The President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö granted the Internationalisation Award of the President of the Republic to the national growth company sparring programme Kasvu Open on Wednesday, November 14, 2018.
The Internationalisation Award of the President of the Republic is a recognition granted each year to Finnish companies that have gained international success, and to the organisations behind them. Members of the Team Finland network select companies and organisations that are deserving of the award and present their proposal to the President of the Republic.
“We are surprised and extremely proud at the same time. The Internationalisation Award granted by the President of the Republic is an important recognition of the work we have done in supporting the growth and internationalisation of small and medium-sized companies. This is all thanks to the entire Kasvu Open network, our national partners, and especially the 1,500 experts who have shared their expertise and contacts to help the SMEs,” says CEO Uljas Valkeinen.
The companies selected for Kasvu Open aim for international growth, and Kasvu Open supports this goal by offering the companies new perspectives, contacts and networks. According to Kasvu Open’s Kasvajat report, 82 per cent of the companies that participate in Kasvu Open aim to expand their operations outside of Finland within the next 3–5 years. Kasvu Open opens the door to the world for Finnish SMEs and encourages them to take the leap to grow their business. During the past five years, Kasvu Open has provided sparring and coaching to a total of 1,652 companies. Approximately 400 Finnish SMEs with the drive to develop and grow their business both nationally and internationally will get the chance to participate in the free-of-charge sparring programme again next year.
“SME growth is Finland’s biggest opportunity. We believe that every growth-hungry company should have a chance – whether they are based in the Helsinki metropolitan area or Lapland. Kasvu Open has been made possible through the combined efforts of the Finnish growth company network that shares a sense of responsibility and strong commitment to work for the common good. Our shared vision is to make Finland the best business growth environment in the world,” says Valkeinen.
In the media:
– Tasavallan presidentin kansainvälistymispalkinnot Icarelle, M-Filesille ja Kasvu Openille (Talouselämä – in Finnish)
– Tasavallan presidentin kansainvälistymispalkinnot Icarelle, M-Filesille ja Kasvu Openille (Kauppalehti – in Finnish)
Innovestor is a shareholder in Kasvun Roihu, a Jyväskylä based company whose mission is to be Finland’s most remarkable inspirer for companies to grow and a window for them to enter the global market. This is accomplished by building platforms where innovative companies can find relevant growth partners. Their most well-known platforms are Kasvu Open, the largest and most effective business coaching program in Finland, and Grow to Market, which connects companies with the best partners for a swift and efficient market entry to China, USA and Sweden.
Together Innovestor and Kasvun Roihu offer a unique service model for Finnish growth companies: sparring growth-oriented companies and providing a channel for financing growth with the help of domestic and international investors.
More about Kasvun Roihu: www.roihu.com
More about Kasvu Open: www.kasvuopen.fi
