Nonprofit Organization Boost Turku is organizing Startup Journey, a ten-week intensive program for teams made up of students and researchers from the University of Turku with a scalable business idea. This year 12 teams were chosen along the journey towards Demo Day when they pitch their ideas to the investors and serial entrepreneurs. In 2019 Demo Day is an official side event at SHIFT Business Festival and free to attend.

“Startup Journey has been awarded as the best business accelerator in Finland already in 2015. During the following years, the number of alumni and the mentoring network has grown even more. This year teams are mentored by experts like Eero Laaksonen, CEO of deep learning management platform Valohai, Jami Andersson CEO of Morrow Games, and founders of investment company Leap Anssi Kiviranta and Matias Mäenpää” Elias Savonlahti, Chairman of Boost Turku ry and SHIFT ry highlights and continues: “Over the years Startup Journey has produced a number of success stories like the insect food developer company Entis, a game company Rival Games and Treamer, a digital platform for hiring temporary labour quickly.

Among the teams accepted Cuitu is the one attracting special attention. The team designs high-end fashion using sustainable material innovations in the products.” We at Cuitu don’t believe that it’s necessary to choose between sustainability and consumption. We believe our customers deserve to know how their products are produced. Therefore, we want to offer full transparency in our value chain.” Evi Oivanen from Cuitu comments.

“Demo Day as a part of SHIFT is only a small part of the daily cooperation between the two non-profit organizations. Both are aiming to develop the economy in the Turku area” Savonlahti explains. “Boost is one of the founding organizations behind SHIFT, besides the common values and chairman we share an office and many of the community members are active in both organizations. This kind of close cooperation is vital to ensure that know-how can be transferred effortlessly across the different emphasis organizations have.”

Boost is focused on the startups and the early stage. The community is run by the students and researchers from the Universities in Turku and supported by the alumni network. SHIFT is focusing on helping the business to become more profitable and sustainable with the help of new technologies. As a community SHIFT consists of companies, professionals and experts from different fields complementing the network further.

“Different focus and close cooperation guarantee that the doers have support in the network in all phases. When the accelerator program is over or when the business is starting to grow, the needs and the pain points that companies face differ greatly from the start. Close cooperation across the whole scale of the ecosystem helps to find solutions faster and more effortlessly.” Savonlahti sums up.

Elias Savonlati
Chairman
Boost Turku and SHIFT ry
elias@boostturku.com

0407426741

Demo Day will take place on the last day of SHIFT, 30th of August at Sigyn Hall 5pm-10pm.

Demo Day after-party will be at Bore boat bar 10.30pm

Demo Day Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/2312449375644049/

More information about Startup Journey: https://boostturku.com/startup-journey/