HELSINKI — Fresh off the inspiring EBAN Congress 2026 in Vilnius, a regional delegation has arrived in Helsinki to forge strategic ties with the powerhouse Finnish startup and investment ecosystem during targeted meetings at the Maria 01 Campus and FiBAN (Finnish Business Angels Network).
The Nordic Tech Standard: The delegation explored Maria 01, the Nordics’ leading startup campus, which hosts over 2,000 community members and 230 in-house startups that have collectively raised over €1 billion.
Angel Investment Powerhouse: Meetings with FiBAN—one of Europe’s largest angel networks with over 600 investor members—highlighted structured growth models. In 2025 alone, FiBAN members channeled €57 million into early-stage Finnish startups.
The mission serves as a vital bridge to connect Nordic investment maturity with the developing innovation landscape of the Western Balkans. EMKICE KIC, SPACE Park Skopje, and the ACRID Network are leveraging these insights to build future cooperation frameworks across Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia.
The focus remains on channeling European knowledge and investor connections to the region, specifically targeting soft-landing programs, startup acceleration, AI, smart cities, and the green and digital transition.
