product (GDP). So, how do they do it?

The Nordic Model 

Many believe the Nordic Model is the driving force behind the region’s thriving entrepreneurial ecosystems. Described as a “mixed-market economic system that combines elements of both capitalism and socialism”, the model is practised by Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Iceland. The Nordic Model creates a foundation for a rich startup environment through free education, social security, and government-backed support. 

Tech as a growth enabler

A long-running focus on tech innovation has put Finland, Sweden and Denmark in the top three for the most digital countries in Europe. Finland, for example, has a strong pool of ICT and engineering talent, with 54,000 cleantech professionals in Helsinki alone. Startups benefit from an abundance of tech talent: Of the 78 unicorns produced by the Nordics, many are tech-driven – Skype, Spotify, Wolt and Supercell, to name a few.

Why is Finland attracting the attention of VC investors?

With a track record of successful VC investments, government-back incentives, and an entrepreneurial ecosystem set to grow, Finland is arguably one of the most overlooked investment hubs. 

Finland’s mature VC funds boast impressive results

Mature VC funds boast an impressive 22% annual return and a TVPI of 2.9x. Outperforming their European peers, these funds have almost doubled their capital, with “DPI now standing at 1.3x, with over half of the value still pending realization”, says the Finnish Venture Capital Association. New Finnish VC funds are also performing well compared to European peers, with returns standing at “1.5 times the called capital, with 19 per cent annual returns”. 

Finland offers enticing incentives 

Ranking #1 in the Sustainable Development Goal index, Finland has earned a reputation for innovation. To attract further investment in research and development, Finland’s government offers a 150% deduction on the costs of RDI projects for companies working in collaboration with its universities and research hubs. And with a corporate tax of just 20% – one of the lowest in the Nordics – it’s a hotspot for tech startups.

Helsinki – Europe’s fastest-growing unicorn factory?

Helsinki ranks alongside prolific ‘unicorn factories’ like Stockholm, Oslo, and Copenhagen. The city’s startups are now worth a combined €25.2B, triple its value since 2015 – and its VC investment ecosystem is growing faster than in London and Paris. Here’s why:

A collaboratory international environment

Not too big but not too small, Helsinki is a city where entrepreneurs and VC investors find it surprisingly easy to get an audience with Finland’s most influential people. Thanks to smaller, more collaborative networks and the widespread use of English at work, foreign entrepreneurs and VC investors quickly acclimate. One prominent venture capital fund,

NordicNinja, a Japanese early-stage investor, chose Helsinki as its European base in 2019, relocating four team members from Japan to Helsinki. “The work-life balance in Helsinki is one of the best in the world. Everything works smoothly; it’s very quiet and very safe. My kids can go everywhere by themselves, and it rarely takes more than 20 minutes to travel anywhere in the city”, says Tomosaku Sohara, Managing Partner at NordicNinja.

A thriving startup ecosystem

Some of the Nordic’s top 10 ecosystem players are based in Helsinki. Slush is the world’s largest gathering of VC investors and brings together the who’s who in startups, while Maria01 is the Nordic’s leading startup campus – putting VC investors and founders together under one roof. “Our founders have the unique opportunity to establish connections and work closely with leading investors while the VCs get a seat at the Nordics’ leading startup campus and ongoing deal flow updates from some of the hottest startups”, says Hanna Nylund, Head of Marketing & Communications at Maria01. 

One of Europe’s fastest-growing VC hotspots

Helsinki is the 4th fastest-growing European ecosystem for VC investment – faster than London and Paris. VC investors are attracted by the city’s location and its innovation capabilities. “Helsinki is very well positioned between east and west, which serves us well. A lot of what we’re doing is trying to find great technologies and expand them to fast-growing markets like China and the rest of Asia”, says Colin Powrie, Venture Capitalist at Ascend Capital Partners. 

Helsinki is an internationally important tech hub

Ample government support, access to resources, and widespread open data sharing have enabled Helsinki to compete with top global tech hubs, such as Stockholm, Tallinn and London. How does one of Europe’s smallest cities rank brush shoulders with the world’s largest tech hubs? Helsinki helps private companies by offering a low-threshold opportunity to pilot products in real-time. Initiatives like The Helsinki Innovation Districts encourage private companies, scientific communities, and residents to work together and experiment with new technology. These public-private-people partnerships are a prime example of the Nordic Model in action. 

Apply for the Venture Nordics Program

Venture Nordics offers a unique, immersive experience for international fund managers and LPs to delve into Finland’s thriving sectors like gaming, software, and medtech. This exclusive program is your gateway to uncovering European investment gems and embracing the Nordic approach to work-life balance. Learn more and apply for the program.