Demo Day Highlights: TREMOR & BIOSPHERE’s 4th Cohort Takes the Spotlight

For the 4th cohort of these Social Impact and Sustainability focused incubators at the University of Helsinki, the evening marked the end of an intense four-month journey. What unfolded was more than just a showcase of ideas; it was a celebration of entrepreneurial journeys, community, and purpose-driven entrepreneurship. 

The event kicked off with inspiring opening words from Irina Blomqvist, who encouraged the participants—eagerly but nervously waiting for their turn to pitch—by saying, "It's about passion, the passion you put into your ideas. Let’s be curious, and let’s be supportive.” That passion and communal support fuelled the evening. As the selected teams pitched the solutions they had been developing throughout the programme, the speakers were met with warm applause and genuine encouragement from peers and mentors, capturing the spirit of mutual support that defines the Helsinki Incubators community. 

Tanya Rodriguez of Lingo XR, an immersive VR/AR language-learning platform, praised the programme’s deep and sustained mentoring, saying, “This was one of the best incubators I’ve been part of. The mentorship was committed, professional, and continuous.” She also credited the community, saying, “You can do a lot on your own, but being in the room with others lifts you higher. You need others.” 

Pinja Valija and Senja Kuure of Greenwish, a carbon footprint calculator using AI-based image detection technology, echoed this sentiment. “The support from the community has been amazing,” said Pinja. Senja added, "Everybody has been so nice to us and patient with us when we had no idea what we were doing.” Mentorship was another key support for them, “We've asked the silly questions and the hard questions, and they've always been happy to help us, even though they have their own jobs and responsibilities, they still made time for us.” Senja summed up her biggest takeaway, “I take away the assurance that I can do stuff and I always have help if I need it.” 

Lin Chen and Reetta Nakari of Edilm are working to replace plastic sachets used for instant noodles with edible packaging. They shared their gratitude to all who helped shape their direction, from design thinking to investor prep to protecting their IP. “Special thanks to Enrique Montaño and Pouria Kay for their incredible support,” Lin noted. Backed by EIT Seedbed funding, the team will continue validating their market potential over the next six months and is seeking pilot partners to move closer to launch. 

For Team Alessa, creators of Spud Saver, an edible dipping cup made from food industry side streams, the programme helped them validate more than just their concept. It reaffirmed their team’s synergy. “Our idea about the company has matured a lot,” said Outi Tölli. Reflecting where they started and achieved within 4 months, Saralotta Engblom added, “You don't have to know everything that's coming. You can just start and solve the problems while you face them,” Katerina Zítková continued with an encouraging message for those thinking of taking off on an entrepreneurship journey, saying, “Don’t be afraid to try things out, like it either works or it doesn't.” Now shifting from business development to product testing, Team Alessa is excited for what’s next. With the strong team full of ideas, “the sky is the limit!” as Outi emphasized with a smile. 

As the 4th cohort of TREMOR and BIOSPHERE concluded their programmes, the night validated their hard work and marked the beginning of the entrepreneurial journey for graduating teams. The valuable insights from experts and mentors, connections, breakthroughs, and belief in one another will carry on, fueling their next steps. 

Feeling inspired? JOURNEYS, our newest incubator programme, is now accepting applications until August 10th, perfect for those ready to embark on their own entrepreneurial adventure. Learn more about JOURNEYS and meet more of our amazing alumni on the Helsinki Incubators site.