Startup Refugees Entrepreneurship Awards
One of the only awards in Finland supporting newcomer entrepreneurs
Are you a newcomer entrepreneur, or hoping to become one soon? Do you already have a clear business idea in mind? The next application period, dedicated to women, opens 5 September 2026 and ends 4 October 2026!
The problem
Startup Refugees has supported newcomers in finding jobs and starting businesses since 2015. Over 1300 have participated in our Business Program and more than 140 companies have been established with our support. Everyday, we are blown away by the innovative business ideas and high entrepreneurial spirit of newcomers.
In Finland, around 33% of all entrepreneurs are women and female founders receive only 6 % of the startup funding. The underrepresented founders struggle the most to get funding. Only 1% of tech founders self-identify as Black, Caribbean, or African.
Refugee and migrant founders in general are lacking role models and support systems. Our goal is to help them to build profitable businesses in Finland.
We see a problem.
Our solution – Tens of thousands raised to spark the change
We believe that refugees and other newcomers bring huge economic and human potential to Finland. This is why we have established the Startup Refugees Entrepreneurship Awards, which offers support for newcomer founders.
The funding is meant for all founders and teams that have a promising business idea or a running business but are not attracting investors yet.
The recipients of the funding are selected by an external jury which consists of Startup Refugees network members, individuals, and experienced newcomer entrepreneurs.
Female Edition 2026
Did you know women made up around 40% of entrepreneurs worldwide in 2025? Yet all-female founding teams received only ~2% of global venture capital. Most funding still goes to the three white guys in the garage.
In 2026, we decided to place a special focus on supporting migrant women entrepreneurs in cooperation with The Foundher Table. The funding is meant for all migrant female founders that have a promising business idea or are running a business but are not attracting investors yet.
The new funding round starts in autumn 2026. The recipients of the Award are decided by a jury of independent experts, Startup Refugees staff, and network members from diverse backgrounds. The program culminates in an event where 3–5 winners are awarded with investments of €5,000–€10,000. The winners will also receive mentoring, networks and support so that a promising idea can grow into a sustainable company.
Invest & support female founders 2026
By partnering with us and investing in the Awards, you are supporting underrepresented founders and building a more equal, diverse, and vibrant business ecosystem. All company contributions go directly to seed investments, mentoring, and founder support within the 2026 program. Let’s discuss how your organization can be involved!
Partner with us
Maiju Mitrunen / Head of Partnerships
maiju@startuprefugees.com
+358 50 365 7356
Winners 2025
Meet some of our founders
Over a thousand newcomers have participated in the Startup Refugees Business Program. Natsuki and Saifullah are one of them.
Natsuki Hosio –
Itookäsi Mizuhiki
Natsuki creates handmade accessories using traditional Japanese MIZUHIKI cord, blending cultural craftsmanship with contemporary design.
“I’ve been working hard to introduce MIZUHIKI to a new audience. Building recognition for a traditional art form takes time, but seeing people connect with my work here in Finland motivates me to keep growing.”
Saifullah Albrazanchi – Mesopotamia HKI
Saifullah runs a growing delivery and courier service in Helsinki, offering fast and dependable transport for customers across the city.
“It’s been challenging to expand without visibility or the right digital tools. Even though the business has strong demand, accessing the support needed to scale as a newcomer in Finland hasn’t been easy.”
Frequently asked questions:
Who runs these awards?
The Startup Refugees Entrepreneurship Awards is administrated by Startup Refugees, a Finnish non-profit organization supporting refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants in entrepreneurship and employment. The non-profit association behind Startup Refugees is called Phoenix ry, which has a history of supporting newcomers in starting businesses since 2015.
Why donate to the awards? How do I donate?
The Startup Refugees Entrepreneurship Awards is for pioneering companies that want to encourage immigrant entrepreneurship. Donating to the awards is a great way to bring these topics alive and communicate values internally and externally.
A company can donate to the awards by contacting our Head of Partnerships, Maiju Mitrunen.
- maiju@startuprefugees.com
- +358 50 365 7356
Individuals cannot unfortunately donate due to legal reasons. We are always looking for new partners and ready to build a tailored CSR or Diversity & Inclusion Program related to Startup Refugees Entrepreneurship Awards. Just reach out, and let’s plan it together!
Who can apply for the awards?
The next round of funding is meant for female founders, specifically refugees and/or individuals from underrepresented immigrant backgrounds (the Global South). Learn more about the application criteria here!
A new funding round starts each autumn.
How are the award winners decided?
In the first round the recipients of the awards are shortlisted by a jury consisting of Startup Refugees team members. In the second round an official jury is established with two representatives or experienced individuals and with one entrepreneur representative coming from a migrant or refugee background.
How are the applications scored?
We use a clear scoring model (0–5 points per category):
Business Viability (max 5 points)
Financial Potential (max 5 points)
Execution Ability (max 5 points)
Impact of the Award (max 5 points)
Scalability & Growth (max 5 points)
Sustainability & Ethics (max 5 points)
For what reasons are applications rejected?
Applications will be rejected if you are:
- A current or former Startup Refugees staff or board member
- A family member of a current or former Startup Refugees staff or board member
- A past year’s winner of the award
Your business is:
- Ethically, socially, or environmentally harmful
- Does not support sustainable development (e.g. reselling unsustainably produced products)
- Based on reselling low-value imported goods without innovation
Your business model is:
- Unclear
- Unrealistic
- Lacks detail
Is the awarded amount taxable?
Award payments are generally taxable income for the recipient under Finnish tax legislation. The recipient is responsible for their personal or business taxation, and Startup Refugees will report payments to the Finnish Incomes Register as required by law.
How can the award be used and what are the restrictions?
The award can be used for the following:
- Prototyping and product development
- Market testing
- Equipment (small-scale)
- Business development activities
- Recruiting costs
- Business actions that respect ethical labor practices, human rights, diversity, equity, and inclusion
The award cannot be used for the following:
- Arms production/distribution (including prohibited weapons), tobacco production and distribution, or adult entertainment
- Causing forced migration (e.g. committing environmental violations)
- Engaging in labour exploitation or abuse
- Buying, selling, or partnering with any companies or individuals who have committed significant human rights violations (including child exploitation, systemic corruption, or forced labour)
- Buying, selling, or partnering with any companies or individuals that appear on UN sanctions lists or violate UN resolutions
Any illegal or unethical activity will remove or revoke the grant of the recognition or suspend its use immediately without any notice or compensation. Applicants must provide additional documentation and allow Startup Refugees visits for evaluation if requested.
Are there any reporting requirements?
Awardees will be requested to provide an update on the progress mid-year and a report on results at the end of the award period, although they are encouraged to share any results or milestones with Startup Refugees at any time.
Companies are encouraged to submit updates on progress throughout the year, particularly when the status of the implementation of their commitment has changed. Startup Refugees may communicate on the trends on the implementation of commitments based upon the updates received.
All awarded companies are invited to present their final results and findings in the final report submitted to Startup Refugees in the course of one year (12 months) after receiving the award.