Snacka Stage: Suomi Caravan

Introduction: Building a company in a new country means making constant decisions, and for immigrant entrepreneurs in Finland, language is one of the biggest. Snacka Stage: Suomi Caravan brings founders, specialists, and entrepreneurship leaders together to explore whether Finnish is a challenge, an opportunity, or a genuine business advantage. Pitch your idea, join the panel, and connect with other founders while practicing real entrepreneurial Finnish along the way. Who can attend? This event is for entrepreneurs, startup founders, aspiring entrepreneurs, professionals, and students interested in business, especially those with an immigrant background, or anyone curious about Finland's startup scene. You don't need to pitch to attend; come to listen, ask questions, meet other founders, and join the conversation about how language shapes entrepreneurship in Finland. Why should you attend? Pitch your business idea in front of a real audience Hear real experience from founders and ecosystem leaders — No theory Get free Snacka speaking practice, built for networking & pitching Build your network among immigrant founders in Finland What will happen? 16:00 — Arrival & Mingle — Arrive, meet other participants, and start conversations. 16:30 — Panel Discussion — Hear practical perspectives on Finnish, English, and building a business in Finland. 17:00 — Pitching & Questions — Listen to startup pitches and join the discussion with your questions. 17:45–18:30 — Mingle & Wrap-up — Continue networking and informal conversations before leaving. Panel The Language Edge: Finnish, English, and the Business of Building in Finland Every founder building a business in Finland eventually faces the same question: how much does language actually matter? Is Finnish something you need to get by, a tool that opens doors with customers and partners, or, used well, a genuine competitive edge? In this panel, entrepreneurs and specialists who've built and supported companies across Finland's startup ecosystem share what's actually worked for them: when English was enough, when Finnish made the difference, and how they've navigated the space in between. Expect a direct, practical conversation grounded in real experience, followed by an open floor for your own questions. Speakers Dr. Afnan Zafar: Innovation and Sustainability Specialist with 10+ years of experience in RDI, EU projects, and business development across Finland and Europe. (LinkedIn) Oleg Oleinicov: Founder and Software Architect, running his own company in Finland for several years. Who can pitch? This event is for entrepreneurs, startup founders, aspiring entrepreneurs, professionals and students interested in business especially those with an immigrant background, or anyone curious about Finland's startup scene. You don't need to pitch to attend come to listen, ask questions, meet other founders, and join the conversation about how language shapes entrepreneurship in Finland. Snacka Experience All attendees receive free access to Snacka, a speaking-practice app for immigrants, with scenarios built specifically for this event: networking and pitching a business idea. Snacka was founded by Raisa Haikala, who brings years of experience teaching Finnish to adult immigrants, along with her own experience as an immigrant in four different countries. As Snacka puts it: every immigrant deserves a voice. Organizers: Caravantures:A Finland-based accelerator and ecosystem platform supporting founders with immigrant and diaspora backgrounds as they build and scale companies. Snacka:A speaking-practice app helping immigrants build confidence in the local language through real scenarios, not classes. Founded by Raisa Haikala. Location & Venue Business Vantaa Hub 📍 Elannontie 3, Vantaa, Finland