Finland’s 90-day program helps talents move to the Nordic capital
From Spain to Greece, most corners of the continent are offering some form of digital nomad visa in the aftermath of the pandemic.
But if you’re looking for something less permanent, listen up: Finland is looking for entrepreneurs, investors, business managers, event organizers and technology talents from around the world for three months in its capital, Helsinki.
The 90-day Finnish program promises to support applicants in the relocation process, including identifying growth opportunities for your company, introducing city leaders and decision-makers, and arranging accommodation.
But here’s the catch: it’s only open to 15 applicants. In previous years, the program gathered well over 5,000 applicants within a month, of which the greatest interest came from the United States and Canada.
Why should entrepreneurs move to Finland?
The organizers of the program, led by the non-profit Helsinki Partner, which attracts international talents and investments to the city, make no secret of their mission to make you “fall in love” with the Nordic capital.
If the thought of morning diving in freezing water, lunchtime sauna trip and after work skiing doesn’t appeal to you, Helsinki Partner wants you to know that the country is also a breeding ground for startup companies.
Last year, the total amount of venture capital funding collected by Finnish startups exceeded 1.3 billion euros (approx. 1.4 billion dollars). According to Invest Europe statistics, Finnish startups received the most venture capital funding in Europe in 2020. It was 77% ahead of the second-placed Great Britain.
“Helsinki is home to the world’s most innovative companies. The freedom of trial and error is part of what makes Helsinki so unique. Most importantly, no one is afraid of failure, success comes from learning what works and what doesn’t,” says Clarisse Berggårdh, CEO of Helsinki Partners.
Specially “the happiest country in the world” is home NokiaAngry Birds and Google’s shiny new data center and about 2,267 startups and scale-ups.
Newcomers, especially from the United States, are said to be attracted not only by the country’s entrepreneurial culture, but also by its universal health care, generous parental leave, work-family life balance, and low crime rate. According to Visit Finland, 11 out of 12 lost wallets are returned to their owners.
Thus, 20% of the system’s alumni from the previous two years still live in the city. The system claims to support those who wish to stay for more than 90 days in applying for a residence permit.
Entrepreneur and former participant Damon Hernandez said he decided to stay in Helsinki because it offers something “that other cities didn’t offer – a real work-life balance”.
“My everyday is completely different. I now have more free time to do things that are completely unrelated to work, and there’s a really tight community,” he added.
Applications for the program are open from 24 January to 24 February 2023.
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