Finland continues leading the charts in European venture capital investments in startups and early stage growth companies as percentage of GDP between the years 2013 and 2017.

Finland takes first place in European venture capital (VC) investments when looking at the data from the past five years and investments in proportion to GDP. The rate of early stage venture investments in Europe is second highest in Sweden, with Ireland coming in third. The amount of VC financing received by Finnish companies is twice as high as the European average.

In 2017 alone, Finnish startups and early stage growth companies raised the fourth highest amount of VC funding in Europe, following the United Kingdom, Sweden and France, which all improved their ranks from the previous year.

“The amount of work put into developing the Finnish startup ecosystem by different supporting stakeholders is unimaginable. It is humbling to see that the persistent, long-term efforts are working in our favor and bringing results, and that the Finnish top-tier knowhow attracts VC funding. I believe we are ready to set our ambition level even higher,” comments Pia Santavirta, managing director of Finnish Venture Capital Association

The Finnish startup ecosystem is maturing on many fronts with a promisingly fast pace. The development is mirrored by the fact that Finnish startups raised the highest amount of funding to date in 2017, as the total financing figure hit 349 million euros. More importantly, over 10M€ financing rounds are raised more frequently than before, and the number of foreign investments into Finnish companies has increased tenfold since 2010. The amount of new funds raised by Finnish VC firms also hit a record high since 2008, as firms raised €169 million worth of new funds.

However, the fastest growing stage in Finland is still the seed stage, and the average size of new Finnish VC funds raised between 2013-2017 is some €40 million. At the same time, European venture funds raised on average almost €100 million at final closing in 2017 – almost double the average of ten years ago.

“For Finland to be able to compete globally in the long run, we need more VC funds capable of leading substantial, international financing rounds from stage A onwards. As an example of positive legislative initiatives boosting the startup ecosystem, we just introduced The Finnish Startup Permit that makes it possible for international growth entrepreneurs to build a startup in Finland and to become part of Finland’s vibrant ecosystem. Next, we are working on making Finland the most attractive country in Europe for international fund investors,” states Santavirta.

Additional information:

Pia Santavirta
Finnish Venture Capital Association, Managing Director
+358 40 546 7749
pia.santavirta@fvca.fi

Pauliina Martikainen
Finnish Venture Capital Association, Head of Communications
+358 45 138 5002
pauliina.martikainen@fvca.fi

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Finnish Venture Capital Association (FVCA) is the industry body and public policy advocate for the venture capital and private equity industry in Finland. As the voice of the Finnish VC and PE community and the entrepreneurs they fund, it is our role to demonstrate the positive impact of the industry on the Finnish economy. FVCA – Building growth.