Pathways — General Pre-Incubator

Joining the programme is easy — your product or service idea doesn't have to be polished; in fact, you might not even need one initially. You can apply with just a problem you'd like help in creating a solution to, or research you're interested in finding practical applications for. 

Based on research and our practical experience, startup ideas change quickly. A startup idea can evolve rapidly, undergoing as much change in a year as we mammals have gone through in the last 10 million years. Therefore, we are expecting to "kill" several ideas during the programme, come up with plenty of new ones, and see the evolution of the most promising ones into something that is truly viable in real-life situations. We are also expecting participants in the programme to actively work with one another and form new teams that have the capabilities of developing their ideas both during the programme and after. This is why it's important to remember that the idea you finish Pathways with may end up being very, very different to the one you'll be initially applying with.

Still, when applying, we encourage you to start with the idea that is closest to what you're passionate about or interested in right now.

Pathways will feature bi-weekly lectures and workshops delving into the essentials of idea development, from big global trends to business plan creation, communications, teamwork (regardless of if you apply alone or as a team), and receiving feedback. Additionally, you'll have access to business coaches for insights, discussions, and answers, along with a multidisciplinary community of like-minded individuals to provide you with plenty of peer-support.

Explore the programme outcomes, application instructions, and more below!

At the end of Pathways, you'll find yourself with all you need to choose which direction to continue your journey by having...

• Gotten a more defined understanding of the problem you're trying to solve & a deeper understanding of the solution you're offering by having gotten to know matters ranging from the megatrends that are changing the world all the way to the practical questions related to running a business
• Learned to gather feedback regarding your idea through our coaches, your peers in the programme, experts in the field, as well as the customers you'll be offering your solution to
• Acquired the ability to evaluate business ideas by having learned to understand customer problems and tackling them with new solutions, how to identify the right possible customers, how to make a plan to build a prototype and a team that can do it, how to test and get feedback, as well as the basics of business budgeting and startup investments
• Mastered the basics of communicating your idea concisely and interestingly, presenting both yourself and your idea while making others excited to hear more, a skill you'll be using in practice during various exercises and networking events during the programme
• Connected with a community of like-minded people from a variety of backgrounds, gotten a deeper understanding of Helsinki's innovation and startup ecosystem, and learned how to grow your professional network on your own
• Decided what the best next steps are, whether it's conducting more research, starting to test your prototype, changing your idea, or anything in between. We highly encourage dropping ideas that have significant obstacles to succeed! And when you'll choose to change your idea, we'll help you to come up with a new one or join another team to work on a joint idea
• More detailed learning goals can be found from the programme schedule

And for the most advanced and enthusiastic teams seeking to further develop your solution, we recommend exploring our thematic, mentor-driven incubator programmes. Tailored to specific areas such as Deep Tech, AI & Sustainability (NEXUS), Bioeconomy & Circularity (Biosphere), and Social Impact (TREMOR), and Health & Life-Sciences (SPARK), these programmes provide specialized support and guidance for your project.

The call is now open, apply now!

Although we recommend applying with a team of at least two to make sure you get the most out of the programme's workshops, we welcome applications from both individuals and teams, regardless of their affiliation with the University of Helsinki. Students, PhD researchers, post-docs, staff, alumni, and enthusiastic citizens are all equally welcome to apply and come create the change they want to see.

As the programme is aimed at early-stage teams and individuals, the only requirement for applying is to have one of the following:

• A problem you want to create a solution to
• An early-stage business idea that you're looking to develop further
• Research you're looking to explore practical, entrepreneurial applications for

To apply, please fill in the application linked below and be sure to include a document or video introducing your idea or problem. We recommend trying to define the problem that you are aiming to solve, what your solution (if you have one) is, and who it is for. The document can either be:

• A text document no longer than one page
• A presentation with up to five slides
• A short, max. 3 minute video

You will be applying to the programme with one idea, but keep in mind that it can change during the programme. We are also expecting people to join up and become team members, which means jumping to another idea, and to see ideas being dropped during the programme if and when they prove to be unfeasible. We encourage an open mindset and the capability to not just develop an idea, but to change it completely if necessary.

Note! You do not need to have registered a company to take part in the programme or have any previous experience of entrepreneurship. However, do keep in mind before applying that the programme is held in-person, and that attendance is required for successful completion of the programme.

Once we've received your application, we'll review it and invite you for an interview. You'll be notified in due time if you've been selected to take part in Pathways.

The call is open until 22 September, so apply using the link below!

Pathways is organised by the University of Helsinki entrepreneurship services, the Helsinki Incubators, with support from experts and entrepreneurs who are passionate about supporting new founders & entrepreneurially curious minds. The organisers and experts have years of practical experience in entrepreneurship, their own special skills, and non-profit associations which foster cooperations, opportunity creations, and personal development for their members. 

Helsinki Incubators also has a wide network in the startup and innovation space, and we will be able to connect you with specific advisors who can help you to find answers to the questions which may arise during the programme. Pathways will also have several coaches available for discussions and feedback. Our motto is “The more effort you put in to develop your idea, the more support we can give”. Nothing is more gratifying than seeing participants succeeding in their career as an entrepreneur or expert!

For bachelor's or master's degree students:

Participating in the programme can be registered in Sisu under the course code PHD-312 for a total of 5 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.

For Doctoral Researchers:

Participating in a pre-incubator programme can be included in your transferable skills studies under the course code PHD-312 for a total of 5 ECTS. Please request a certificate of attendance upon completion of the pre-incubator programme, and contact uhds-office@helsinki.fi for credits registration.