We understand that the skills needed to create innovative and valuable solutions to the world's problems may not directly correlate with the skills needed to create a successful born-global start-up and bring that solution to market. We also understand the inherent uncertainty of entrepreneurship. That's why NEXUS offers a convergence of solutions to these issues, including a comprehensive suite of personalised education and a dedicated, supportive environment to maximise your chances of success.
Based in Kumpula, Helsinki Incubators' NEXUS is a hybrid between an incubator & accelerator for researchers, innovators, and aspiring entrepreneurs in the field of AI & Deep Tech with answers to society's wicked problems. As part of the vibrant Helsinki Metropolitan Area startup community, we'll work to empower and embolden your team by providing you with all the tools, know-how, networks, and support needed to go from solution to incorporation and beyond.
The aim of our mentors and experts is not only to help you take the world by storm with your solution by developing it into a viable product or service, but also to help you develop your career by learning key skills that can be used on this journey and others. We'll also ensure that you have the opportunity to meet with a wide range of potential customers, partners and investors throughout the incubator to ensure that you get as much relevant feedback as possible and build strong networks to help you achieve your goals.
By the end of the four months, we hope you'll be ready to register your company, launch your product or service, seek funding and investment, and take the next steps that are most relevant to you and your solution, such as applying to an accelerator like Y Combinator or joining a startup hub like Terkko Health Hub or Maria01. NEXUS is proudly powered by the City of Helsinki.
NEXUS focuses on helping you build a startup that can grow and attract funding by bringing real innovative ideas and smart business models to the table. We aim for you to shake up your industry and expand your business globally. What sets us apart from other incubators in Finland is that we're a mentor-driven incubator programme. Throughout our four-month program, we collaborate with mentors and experts from Finnish and international companies, investors, and corporate venture capitalists (CVCs). Acting as a blend of an incubator and an accelerator, our aim is for your venture team to evolve into a startup that's ready for funding and expansion with the guidance of our mentors and experts.
By the end of the programme, we expect every team to have:
In simpler terms, by the end of the programme, we anticipate that each participant will have gained knowledge in the following areas:
Your objective is to shake up the market with your innovative ideas. Our aim is to provide you with all the support you need to succeed in achieving this goal, including international expansion with the help of our mentors and making your startup scalable and fundable.
NEXUS is on the look-out for teams with innovative ideas, innovations, research, technologies, services, solutions, products, and businesses in the following areas:
This is not an exhaustive list — we warmly welcome you to apply with any other AI-enabled or Deep Tech-related solution, too!
Looking for inspiration? Check out the teams that took part in NEXUS 1, NEXUS 2, and NEXUS 3 or check out our NEXUS alumni stories at the link below!
After the initial bootcamp phase of the programme, your team will be matched with 1-2 mentors from our pool of talented mentors. Specifically selected to meet your needs, the mentors will be at your service throughout your NEXUS journey via bi-monthly online sessions.
Your mentors will delve deep into the intricacies of your idea and tap into their own experiences, networks, and expertise to give you actionable insights and recommendations to help you in the process of developing and testing your innovation and propel your venture forward.
Participants will be able to take advantage of several services offered by our mentors and partners. Below is a list of some of the services, but know that there are additional confidential services that will be revealed if your team is selected to the programme.
NEXUS 4 will last for 16 weeks, and will be held from 24 February to 10 June. The programme will be in English, and will consist of weekly or bi-weekly workshop sessions, as well as online mentoring sessions.
For the 4th edition, the programme will be divided into two phases, foundation/bootcamp & specialisation.
During the Foundation/Bootcamp phase (Weeks 1-9), teams will first spend 4 weeks building entrepreneurial skills in weekly and biweekly joint sessions held with participants of the BIOSPHERE and TREMOR incubators at the University of Helsinki's City Centre campus. In addition to providing core skills and knowledge, these sessions will be an opportunity to connect with other like-minded individuals and teams from other programmes, find potential synergies and explore opportunities provided by the other specialised programmes, and lay the groundwork for the rest of the incubator.
Following the initial 4 weeks, during weeks 5-9 teams will continue working on developing their core entrepreneurial skills, validating their ideas, and creating strong business models for their ideas at NEXUS-specific workshops held at the University of Helsinki's Kumpula campus.
Running parallel to the Foundation/Bootcamp phase (Weeks 1-9), the validation track will be an opportunity for teams to ensure that their business ideas are validated and aligned with market needs. The track is structured in three parts, each focusing on a critical aspect of idea validation: problem, solution, and market-fit. By the end of the validation track, teams should either have a fully validated idea with several deliverables including value propositions, a go-to-market strategy, a pitch deck with customer validation data, and more; or be ready to pivot based on the evidence gathered during the track. The goal is to make sure that you have all you need in order to grow successfully during the specialisation phase.
During the specialisation phase (Weeks 10-16), startups will focus on growth and scaling strategies, with the programme entering a hybrid incubator/accelerator model, blending hands-on mentorship, advanced training modules intended to support the team's rapid growth, and access to a global network of experts and mentors. The specialisation phase leverages best practices from leading programmes worldwide to ensure participants are equiped for rapid scaling and market entry.
For the weekly/bi-weekly sessions, get ready for interesting & engaging workshop once or twice a week across a variety of topics. We expect 100% in-person attendance from teams with at least one of your team members present.
For the mentor sessions, each team will be assigned 2 dedicated mentors, as well as additional rotating mentors who will provide additional information in their special skills such as marketing, investments, scaling, technical know-how, and corporate interfacing. We expect your entire team to meet with your mentors at least twice a month, with sessions lasting from 30 minutes to 1 hour each. These sessions will be held online, so you can arrange them at times that are best for you and your mentor.
For more information about the specific schedule and deliverables, check out the NEXUS 4 schedule below
Applications for the 4th batch of NEXUS are now closed. However, if you are still interested in the programme, please read the application requirements below and send us an open application. We will be in touch when the next call period opens.
NEXUS participation is open to bachelors and masters’ students, PhDs, post docs, PIs and researchers, professors, and faculty at the University of Helsinki. However, you don't need a connection to the University of Helsinki to apply, and applications are open to all residents of the Helsinki Capital Region. We simply look for excellent teams, strong commitment, and dedication with great business or tech-related ideas.
Application guidelines:
When submitting your application, you'll be expected to submit the following:
You can use these templates as a reference.
Though it is generally not advised at this early a stage in the entrepreneurial journey, teams may have apply with a registered company. However, we will not accept teams with significant existing turnover.
For Doctoral Researchers:
Participating in the incubator programme can be included in your transferable skills studies under the course code PHD-313 for a total of 8 ECTS. Please request a certificate of attendance upon completion of the incubator programme, and contact uhds-office@helsinki.fi for the registration of the credits.
For Bachelor's or Master's Degree Students:
Participating in the programme can be registered in Sisu under the course code PHD-313 for a total of 8 ECTS. Please request a certificate of attendance upon the completion of the incubator programme, and contact uhds-office@helsinki.fi for the registration of the credits.
Students must then co-ordinate with their degree programme to include these credits into their degree. It is advised to check with the degree programme beforehand if the credits can be included into the degree, and under what section.
The Entrepreneurship & Innovation Services does not guarantee that credits can be included in all degrees.
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