Advancing entrepreneurship and innovations

Advancing entrepreneurship and innovations

Aalto University is home to a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem and culture. The ecosystem is powered by both student-led entrepreneurial activities and the university's own research and innovation hubs. 

Research ideas are commercialized in Aalto's incubators and accelerators; students find unforeseeable pathways towards entrepreneurship. Building on this, Aalto fosters a thriving culture of innovation.

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Community of game-changers

Our energetic community consists of both student-led and university-run entrepreneurial activities. For example, both one of the world's leading startup events Slush and Europe's leading creative hackathon Junction were born at Aalto's student community.

    Materials Matter exhibition by Materials Platform at Slush 2018_photo Ariane Relander

    One of Europe's top entrepreneurial hotspots

    Aalto's entrepreneurial community is one of the most active entrepreneurial hubs in the world. MIT has rated Aalto's ecosystem among the rising stars in the world. 

    Addcomposites startup photo Annamari Tolonen

    The startup campus

    Around 100 companies are founded in our ecosystem every year. More than a half of the startups founded in Finnish universities come from Aalto.

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    Cherishing an entrepreneurial mindset

    Entrepreneurship is more attractive than ever – during the past eight years, 10 000 students have taken courses with Aalto Ventures Program. 

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    Inventing the next big thing

    Patent applications from Aalto University have increased fivefold since 2012. Aalto University was fourth in Finland in patent application numbers in 2022. 

    From Ideas to Impact

    Good research ideas turn to tangible societal impact in Aalto's incubators and accelerators. With the help of Aalto Startup Center and Innovation Services, the university provides a wide range of support services for researchers interested in exploring the commercial potential of their results.

    Researchers

    Aalto University Innovation Services

    Aalto Innovation Services manages the commercialization of inventions at Aalto University.

    Advancing entrepreneurship and innovations
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    Aalto Startup Center (external link)

    Aalto Startup Center is a hybrid accelerator participating and leading international incubator and accelerator programs.

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    From Ideas to Impact

    Aalto University has an internationally unique innovation ecosystem.

    Advancing entrepreneurship and innovations

    Get to know the entrepreneurship community and join events

    Aalto University's vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem has spawned a wide variety of innovative communities and initiatives over the past decade. Slush, Dash, and Junction are good examples of events that were born out of our student communities.

    Aalto Entrepreneurship Society is where many students first get their spark for entrepreneurship.

    Through A Grid, early-stage startups get direct access to the vast networks of Aalto University and the Otaniemi campus.

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    A Grid (external link)

    A Grid is one of the largest centers for growth companies in Northern Europe, housing e.g. startups and accelerators. Find a space for your company!

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    Aalto Entrepreneurship Society (external link)

    Europe’s largest and most active student-run entrepreneurship community.

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    FallUp (external link)

    Europe’s largest entrepreneurship event for and by students, founded to inspire future entrepreneurs.

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    Junction (external link)

    One of the world’s largest hackathons where the teams have 48 hours to create solutions to real-life challenges.

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    HEL Tech (external link)

    Monthly tech meetup that brings together experts and startups from different fields.

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    Dash (external link)

    Hackathon for design-minded people, focusing on the design process at its purest.

    Slushin ja Aallon yhteistyöbanneeri

    Aalto University and the startup event Slush

    Aalto University and Slush share a long history together.

    Advancing entrepreneurship and innovations

    Tools for creating an entrepreneurial mindset

    Starting Up is a free, open access online course covering the fundamentals of startup entrepreneurship It is the university’s way of equipping a wider pool of prospective entrepreneurs with fundamental skills.

    In the future, entrepreneurial education will be offered across all Aalto University schools.

    Starting Up Pic: Aalto University

    Starting Up online course

    The open access online course covers the fundamentals of startup entrepreneurship

    Study at Aalto
    Entrepreneurship

    School of Business (external link)

    Department of Management Studies provides entrepreneurship education and a research programme on entrepreneurship.

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    Aalto Ventures Program (external link)

    The program prepares students for high-growth entrepreneurship through top-level education and curricular activities.

    Find an incubator or accelerator for your company

    There are several different incubator and accelerator services for early-stage startups in the Aalto University ecosystem.

    Kiuas Start and Aalto Entrepreneurship Society's Ignite programs are intended for early-stage teams with initial ideas they wish to bring to life and create a concrete business out of it.

    What if...

    Stories from Aalto's community of entrepreneurially wired thinkers and doers.

    What if... entrepreneurship education was available for all?

    In recent years, the startup community has focused on inspiring the next generation of entrepreneurs. We think they’re inspired enough. Now, it’s time to start doing.

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    What if... your business could benefit from a hybrid accelerator?

    Aalto Startup Centre offers an on-demand tailored program for startups’ needs.

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    What if... good user experiences don't just happen by accident?

    Experience design is a mindset that explores what the end-user truly needs and expects.

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    What if... entrepreneurship was the best tool for building a better future?

    The best practices for a sustainable future will spread more efficiently if they also make sense financially.

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    What if... you've overlooked an important asset?

    Make your business thrive with a holistic take on design.

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    What if... the pandemic is an acid test of our creativity?

    Learnings from the COVID-19 crisis in Finnish food and beverage startups.

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    What if... we worked with more people unlike ourselves?

    Top-performing teams often have people from diverse backgrounds, and it’s no coincidence.

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    What if nanotech could save lives?

    Xfold Imaging’s innovative solutions enable the study of cellular structures and bio-molecules at a nano-scale resolution which has, up until now, not been possible. Looking this deep will give earlier diagnostics to stop disease outbreaks in their tracks, allow pharmaceutical companies to design better drugs.

    photo: Aleksi Neuvonen
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