Find health tech gems in Helsinki

Slush, the world’s leading startup event, is organised annually in Helsinki, Finland.

Health innovations are one of the hottest growth sectors and Helsinki is one of the hottest places for investing in health tech.

Just to name a few recent high-profile Finnish deals: Oura Ring raised $100 million and is now valued at more than $2 billion. Nightingale Health had an IPO last year and Mobidiag was acquired by the US-based Hologic in a $808 million deal.

Even more good news is coming, like how Kaiku Health entered a strategic partnership with Swiss giant Roche and how Meru Health won a major grant from the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health.

Helsinki health startups are making significant, profitable innovations to improve people’s health and wellbeing on a global scale.

So what’s the secret to the success of Finnish health companies?

It’s not a secret at all, to be honest, but it is due to a unique set of circumstances. We’re eager to talk about what’s happening in the Finnish capital region and explain the ingredients which go into our ecosystem:

• High-quality health data open for researchers
• Thriving entrepreneurial culture and the world’s leading startup event Slush
• Deep tech development, especially within machine learning, quantum computing and 5G/6G telecommunications
• Digital application development expertise
• Unique understanding of medical solution usability design
• World-class public healthcare system
• Tight collaborative operating model between academics and companies
• Fast adaptation of digitalisation in all areas of Finnish society
• Large, highly educated domestic and international talent pool

In a nutshell, Helsinki has a unique research environment, strong digital skills, quality Nordic healthcare and a culture of entrepreneurship and cooperation. These factors result in fantastic health and wellbeing startups which expand on a global scale.