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From Spain to Greece, most parts of the continent are offering some form of digital nomad visa in the aftermath of the pandemic.
Finland is looking for entrepreneurs, investors, business executives, event organizers and tech talent from all over the world to stay in the capital, Helsinki, for three months.
The 90-Day Finland Program is committed to supporting applicants in the relocation process, including identifying growth opportunities for the company, introductions to city leaders and policy makers, and arranging accommodation.
But there are pitfalls here. Only 15 people can apply. Over the past few years, the scheme has attracted well over 5,000 applicants within a month, with most interest coming from the United States and Canada.
Why should an entrepreneur move to Finland?
Run by Helsinki Partners, a non-profit organization that attracts international talent and investment in the city, the program’s organizers profess their mission to ‘fall in love’ with the Nordic capital.
If a morning dip in the sub-zero sea, a lunchtime trip to the sauna or skiing after work doesn’t appeal to you, our Helsinki partners want you to know that the country is also a hotbed for startups. increase.
Last year, the total amount of venture capital funding raised by Finnish start-ups exceeded €1.3 billion (approximately $1.4 billion). The Finnish startup received the most VC funding in Europe in 2020, according to Invest Europe statistics. He is 77% ahead of the UK in second place.
“Helsinki is home to some of the most innovative businesses in the world. The freedom to try and error is part of what makes Helsinki so unique. It’s about learning what works and what doesn’t.”
Most notably, the ‘happiest country in the world’ is home to shiny new data centers from Nokia, Angry Birds and Google, with about 2,267 startups and scale-ups.
New entrants, especially from the United States, are reportedly attracted not only by the country’s entrepreneurial culture, but also by its universal healthcare system, generous parental leave, work-life balance, and low crime rate. According to Visit Finland, 11 of the 12 lost wallets have been returned to their owners.
As such, 20% of the program’s last two year graduates still live in the city today. The scheme claims to support those who wish to apply for a residence permit and stay longer than 90 days.
Entrepreneur and former participant Damon Hernandez said he chose to stay in Helsinki because it gives him “a real work-life balance that no other city has.”
“My daily routine is completely different. Now I have more free time to do things that are completely unrelated to work and there is a real close-knit community atmosphere,” he added.
Applications for the program are open from January 24, 2023 to February 24, 2023.
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