Dreaming big. That is the Boost kind of spirit. Finding the right kind of angle to make your startup fly can be a tricky path: build, measure, learn, repeat for who knows how long? But in order to speed your process you have to go out there! Talk to people and get valuable feedback. Who cares if you haven't setup your company yet. Go out there and gather info from potential customer and try to make sure markets are there.

In Finland it is wonderful to see how helpful the entrepreneurship scene is. It's heart warming to see time after time how people help each other with contacts, ideas and lessons learned. That is why we in Boost strongly value openness. We believe in sharing is the fast track to success.

One of these recent event where we went to share was Polar Bear Pitching 2018 in Oulu. Backbone of the event is the pitching competition that takes place in a freezing cold ice hole where you will pitch your business idea from the water. Besides pitching your idea to potential partners, investors and customers there is also great opportunity to learn new things in the seminar event by listening to keynotes or networking. Evening parties are also full of networking and sometimes even these days warm sauna after cold day is the place to make business.

This year Boost helped four of it's companies to make the trip to Oulu. Startup Journey 2017 winner Gloriana Games, Startup Weekend Turku winner Hearing Me Out, Startup Weekend Runner-Up BlueZone and Polar Bear Pitching finalist 2017 Care Brother. Besides the teams we also had a small task force from Boost board to take part in the activities and to promote our very own Turku based SHIFT Business Festival.

Asmo Saloranta sharing openly about the lessons that he has learned in startups (Photo by Veera Korpela)

Lessons learned by taking part in these SHIFT and Polar Bear Pitching kind of events can not be underestimated. It's the whole international business feeling for couple of days that you just can't get when you sit around your office in your hometown all year along. Here in Boost we strongly recommend taking part in entrepreneurship events in Finland to kick-start your growth. It doesn't have to mean acing pitching competition, but to go out there give yourself a chance to meet magnificent people and learn from them. Going national will Boost you to become international for sure!

Oulu you beautiful beast, we will come back for more! (Photo by Mac Nguyen)

Author: Anssi Ketopaikka

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