Startup Express is an incubator program that Crazy Town has been implementing in collaboration with Business Oulu since 2023. The goal is to create new growth companies in Oulu and strengthen the local startup community.
In the aftermath of the pandemic, various events and programs had been on hold for a while. Business Oulu identified the need to support teams and entrepreneurial-minded individuals who were just starting out, as many had the enthusiasm for entrepreneurship but lacked a clear path forward. Questions arose such as: Where can I find a team? Is my idea viable? How do I get things moving without prior experience? What opportunities are available in Finland to support startup entrepreneurs? Even more experienced entrepreneurs were looking for a new, community-oriented way to test their ideas.
Oulu back on the startup map!
The Startup Express incubator is the result of collaboration between Business Oulu and Crazy Town. At the heart of the program, which started in 2023, is an intensive 100-day period during which participants develop their ideas into business beginnings with the help of customers, other participants, and mentoring. Workshops and group mentoring structure the activities and hold participants “accountable”.
Crazy Town enlisted the long-time community manager and well-networked entrepreneur Jan Schmidt and OuluES active member Aku Forsman to build a community around the program. From the very beginning, it was clear that the program needed to be conducted in English, as a significant portion of new initiatives in Oulu are driven by professionals with international backgrounds. The operation was carried out in close collaboration with Business Oulu from the start. Both universities, which have also invested in launching startup activities, have been involved.
The program is intended for
– Motivated teams and individuals in the idea phase who have the potential for scalable business
– First-time entrepreneurs who need structure and peer support
– More experienced entrepreneurs looking for a new perspective and coaching
– Curious individuals who may not have their own idea but want to join teams
What does Startup Express offer?
– A 100-day program full of workshops, group and personal coaching
– Access to events and networks in Oulu’s startup ecosystem
– Collaboration with the University of Oulu and OAMK, for example, using the Business Corner space
– Support from Crazy Town’s community players on-site, meaning peer learning, connecting people and ideas, and assistance from CT’s coaches in workshops
What has been achieved?
In 2023â2024, the program has seen dozens of ideas participate, resulting in numerous new companies (Note 16.5.2025: We will update these numbers with accurate figures). However, the impacts extend much further:
Some ideas have evolved into traditional businesses during the program or in their early stages, which is perfectly acceptable. A startup aiming for scalable business is not the only right form; the most important thing is to find a viable business model.
Some teams have merged, and ideas have shaped or completely changed during the program. This indicates a successful learning process and self-reflection.
Not all participants have founded a company, but they have gained valuable lessons and networks for the future. Companies have been founded from the first program, conducted in the fall of 2023, even in the spring of 2025. This is a good thing, as the number of business IDs should not be an end in itself. It is more responsible to wait until the entrepreneur or founders are personally ready to embark on the path.
Startup Express has strengthened entrepreneurial thinking, created meaningful networks, and promoted learning, whether the outcome is a company or not. The startup ecosystem in Oulu has also learned to collaborate in new ways.
Lessons for Other Ecosystem Builders
Developers of startup ecosystems should take inspiration from the funnel model familiar in the sales world: the more people are engaged in the early stages, the more companies, jobs, and growth will ultimately emerge.
This thinking can be summarized into three key insights:
1. The startup ecosystem is a funnel â quantity lays the foundation for quality
For example:
10,000 participants in inspiring events
1,000 get excited and participate in pre-startup programs â
100 establish a startup â
1â10 grow into scaleups
Startup Express operates in the middle of this funnel. It helps ideas materialize before the startup phase. It provides the structure, community, and support that many would otherwise lack.
2. Invest in the early stage and social capital
Many ecosystems focus too much only on companies that have reached the startup phase. But without active early stages, communities, and personal encounters, there are no quality startups. The door pump does not sing.
Social capital, meaning who you know, strong networks, and trust, is particularly valuable in the early stages and is also the currency of communities. Peer support, low barriers to participation, and an open community yield better results than mere expert lectures. It also connects experienced entrepreneurs.
3. Ecosystems are networks, not closed fortresses
Startup ecosystems are in constant motion. No single actor can control the entire process alone. One’s contribution is another’s benefit: some participants move on to other programs, while others return later as mentors.
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The 100-day Startup Express program is held twice a year, in winter and autumn. Read more and apply: https://oulu.com/en/startup-express-pre-incubator/
Jan Schmidt, Community Manager
+358 46 661 3752
jan.schmidt@crazytown.fi
Mikko Korpela, Coach
+358 400 499 242
mikko.korpela@crazytown.fi
