Founder Forward: Crowdfunding Workshop

Founder Forward: Crowdfunding Workshop

📅 Wed 2.9.2026, 16:30-19:00 (open Kaskadi before the event, 12:00-15:30)

📍 Kaskadi, Business Helsinki Office, Innovation Home

🗣 In English

Produced by: Business Helsinki X Culture4Flow
In collaboration with International Startup Founders Finland, Startup Refugees & Think Africa

Accessing funding is one of the biggest bottlenecks for entrepreneurs in Finland - instruments are limited, match-funding requirements are often demanding, and competition is high. Founder Forward is Business Helsinki's monthly gathering for international entrepreneurs and founding teams, built around structured learning, peer support, networks, and practical tools.

This fall's first workshop focuses on crowdfunding as an alternative: how to plan and run a successful campaign, and what to handle yourself versus what to delegate. It's aimed at founders who want to raise money to cover match-funding requirements, show traction to investors, build a customer base, fund proof-of-concept development, or find the right people to work with.

Programme:

Open doors in Kaskadi (4th floor, Innovation Home, Kamppi) 12:00-15:30 - drop in to work on your projects, meet other entrepreneurs, and get to know the office, people, and services.

Workshop & Group Sessions 16:30-19:00:
- 16:30 Workshop begins
- 16:45 Crowdfunding campaign case
- 17:05 Exercise: What would a crowdfunding campaign look like in your case?
- 17:25 Break
- 17:40 Identifying what you are missing | Culture4Flow - Supercharge Your People
- 18:00 Meet advisors and potential mentors/co-founders, discuss your cases with other founders, or attend a group session with:
- Niklas Green, Commercial Director, Invesdor Oy
- Philippe Arnez, CEO, Culture4Flow
- Ekaterina Gianelli, Venture Partner, Calm/Storm

The workshop is facilitated by Marika Makaroff - award-winning Finnish content creator, producer, and creative leader with 25+ years of experience. She founded Gutsy Animations in 2016, which continues today as Gutsy Pictures. Makaroff is the creator, Creative Director, and Executive Producer of the Emmy Award-nominated Moominvalley, which has reached audiences in more than 80 territories. Her career includes roles as Creative Director at Fremantle Media and Filmlance International, and CEO of FremantleMedia Finland and Friday TV in Sweden.