Mentoring Program
“Our mentoring programs are more than job search coaching. They create bridges between experience and ambition. When 62 percent of participants find employment during or after the program, we see how this work changes opportunities for people with a migrant background.”
— Arkan Aal-Owayef, Skills Development Manager, Startup Refugees
About the Program
The Startup Refugees Mentoring Program connects highly educated migrants and refugees with experienced professionals working across different sectors in Finland. The program offers personalized guidance, industry insights and valuable networks that support participants in entering and navigating Finnish working life. Through the mentoring relationship, newcomers gain a clearer understanding of career opportunities, workplace culture and the expectations of employers in Finland.
In 2025, the Mentoring Program was organized in collaboration with professionals from Tietoevry and Netlight.
Over the Years
Over the years, our mentoring efforts have steadily expanded, bringing together people from different fields, cultures and professional backgrounds. We have organized nine mentoring programs in close collaboration with companies and organisations such as Tietoevry, Netlight, Sweco, Telia, Plan International, Amnesty, Diakonissalaitos, and Nordea, partnering with professionals who share their expertise and open doors to new possibilities.
Starting with ICT-focused mentoring in 2018, we have since added programs for business professionals with Nordea, engineers in collaboration with Sweco, and an NGO-focused program in 2025.
These partnerships ensure that the program reflects real labour market needs and provides participants with relevant, up-to-date knowledge and connections, helping highly educated migrants build their futures in Finland.
Why Mentoring Matters
Finland is facing a significant shortage of skilled professionals.
- 68% of companies report difficulties finding suitable talent
- Shortages are highest in IT, data, technical roles, sales, and marketing
- An aging population and a shrinking workforce increase the need for international expertise
The mentoring program helps newcomers bring their experience into Finnish working life while helping companies access new talent.
In 2025, we organized specialized hackathon for our mentees.
Impact
Since the mentoring program began in 2018:
- 9 different mentoring programs: ICT, NGO, Engineering and Business related
- 148 mentor–mentee pairs have participated
- 62% of participants have found employment in their own field
- 52% secured a job within six months of completing the program
- Participants have found positions such as software engineers, data analysts, and various information management roles
The 2025 program brought together 26 mentors and 26 mentees.
Participants, Mentors and the Human Connection
Our mentees come from countries such as Sri Lanka, India, Ukraine, Vietnam, Portugal, Benin, Taiwan, Turkey, Iran, and Russia, representing a wide range of academic and professional backgrounds. Mentors bring expertise from fields like software development, game programming, team leadership, finance and other technical, business and creative roles. Each match is carefully made to support meaningful professional growth.
The program has consistently shown that mentoring is more than career guidance. By bringing people together from different backgrounds, it creates supportive relationships that help highly educated migrants move forward in their careers and navigate the challenges of the Finnish labour market.
