In May 2026, The Solutions Fund Effekt impact funding to four projects: Annie Advisor, WorkPilots, ODDfest, and Startup Refugees.
Learn about the projects in this concise three-question Q&A, where the recipients of impact funding share: 1) who they are, 2) how they are improving society, and 3) their initial reactions to the funding decision.
1) Who are you?
Startup Refugees is an organization and social enterprise founded in 2015 that helps refugees living in Finland and others who have moved to Finland find jobs, develop their skills, and start businesses. Over the past ten years, we have built a network of more than 5,000 companies, communities, and individuals and supported thousands of people on their journey into the workforce.
Our starting point is simple: immigration is an opportunity. When people’s skills are recognized and put to use quickly, everyone wins. Finland has a vast pool of international talent, and we are building bridges between skilled workers, employers, and opportunities.
2) How do you improve society?
We demonstrate in practice that refugees and immigrants to Finland are not merely people seeking to integrate, but also skilled individuals, professionals, entrepreneurs, and builders of the future.
Finland needs skilled workers, new businesses, and international networks more than ever. We help people find their place in the workforce and in society as quickly as possible. At the same time, we help companies find skilled workers they wouldn’t otherwise be able to reach.
A more diverse workforce is more innovative, more competitive, and stronger. This is the kind of Finland we are building every day.
3) What are your initial thoughts on the funding decision?
We were—and still are—absolutely thrilled. For us, Effekt’s support is, above all, a sign of trust: the funding we’ve received shows that our work and our vision are considered important.
With this funding, we can accelerate Startup Refugees’ work, boldly experiment with new solutions, and reach even more people.