We had a blast at Allas Sea Pool VIP evening on 30 November with a bunch of awesome tech companies from CIS! Take a look at the photos from the event! We promised to the participants that they can ask us anything and we will answer. So here goes:
Ask us anything!
From your experience, what is the hardest obstacle Russian companies have to overcome when setting up their business in Finland?
Setting up a company in Finland is simple and takes around two weeks from submitting correctly filled documents to registration authorities until the process is completed. Due to recent changes in policies of European banks aimed to fight money laundering opening a bank account for a new foreign-owned company without a credit history can be challenging.
What is the largest investment that the Helsinki region can invest in Finnish-Russian startup?
Finnish funding agency for innovation Tekes has various funding options for innovative Finnish companies. Together with Russian Foundation for Assistance to Small Innovative Enterprises FASIE Tekes also funds joined Finnish-Russian projects. Call for proposals and applications is open till February 2017. For more information check https://www.tekes.fi/globalassets/julkaisut/fasie_tekes_esite.pdf.
How to find an investor for social projects?
To learn more about impact investing take a look at Sitra’s Impact Accelerator http://www.sitra.fi/en/economy/impact-investing.
What about running free Finnish courses for incorporated startups & companies?
Good idea. There are actually already multiple online courses that you can take for free. Check out for example: www.worddive.com/en/language-courses/finnish-for-immigrants, opi-suomea.weebly.com and yle.fi/aihe/artikkeli/2015/12/15/suomi-finnish.
When Russian will become a state language of Finland?
Not likely to happen in the near future. In the mean time you can take a look at some options for studying Finnish from the Infopankki website published by the City of Helsinki.
Do you have White Nights in Helsinki?
Yes we do! The very first White Nights Conference was organised in Helsinki in February 2016. We also have white nights, or nightless nights every summer.
What is easiest way to export from Russia to Finland small electronic devices like educational robotics kit?
It depends on the size of the batch. There are a lot of companies offering logistics and customs clearance services between Russia and Finland, for example Beweship, Polar Logistics and others.When doing import customs clearance in Finland you will have to pay import duties and VAT. You can check current amount of customs duty to be paid using HS code and TARIC system HERE. Exporting goods from one EU country to another is fast, easy and no customs duties need to be paid.
Will Trump cure US or destroy it?
Our guess is as good as yours. The main thing is that Finland will be great no matter what happens.
Will Jokerit win the KHL this season?
Not this year. CSKA will take the trophy home. 😉 Check out the KHL stats here: http://en.khl.ru/.
How can I meet potential partners / customers?
If you are looking for partners to help you in setting up business in Helsinki, browse through the Helsinki Business Hub service provider network at partners.helsinkibusinesshub.fi. You can also contact e.g. Invest in Finland for further help.
If you are in search for customers, start by contacting Chamber of Commerces (e.g. Finnish Registered Association Finnish-Russian Chamber or Finland Chamber of Commers). Joining the communities relevant to your line of business is also a great way to start creating valuable networks (see for example teknologiateollisuus.fi, www.neogames.fi, www.hardwarehel.com).
