The global accelerator for the energy sector brought concrete benefits for enterprises

Joni Lepisto (Cleaner Future), Marko Koski, Esa Sointula (Fintras), Marko Kuokkanen, Erik Parsons (EnergySolaris) & Volodymyr Bandura (Idealpore).

Organised by the leading energy cluster, EnergyVaasa, the enterprise accelerator for startups and growth companies, EnergySpin, just finished its first run. The programme was a huge success and provided the companies participating in it concrete benefits for their business operations.

Running for ten weeks from October to December, the accelerator programme included company-specific training for business growth planning, product development, commercialization, marketing and communications, and especially financing, carried out in collaboration with leading players in the field.

Contacts lead to collaboration

Thanks to EnergySpin, the startups had an opportunity to talk to potential global customers and partner companies.

“One of the reasons why we applied to EnergySpin was for the opportunities it offers for cooperation. I’m confident that the contacts I’ve made during the programme will lead to collaboration in the future,” says Esa Sointula from Fintras.

The EnergySpin Accelerator gave startups the opportunity to hear comments and receive development suggestions on their business ideas.

“Both the startup entrepreneurs participating in EnergySpin and the accelerator leaders have a wealth of experience, which we have made good use of in developing our business idea,” says Erik Parsons from the Moldovan company EnergySolaris.

“We have exchanged a huge amount of ideas about business. The team spirit was great and, even after the programme ends, there will be further opportunities to work together,” Joni Lepistö from Cleaner Future says.

Applications for the spring programme have begun

The next EnergySpin Accelerator will take place in the spring of 2018. The application period for the programme has started and will continue until 9th February.

The EnergySpin Accelerator is designed for startups in the energy sector, which are seeking strong global growth, as well as for associated fields, such as digitalisation, the artificial intelligence of the Internet of Things, cyber security, big data and gamification.

“EnergySpin is an excellent programme for companies with a ready prototype for a product or service and a desire to develop their business," Ukrainian Volodomyr Bandura from Idealpore says.

The first accelerator programme already won great global popularity at the application stage because it received applications from 24 countries in all. Even more applications are expected for next spring’s programme.

“If your company wasn’t chosen for this autumn’s EnergySpin, it’s definitely worth applying again,” says EnergySpin leader Marko Koski.

The EnergySpin Accelerator and its operations are partnered by leading energy companies, such as Danfoss, Wärtsilä, Yaskawa/The Switch, Vaasan Sähkö, the EC, Elisa, Tieto, Viria, Citec and VNT Management. EnergySpin operations are centred in one of the leading energy clusters in the world, EnergyVaasa.
Starting the Accelerator is included in the City of Vaasa’s growth agreement with the Finnish Government, and the Vaasa Region Development Company VASEK and Technology Centre Merinova are working in collaboration to implement it. The Regional Council of Ostrobothnia is also involved.