Startup Sauna started out as one week long Bootcamp back in 2010. Since then we’ve been connecting the most promising startups from the region to the brightest entrepreneurs, investors and industry experts through our events and programs. Startup Sauna has gone on to have over 240 startups from 27 different countries participating in its accelerator program and those startups have collectively raised over 240 million euros in funding after the program. Over 150 of these startups are still alive and kicking.
We have organised 300 events in all corners of the world with the help of our top notch coaches, alumni and local partners who have all put in countless hours year after year to make it all possible.
Startup Sauna has always been all about doing things our own way. We have created and grown the “pay it forward” coaching mentality in the region and helped hundreds of startups with a zero equity model. We fused the young and old generations to learn from one and other, seen shy geeks transforming into rockstars, organised amazing demo days with sauna and thrown unforgettable parties.
But back in the day, we launched Startup Sauna to fix a problem. There weren’t many domestic investors in our region and the region didn’t appear on the radar screen of international VCs. The ambition and talent has always been evident but funding was broken which was holding back rest of the ecosystem.
Looking back at the amazing journey of Startup Sauna accelerator, our region is now clearly one of the globally recognised startup hotspots. There are more funds available than ever before, both domestic and international. The region is nurturing new unicorns and we’re seeing more IPOs and exits. Thanks to all our startups, coaches and partners, we can proudly conclude that the original mission of Startup Sauna has been accomplished.
After 16 batches, it is time to hang up the towels and let the wood burn out one last time. We have decided not to hold any more batches of our accelerator program. We want to enable the new generation and let fresh groundbreaking ideas grow.
But have no fear, Startup Sauna, the space, will continue to exist and to support entrepreneurial activities going forward! Our doors are still open and the entities working from the building will continue the amazing work of creating new initiatives and ideas that help entrepreneurs and early stage companies.
