Nominations Open: Startup Refugees Entrepreneurship Awards (Finland)

Deadline: 04-Oct-2026

The Startup Refugees Entrepreneurship Awards Female Edition 2026 provides funding, mentoring, networking opportunities, and additional business support to migrant and refugee women entrepreneurs in Finland. The programme is designed to help women launch new businesses, strengthen existing ventures, and develop sustainable companies. Organized by Startup Refugees in cooperation with The Foundher Table, the 2026 Female Edition focuses specifically on women founders from the Global South and women who have been forced to flee because of war or persecution. Selected winners receive €5,000–€10,000 in investment, together with mentoring and access to valuable entrepreneurial networks.

About the Startup Refugees Entrepreneurship Awards

Startup Refugees has supported newcomers in Finland with employment and entrepreneurship opportunities since 2015. Through its Business Program, the organization has supported more than 1,300 participants, while more than 140 companies have been established with support from its activities. The Entrepreneurship Awards were created to address barriers that underrepresented founders can face when accessing business funding, mentoring, and professional networks. The programme recognizes that migrant and refugee entrepreneurs can contribute significant economic and human potential to Finland but may face additional challenges when attempting to establish or expand businesses. The awards therefore aim to help promising founders access the resources and connections needed to turn their ideas into sustainable businesses. What Is the Female Edition 2026? The Female Edition 2026 is a dedicated version of the Startup Refugees Entrepreneurship Awards focused on migrant and refugee women entrepreneurs. The programme is organized in cooperation with The Foundher Table and is intended to support women who have the ambition to build long-term businesses in Finland. The initiative particularly welcomes women founders who: - Come from the Global South. - Have been forced to flee because of war or persecution. - Have recently established themselves in Finland. - Are developing a business idea or already operating a business. - Want to build a sustainable company over the long term. How Much Funding Is Available? Selected winners receive investments ranging from: - €5,000 to €10,000 per winner In addition to financial support, winners receive access to: - Mentoring. - Entrepreneurial networks. - Additional business support. - Opportunities to develop their ideas into sustainable companies. The combination of investment and non-financial support is intended to help founders move beyond the idea stage or strengthen businesses that are already being developed. Who Can Apply? The 2026 Female Edition is designed for migrant and refugee women entrepreneurs in Finland who meet the programme’s eligibility requirements.

Applicants must:

- Be female founders. - Be at least 18 years old. - Come from the Global South and/or have been forced to flee due to war or persecution. - Have lived in Finland for a maximum of 10 years. - Hold a residence permit that allows entrepreneurship. - Have the ambition to build a long-term business. - Either own an existing business, actively be building a business, or have a well-defined business idea. Applicants should therefore be able to demonstrate both a connection to the programme’s target group and a genuine commitment to entrepreneurship.

Eligibility Requirements in Detail

Age Requirement Applicants must be at least 18 years old. Migrant or Refugee Background The programme focuses on migrant and refugee women, with particular attention to founders from the Global South and/or women who have been forced to flee because of war or persecution. Residence in Finland Applicants must have lived in Finland for a maximum of 10 years. This requirement ensures that the programme remains focused on supporting relatively recent newcomers and their entrepreneurial potential. Residence Permit Applicants must hold a residence permit that allows them to engage in entrepreneurship. Business or Business Idea Applicants do not necessarily need to have an established company.

They can qualify if they:

- Own an existing business. - Are actively building a business. - Have a well-defined business idea. The key requirement is a clear ambition to develop a long-term business. What Support Do Winners Receive? The awards provide more than direct financial investment. Successful women entrepreneurs can receive: - €5,000–€10,000 investment. - Mentoring from experienced individuals. - Access to entrepreneurial and professional networks. - Additional support for developing their business. - Opportunities to strengthen their ideas and move toward sustainable company development. This combination can be particularly valuable for founders who have strong business ideas but face difficulties accessing traditional funding or established entrepreneurial networks. How Are Winners Selected? Winners are selected by a jury consisting of: - Independent experts. - Startup Refugees staff. - Members of the Startup Refugees network. The selection process is designed to identify promising women entrepreneurs whose businesses or ideas have the potential to develop into sustainable companies. Applicants should therefore clearly communicate their business concept, entrepreneurial ambition, and plans for long-term development. Why Was the Entrepreneurship Awards Programme Created? Underrepresented entrepreneurs can face additional barriers when accessing funding, mentoring, professional networks, and other business resources. Startup Refugees created the Entrepreneurship Awards to help address these challenges and unlock the economic and human potential of newcomers in Finland. The programme recognizes the value of supporting founders who may otherwise have fewer opportunities to access entrepreneurial resources. The Female Edition takes this objective further by placing a specific