Leader Viisari ry, Northern Central Finland Vocational College (POKE), Äänekoski Entrepreneurs Association, and Startup Refugees have launched an information-sharing project called SISU Business, funded by the EU’s rural development program. The project aims to create new tools and share knowledge about entrepreneurship in rural northern Central Finland. The goal is to support residents’ entrepreneurial aspirations and enhance the well-being of entrepreneurs.

The region consists mainly of sparsely populated rural areas, where the challenges of entrepreneurship differ from those in cities due to long distances and the service structure. The main goal of the SISU Business project is to raise awareness of new business models, principles of sustainable development, the use of digital tools, and the unique features of rural entrepreneurship.

The project also seeks to promote the mental and physical well-being of entrepreneurs through various experiments. Additionally, it aims to increase awareness of entrepreneurial opportunities among immigrants and native Finns and support their networking. The project’s objectives include strengthening entrepreneurial identity and recognizing entrepreneurial opportunities, thereby enhancing the social sustainability of local businesses. The sense of community among entrepreneurs and their confidence in the future will also grow.