The SILTA programme supports Finland’s most promising young startup founders in building their companies to compete on the global stage. The programme seeks to encourage, support and facilitate pushing growth targets to new heights.
In 2025, with the support of the Saastamoinen Foundation, two programme cycles will be carried out. In each programme, a handful of promising early-stage startup entrepreneurs will be taken from Finland to Silicon Valley for three months. The goal is for them to build and scale their businesses and return to Finland with insights and acquired resources.
The programme enables entrepreneurs to grow their businesses and networks in the San Francisco Bay Area. Consequently, the programme facilitates the transfer and dissemination of insights from the world’s leading startup ecosystem to Finland’s growth entrepreneurship scene and business sector, reinforcing the significance of global partnerships
“Although my expectations were high, I’m still surprised by how different the mindsets of the founders here in San Francisco are compared to those back in Finland. One of the biggest differences is the more optimistic perception of entrepreneurship and company building. Their willingness to experiment is noticeably higher in comparison to Finland, where company building is often more gradual. The second significant difference is the support of the local ecosystem. In SF, founders are looking to help each other out, share learnings, and grow stronger together,” says Alexander Silén from Mobal.
“I think the most valuable lesson I’ve learned from the SILTA programme in SF is to be bold when asking for things; be it for feedback, introductions for connections, or collaborations. There are a lot of cultural differences between Silicon Valley and Finland; in this case it is a small thing that can have a drastic impact on one’s chances of success. This courage to ask is something I’ve brought back with me to Finland. I’ve noticed how adopting this approach has opened new doors – whether it’s reaching out to industry leaders, seeking mentorship, or initiating projects that previously felt out of reach. It’s a small shift in behaviour, but one that has already made a significant difference in how I navigate opportunities and build relationships in MedTech and deep tech,” describes Hanna Castrén-Niemi from Inga Health.
“Saastamoinen Foundation supports the development of Finland’s economy and international networking. SILTA provides a concrete opportunity to leverage the possibilities offered by Silicon Valley and, in doing so, strengthen Finnish entrepreneurship on a global scale,” states Kalvin Karttunen, Member of the Board at Saastamoinen Foundation. Founded in 2022, SILTA has already brought 41 founders to Silicon Valley by spring 2025. The alumni companies have by now raised around EUR 20 million in funding to develop their companies further, creating over 150 jobs along the way.
“SILTA was founded to give more young Finnish founders the best possible platform – not only for company growth but most importantly for the founder’s ambition. This way we seek to create role models through which to influence the entrepreneurial landscape at large,” Pihla Päivänsalo, Programme Lead of SILTA, explains. Learn more about the SILTA programme and how to apply at https://www.siltahouse.com/.
