Northern Light is for early-stage international startups looking to enter the European market through Finland. You should have a company registered in some country. You can also apply if you are already in Finland and have at least one non-Finnish co-founder or team member.

• Sector and Technology: Software based startup in any sector. If there is a hardware element it should have the necessary approvals already to be sold in the EU market.
• Traction: Should have existing users already, not necessarily paying users.
• The product should be ready to demo live and onboard new users immediately.

You don’t need to relocate to Finland fully — you can join some sessions onsite and others online. We only require full in-person participation for four weeks: the first two and final two weeks of the program. However, we do give preference to startups that are able to be present for the entire duration. We believe the best outcomes come from being part of the local ecosystem, collaborating face-to-face, and experiencing the unique culture and community here.

Yes, there is a cost to participating in the program. The cost is €2,000 (Incl. VAT) per startup (up to two co-founders). This covers the program, activities and a desk space for three months at Maria 01. The full amount needs to be paid before the program starts, in order for you to confirm your place.

 No — we do not take any equity in exchange for participation in the program.

We estimate the program value to be around €150,000, considering the workshops, expert speakers and mentorship, and events included. However, your only contribution is the program participation fee (see the question above for details). This means you keep 100% ownership of your company.

We are not able to provide guidance regarding visas. However, if necessary, we can write an invitation letter to ease the process after you have been accepted to the program. For detailed information on the application process and requirements, please visit the official websites of Business Finland or Migri (Finnish Immigration Service), or contact Sisu Factory. You are responsible for flights and personal arrangements, but we’ll help make it as smooth as possible.

We look for teams that are:

Most teams are in the pre-seed to seed stage, with a prototype, MVP, or initial users. You don’t need revenue yet — but you should have a clear hypothesis and market insight.

We don’t invest directly, and we don’t provide investor introductions as part of this program. But if you decide to remain a member of Maria 01 after the program by purchasing a membership, our team can support you going forward with information about how to reach out to investors in the ecosystem.

We’re with you beyond the three-month program— after the program, you’ll have the opportunity to remain part of the Maria 01 community if you apply for a membership. You’ll have the option to apply for an ongoing office or co-working space as a member. We’ll help you connect with partners to explore any available funding or grant options to support your continued presence in Finland if needed.

Once you submit your application (and confirm the deadline has not passed), our team will review it carefully. You can expect to receive an update from us within the stated review period.

There’s no need to follow up — we promise to reach out to every applicant. Please note that contacting us separately will not speed up the process, but rest assured that each application is reviewed with attention and care.

We run two accelerator programs each year, each with a dedicated application period. Check this website for the current application dates. If no application period is open at the moment, you can sign up for our mailing list below to stay informed about when the next application window opens.