Events about entrepreneurship for immigrants

An event for those interested in entrepreneurship, those considering entrepreneurship, and service developers

📅 Thursday 20.8.2026 10:00–12:45
📍 DEFINE Hub, Pohjoinen asemakatu 5, Riihimäki (free parking)
👉 Register here (zef.fi)

What support does an immigrant need in the early stages of entrepreneurship? How can services be found more easily? What is the clear path from an idea, expertise or company to the next?

Your Idea – A Common Path brings together those interested in entrepreneurship, entrepreneurs, business service experts, training providers and other actors in the region. The event aims to strengthen a common understanding of how the Riihimäki region can support the path towards entrepreneurship, especially for international experts and people considering entrepreneurship.

The event is part of the Entrepreneurship Service Ecosystem for Immigrants project, which develops clearer service pathways, support that strengthens entrepreneurial capabilities, and regional cooperation. The event will feature entrepreneurial stories, discussions, and work together to find practical solutions.

Who is the event intended for?

This event is suitable for you if:

• you are interested in entrepreneurship or are considering starting your own business
• you are considering a business name, light entrepreneurship or selling your own expertise
• you are already an entrepreneur and want to develop your operations or find new networks
• you work in business services, education, employment services or integration
• You want to be involved in developing a clearer and more accessible entrepreneurial service path for the Riihimäki region.

Why participate?

By participating, you will have an impact on the development of entrepreneurial services in the Riihimäki region. You will also gain information about the services in the area, meet other actors, and share your own experiences, needs, and ideas.

The event offers an opportunity to build new connections and strengthen a common goal: that a good idea, expertise or interest in entrepreneurship does not remain alone, but that there is a clear next step for it.

The Program

10:00–10:30 Coffee and networking

A relaxed start where participants can get to know each other and tune in to the day's themes.

10.30–10.35 From idea to experiment – ​​from experiment to path
Integration Manager Juha Hiltunen
Juha is a brave innovator who experiments and tests new operating models to promote integration and internationalization.

10.35–10.55 Where did courage come from?
Entrepreneur Sarah Nieminen, SBN Cleaning Services
Sarah would have liked to go straight to work when she arrived in Finland. Her enthusiasm was not dampened by bureaucracy and language learning. Work and contacts led her to run her own business alongside her paid job.

10.55–11.15 Entrepreneurship, emotional intelligence and the courage to make decisions
Partner, emotional intelligence coach Pavel Maksimenko, Adeptus
A story of growth from an errand boy to a leader, from a leader to an entrepreneur and an advocate for emotional intelligence

11.15–11.45 Panel: From a spark to your own path
Where does the spark of entrepreneurship come from, what kind of obstacles does an immigrant face in the early stages of entrepreneurship, and what kind of support helps them take the next step?

Workshop

Workshop 1: Awakening and coaching entrepreneurial identity

Come and discuss the hopes and challenges of entrepreneurship among immigrants. How can immigrants be inspired to become entrepreneurs? How would you like to receive information and coaching about entrepreneurship in Finland?

The workshop is suitable for you if you are interested in entrepreneurship, are considering a business name, light entrepreneurship or selling your own expertise, or you already have a company whose operations you would like to develop.

The workshop will consider what a clear and functional service path for an entrepreneur who has immigrated to the country would look like. Themes include personal advice, access to financing, and the development of a new idea competition.

The workshop is in Finnish.

Workshop 2: The service path of an international startup entrepreneur in Finland

Are you interested in startup entrepreneurship? Do you have experience in starting a startup in Finland? What services would you like to support your entrepreneurship or business?

Come and share your thoughts on what the best possible service path for an international startup entrepreneur would be.

We will also tell you how you can participate and influence our project, including mentoring, events and competitions.

Workshop 2: Services for International Startup Entrepreneurs in Finland

Are you interested in startup entrepreneurship? Do you have experience founding a startup in Finland? What services would you like to see to support your entrepreneurship and your company?

Join us to share your thoughts on what the best possible service pathway for international startup entrepreneurs might look like.

We will also tell you how you can participate in and influence our project's activities, including mentoring, events, and competitions.

Workshop 3: Service path for employing sectors

What kind of practical support is needed to start a business, choose a business name, become a light entrepreneur, or develop an existing business? How does a customer get directed to the right service?

The workshop will focus on entrepreneurship in particular in employment sectors and how services can support the initial stages of entrepreneurship in the most practical way possible.

Joint demolition and continuation

12.45 Closing of the event

👉 Registration link: Register here (zef.fi)

Places are limited, so we recommend registering early.

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Entrepreneurs' Morning Coffee: More business

📍 Café Laurell, Hämeenkatu 30, Riihimäki
📅 Friday 21.8.2026
🕗 8:00–9:00

Welcome to the entrepreneurs' morning coffee! A light breakfast is offered by International House Riihimäki.

Can your company attract new customers? We are building a local network to provide services to entrepreneurs with an international background.

If you offer services to other companies, come and hear and discuss how we can together improve the visibility and accessibility of your services. At the same time, we will introduce the IHR Trainee program that is currently in development and explain how it can support the development of companies in Riihimäki.

🤝 The event is free and open to all entrepreneurs - welcome!
🗓️ Remember to register by Tue 18.8. at 23.59 p.m
👉  Register at this link (link opens in a new page)

International experts as a resource for corporate growth – Sitra's national dialogue series discussion

📅 Thursday 3.9. 10.00-12.00
📍Riihimäki Library, Samuli Paronen Hall
👉 registration opens for the public 15.8. (70 seats), seats can be reserved for those who register in advance.
🤝 The event is free and open to all interested parties – you are welcome to join us!

Working life is becoming more international, but are we ready for it?

How can companies find, hire and retain international experts? What does an increasingly international working life mean for companies' everyday lives, work communities and the entire Riihimäki region? And what should we do differently so that experts don't just come here - but also find their place and stay?

The discussion event brings together entrepreneurs, employers, international experts and representatives of economic development, employment and integration services. The aim is not to find one right answer, but to better understand different experiences and identify what is needed next in Riihimäki.

The Program

The event will be hosted by Miki Wallenius.
Miki is a well-known journalist for Yle who has served as a presenter at various business and growth events.

10:00–10:10 Welcome – why do we need to talk about this right now?
Integration Manager Juha Hiltunen

Juha is a brave innovator who experiments and tests new operating models to promote integration and internationalization.

10.10–10.30 Riihimäki's demographic development and the importance of immigration
Laura Koivisto-Khazaal, leading expert at MDI

Laura has 15+ years of work experience in immigration, integration and employment-related topics from Finland and Canada. At MDI, Laura leads the two-year Finnish Future Makers project.

The speech creates a common picture of the situation for the discussion:

• What does the meeting of international experts and companies look like in Kanta-Häme?
• Where have we succeeded?
• Where are the biggest obstacles?
• What could companies, services and the region do differently?

10.30–10.40 From experience to discussion

A short transition from introduction to joint discussion.

Participants discuss the question with a partner: When was the last time international competence, language or immigration was concretely visible in your own work, company or everyday life?

A few observations will be raised for joint discussion.

10.40–11.25 Discussion: international experts as a resource for corporate growth

• Erja Eiro, entrepreneur, Eiro Works Oy and Riihimäen Yrittäjät
• Marja Heinimäki, CEO, Riihimäki-Hyvinkää Chamber of Commerce
• Kati Ringman, Executive Director of Hämeen Settlement
• Jonne Nieminen, Employment Advisor for Foreign Speakers, International House Riihimäki
• Anu Talja, Administrative Director, Lasiliiri Oy

The discussion will examine the topic from the perspectives of companies, international experts and the region. The discussion will be guided by questions such as:

• What is more difficult than often thought in labor immigration and international recruitment?
• What prevents companies from hiring international talent?
• Is the real challenge finding experts, language, the readiness of the work community, the service system, or something else entirely?
• How does the language issue appear in practice in the workplace?
• What makes an international expert stay in Riihimäki?
• How much responsibility does the company have for the employee's settlement and integration?
• What will working life in Riihimäki look like in ten years if we succeed in this? What if we fail?

The goal is not to have a traditional panel where everyone takes turns using a prepared speech. The panelists are challenged to listen to each other, build on each other's ideas, and also bring out different experiences.

11.25–11.45 The whole hall: what should Riihimäki do next?

The discussion will be opened to all participants.

Common questions:

• What can companies do themselves?
• What should the city and services do differently?
• What one thing would make it the most easy for an international talent to find employment?
• What would make Riihimäki a place to come to – and also to stay?

11.45–11.55 One insight – one action

Each participant pauses for a moment to reflect:

• What in this discussion changed or clarified my own thinking?
• What is one concrete thing that should be done next?

Those who are willing share their thoughts together.

11.55–12.00 Thank you and what next?

Compilation of key findings from the discussion.

What did we hear?
What was bothering you?
What should be taken forward?

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The essence of the event

This is not a seminar or a traditional panel discussion.

The event begins with a shared overview, but the main focus is on experiences and genuine discussion. The panelists do not come to present ready-made solutions, but to explore together the question: How can companies win in the international competition for talent – ​​and at the same time make Riihimäki a more accepting labor market?