Best 10 Startups to Watch in Helsinki, Finland in 2025: A Guide for Entrepreneurs and Investors
Helsinki, Finland, has become one of Europe's most exciting hubs for innovation, with a dynamic startup ecosystem that combines cutting-edge technology, robust government support, and a highly skilled workforce. By 2025, the city is home to a myriad of groundbreaking startups redefining industries from artificial intelligence to sustainable energy, making it a magnet for investors and global talent. But which startups truly stand out in Helsinki this year?
This guide takes an in-depth look at the best 10 startups in Helsinki, Finland, in 2025, showcasing their achievements, funding, and growth potential. Whether you're an entrepreneur seeking inspiration, an investor scouting opportunities, or a founder considering Helsinki as your launchpad, these examples will ignite your interest.
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Why Helsinki is the Perfect Launchpad for Startups in 2025
Helsinki's tech ecosystem is a thriving mix of incubators, accelerators, and access to funding. In 2025, it's easier than ever to turn an idea into a world-changing business. According to a report from StartupBlink, the city now ranks among the top European cities for startup innovation, thanks to its government-backed programs and its focus on sustainability, AI, and healthcare technologies.
But here’s the catch: Building a successful startup isn’t just about having the best product, it’s about marketing and scaling effectively. If your startup doesn’t generate visibility and traction, no matter how innovative your technology, it won’t succeed. Tools like the F/MS AI Article Writer ensure that budding entrepreneurs don’t leave marketing as an afterthought. This AI-driven tool helps founders rank on Google, Bing, and even AI chatbot platforms, ensuring consistent brand visibility.
The Best 10 Startups in Helsinki, Finland, for 2025
1. Varjo Technologies
Known for pioneering cutting-edge virtual reality (VR), Varjo Technologies creates immersive experiences for industries like aerospace, automotive, and healthcare. Having raised over $93.2 million to date, Varjo’s XR-3 headset remains the gold standard for professional-grade XR solutions. With its growing dominance in the VR space, Varjo is positioning Finland as the global leader in augmented and virtual reality.
Why You Should Watch Them: As global remote work evolves, the demand for high-fidelity virtual collaboration will skyrocket, and Varjo is prepared to meet that challenge.
2. HappySignals
HappySignals redefines how companies measure employee happiness and customer satisfaction through IT services. This HR-focused startup emphasizes better decision-making in customer support based on emotional data. With a focus on delivering meaningful insights, HappySignals is growing rapidly within the B2B enterprise space.
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3. Aiforia
Driving medical diagnostics into the future, Aiforia uses artificial intelligence to revolutionize image analysis in pathology. This health-tech pioneer has raised over $76.9 million, gaining global recognition for its ability to speed up cancer diagnostics and improve accuracy in identifying specific conditions.
Why Investors Are Watching: With healthcare increasingly relying on AI and automation, companies like Aiforia are expected to see exponential growth in valuation over the coming years.
4. ICEYE
ICEYE is reshaping how we view the planet. This space-tech startup, renowned for its SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) satellites, enables governments and businesses to conduct precision monitoring of the Earth in real-time. Its services are pivotal in natural disaster response, urban planning, and more.
Growth Potential: Iceye’s scalable satellite solutions are capturing an expanding market with significant interest from climate-conscious government programs.
5. Bob W
In the hospitality tech space, Bob W combines sustainability with hotel-like experiences for digital nomads and business travelers. Their eco-friendly accommodations are based on a fully digital experience and work seamlessly across key cities in Finland, Europe, and beyond.
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6. TILT Biotherapeutics
TILT Biotherapeutics, led by cancer researcher Akseli Hemminki, focuses on gene therapies for cancer immunotherapy. With over $47.6 million raised, the company uses innovative oncolytic viruses to target difficult-to-treat cancers. Their work is a milestone in the fight against cancer.
7. Woamy
This sustainable materials startup focuses on replacing plastic packaging with plant-based foams. As the world combats the plastic crisis, Woamy’s innovative approach is receiving attention and funding to scale.
Why Sustainability Startups Should Start Marketing Activity Early: Building early traction through AI SEO blogs can amplify visibility in niche industries like sustainable packaging.
8. Onego Bio
Onego Bio leads the food-tech revolution in Helsinki by developing egg white proteins from microbes. This sustainable alternative to traditional chicken egg farming addresses the growing demand for plant-based and lab-grown food solutions.
9. Swappie
Swappie’s business model reimagines the second-hand electronics market by refurbishing and selling smartphones. Their focus on a circular economy and impeccable customer service has made them a leader in sustainable tech reuse.
10. Canatu Oy
Canatu Oy manufactures nanotechnology solutions that power the next generation of automotive and display electronics. Their cutting-edge components are used by global leaders in electric vehicle production.
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A Guide to Starting and Scaling in Helsinki
If you’re planning to join the thriving league of startups in Helsinki, here are steps for success:
- Validate Your Idea Early**: Leverage customer feedback and create a minimum viable product (MVP). Helsinki’s incubators like Maria 01 provide invaluable resources for early-stage companies.
- Focus on Marketing From Day One: Start your SEO journey with the F/MS AI SEO Tool, which creates high-quality articles, attracts leads, and builds authority, even securing visibility on platforms like ChatGPT and Perplexity.
- Collaborate: Helsinki boasts a high density of skilled professionals and researchers. Create partnerships to enhance your offering.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Ignoring Marketing: Many startups fail because they prioritize product development over generating visibility. Don’t wait, start building your funnel now!
- Overlooking Local Incentives: Helsinki offers a wealth of grants and accelerators, tap into these.
- Underestimating Competition: The Nordic market is saturated; ensure your differentiation is clear.
Conclusion
Helsinki’s startup ecosystem is a treasure trove for entrepreneurs and investors in 2025. Some of the best companies in the city, from Varjo Technologies to ICEYE and Aiforia, are not only building world-changing products but are also scaling globally. To make it big in the Finnish capital, focus on validation, scaling, and SEO-driven marketing strategies, which are now more accessible than ever with tools like the AI SEO Blog Writer.
Stay ahead by following these leaders, and perhaps, you’ll be featured among the next crop of startups making headlines in Helsinki.
FAQ on Helsinki's Best Startups to Watch in 2025
1. What makes Helsinki a top startup hub in Europe in 2025?
Helsinki is highly ranked for its innovation ecosystem thanks to government-backed programs, sustainability initiatives, and a focus on AI and advanced healthcare technologies. The city provides ample resources like incubators and access to venture funding. Learn more about Helsinki's startup ecosystem
2. Where can I submit a guest post about my startup?
If your startups needs to drive targeted traffic and build authority with high-volume, niche-relevant content placements in articles that rank well not only in Google, but also in Perplexity and ChatGPT, then you might want to publish your guest post in one of the F/MS Startup Game's blogs. Get a quality backlink
3. Which Helsinki startup is known for breakthroughs in VR technology?
Varjo Technologies is leading the way in virtual reality and augmented reality with its professional-grade XR-3 headset, which has helped position Finland as a global leader in these fields. Learn more about Varjo Technologies
4. Are there startups in Helsinki focused on employee happiness and IT services?
Yes, HappySignals is a notable startup innovating in the measurement of employee happiness and customer satisfaction by utilizing emotional data to drive better IT service decisions. Explore HappySignals
5. Which health-focused startup in Helsinki uses AI for diagnostics?
Aiforia applies artificial intelligence to streamline and enhance diagnostic imaging in pathology, particularly for cancer detection, and has raised over $76.9 million in funding. Find out more about Aiforia
6. Are there exciting innovations in Helsinki’s food-tech sector?
Yes, Onego Bio is revolutionizing food-tech through sustainable microbial production of egg white proteins, meeting the global demand for alternative food sources. Discover Onego Bio
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8. Which Helsinki startup is making strides in sustainable materials?
Woamy is addressing the plastic crisis by creating plant-based foams for packaging and other applications, making sustainability a key focus of their innovation. Learn more about Woamy
9. What space-tech startup is revolutionizing earth monitoring in real time?
ICEYE uses SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) satellite technology for precision Earth monitoring, aiding industries like urban planning and disaster response. Explore ICEYE
10. Are there startups in Helsinki championing circular economy initiatives?
Swappie is connecting consumers with refurbished smartphones, promoting a circular economy model while delivering excellent customer satisfaction in the second-hand electronics market. Check out Swappie
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond and launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks.
For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the POV of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about best hotels in Italy to work from.
About the Publication
Fe/male Switch is an innovative startup platform designed to empower women entrepreneurs through an immersive, game-like experience. Founded in 2020 during the pandemic "without any funding and without any code," this non-profit initiative has evolved into a comprehensive educational tool for aspiring female entrepreneurs.The platform was co-founded by Violetta Shishkina-Bonenkamp, who serves as CEO and one of the lead authors of the Startup News branch. The Fe/male Switch team is located in several countries, including the Netherlands and Malta.
Mission and Purpose
Fe/male Switch Foundation was created to address the gender gap in the tech and entrepreneurship space. The platform aims to skill-up future female tech leaders and empower them to create resilient and innovative tech startups through what they call "gamepreneurship". By putting players in a virtual startup village where they must survive and thrive, the startup game allows women to test their entrepreneurial abilities without financial risk.
Key Features
The platform offers a unique blend of news, resources,learning, networking, and practical application within a supportive, female-focused environment:
- Skill Lab: Micro-modules covering essential startup skills
- Virtual Startup Building: Create or join startups and tackle real-world challenges
- AI Co-founder (PlayPal): Guides users through the startup process
- SANDBOX: A testing environment for idea validation before launch
- Wellness Integration: Virtual activities to balance work and self-care
- Marketplace: Buy or sell expert sessions and tutorials
Impact and Growth
Since its inception, Fe/male Switch has shown impressive growth:
- 3,000+ female entrepreneurs in the community
- 100+ startup tools built
- 5,000+ pieces of articles and news written
Partnerships
Fe/male Switch has formed strategic partnerships to enhance its offerings. In January 2022, it teamed up with global website builder Tilda to provide free access to website building tools and mentorship services for Fe/male Switch participants.
Recognition
Fe/male Switch has received media attention for its innovative approach to closing the gender gap in tech entrepreneurship. The platform has been featured in various publications highlighting its unique "play to learn and earn" model.
