Inspiration to boost entrepreneurship

Every year, up to 100 new companies are established by the Aalto community. This is half of all the companies founded at universities in Finland. Over the past six years, more than 3,700 students have taken part in the Aalto Ventures Program that offers instruction in entrepreneurship. The start-up and tech event, Slush, reached global recognition in the hands of Aalto students. In 2019, as many as 3,500 start-ups, 2,000 investors and 25,000 visitors participated in Slush. 

The Aalto-based start-up community A Grid is one of Europe’s largest community spaces. It brings more than 150 start-ups, small businesses, creative entrepreneurs, accelerators and other partners together under the same roof at the Aalto campus. The aim of Aalto innovation services is to convert research results into positive societal impacts through commercialisation. More than 150 inventions are published and over 10 spinout companies are set up annually. 

Aalto Startup Center is an accelerator that focuses on technology companies in particular and integrates research-based projects with business activities. Some 40 companies are involved, 10
of which operate under ESA BIC Finland which specialises in space technology. 

Aalto Entrepreneurship Society is Europe’s largest and most active student-led entrepreneurship community. It participates in educating and inspiring the next generation of entrepreneurs. Europe’s largest student entrepreneurship event, FallUp, brings together students, start-ups, other companies and head-hunters.

The university’s research group for strategic management and growth entrepreneurship is one of Europe’s leading actors in its field. The unit provides students with learning experiences that open up international career opportunities.

Aalto has a total of 2,500 business partners. Our goal is to build significant, long-term strategic partnerships with companies and public operators. Our partners include, for example, ABB, Saab, Neste, Nokia and Wärtsilä. The collaborative activities include research, teaching, theses, course projects and presence at the campus. Approximately 70 per cent of Aalto master’s theses are done in collaboration with companies.