MERSTRA — MARKET ACCESS PROGRAM / 01
Unlock Finland.
A curated market access journey connecting ambitious startups with Finland’s innovation, investment and corporate ecosystem.
Location
Helsinki, Finland
Immersion
16–20 November 2026
Program
Market Access
Flagship
SLUSH 2026
05
Days in Finland
16+
Curated sessions
02
SLUSH days
01
Connected ecosystem
01 / THE OPPORTUNITY
From market curiosity to meaningful conversations.
Unlock Finland is designed for startups ready to move beyond research and into the market. The program combines curated ecosystem access, investor conversations, corporate discovery and founder networking with an intensive Helsinki immersion around SLUSH 2026.
THE JOURNEY
05
Days in Finland
16+
Curated sessions
02
SLUSH days
01
Connected ecosystem
Market & Ecosystem
Day 1–2 / Helsinki
Finland startup ecosystem visit
Maria 01 founder ecosystem
Aalto Startup Center / Startup Sauna
Corporate innovation visit
Finnish startup networking
Capital & Customers
Day 2 / Helsinki
Finnish VC & angel ecosystem
Business Finland ecosystem engagement
Corporate / potential customer meetings
Curated B2B meetings
Investor and partner conversations
SLUSH 2026
Day 3–4 / Helsinki
Full-day SLUSH participation
Targeted investor meetings
Corporate conversations
Partner discovery
International founder networking
Discovery & Closing
Day 5 / Helsinki
Finnish innovation ecosystem visit
Customer discovery meetings
Investor / ecosystem networking
Closing meeting slots
Founder + Finnish ecosystem connections
03 / HELSINKI IMMERSION
Five days inside Finland’s innovation engine.
The immersion is structured around real ecosystem access — founders, investors, corporates, public innovation organisations and the global startup community converging in Helsinki.
16 Nov
Finland Startup & Innovation Ecosystem
Maria 01
16 Nov
Startup / Scaleup Ecosystem
Aalto Startup Center / Startup Sauna
17 Nov
Investor & VC Ecosystem
Finnish VC / Angel Network
17 Nov
Market & Business Ecosystem
Business Finland / Ecosystem Bodies
18 Nov
SLUSH 2026 — Day 1
Investors / Corporates / Founders
19 Nov
SLUSH 2026 — Day 2
Targeted Stakeholder Meetings
20 Nov
Customer Discovery & Closing
Partners / Investors / Finnish Ecosystem
04 / WHAT STARTUPS GET
Not a conference trip. A market-entry sprint.
01
Market Access
Understand the Finnish market through direct conversations with ecosystem and industry stakeholders.
02
Capital Access
Engage with Finnish VCs, angel networks and investors through curated conversations.
03
Customer Discovery
Test propositions, identify potential customers and explore commercial partnerships.
04
Ecosystem Intelligence
Build a practical understanding of how Finland’s innovation ecosystem operates.
05
Founder Network
Build relationships with founders, operators and international companies in Helsinki.
06
SLUSH Access
Plug into one of Europe’s most influential startup gatherings and its surrounding ecosystem.
05 / ECOSYSTEM
Meet the people behind the market.
01
Business Finland
Market-entry, internationalisation and Finnish business ecosystem access.
02
Maria 01
Startup ecosystem, founders and Helsinki’s innovation community.
03
Aalto Startup Center
Startup, university and innovation ecosystem connections.
04
Startup Sauna
Founder community and internationalisation ecosystem.
05
Finnish VC & Angel Networks
Capital conversations with investors and growth ecosystem players.
06
Finnish Corporates
Sector-specific customer, partnership and innovation opportunities.
06 / WHO IT’S FOR
Built for founders ready to cross borders.
01
Post-MVP startups
Companies with a validated product and evidence of market demand.
02
Revenue-generating ventures
Startups with traction and the ambition to expand internationally.
03
Internationally ambitious teams
Founding teams ready to build relationships beyond their home market.
04
Sector-relevant innovators
Technology, SaaS, climate, deep tech, health, fintech and related innovation sectors.
MERSTRA / UNLOCK FINLAND 2026
Ready to enter Finland?
Let’s build the next market. Talk to the Merstra team about participation.
