Application open for the Pathways idea-stage entrepreneurship programme. Apply by 21 September!
Entrepreneurship can easily seem alien, difficult, and overwhelming. Pathways, now in its fourth iteration, is a low-threshold, idea-stage entrepreneurship programme that offers participants the chance to explore the world of entrepreneurship and its opportunities in a supportive atmosphere, guided by professionals. The programme is open to any member of the University of Helsinki community or Helsinki Metropolitan Area resident interested in entrepreneurship and seeing how an idea can be turned into a business.
This autumn's Pathways programme will take place from 4 October to 8 December and will see the addition of the Explorer and Builder participation tracks, based on feedback from participants of previous programmes.
- The Explorer track is Pathways as it has always been: a relaxed and approachable way to learn about entrepreneurship without any major pressure, involving one lecture and one workshop per week plus some homework, for a total of about 8 hours of work per week. Explorer participation is best suited to those who aren't looking to start a business right away, or who have limited time to dedicate to the programme or their project.
- The Builder track is a new, more intensive Pathways experience for the more enthusiastic participants who genuinely want to create a business during the programme or shortly thereafter. Participation requires twice the time commitment of Explorer, and includes one additional workshop per week as well as additional tasks and deliverables. The Builder track is best suited to those who are confident in their idea and are ready to throw themselves wholeheartedly into entrepreneurship.
The application for the programme is now open until 21 September! You can also change tracks during the programme if your schedule or passion level changes, and both Explorers and Builders are encouraged to apply for the next phase of the Helsinki Incubators pipeline, Journeys, after Pathways.
WHAT
Two months of workshops, lectures and support from a team of coaches, where you'll learn step-by-step how to develop a budding idea into an effective solution and build a business plan around it. By completing the programme, students and PhD researchers can get 5 ECTS credits under the code PHD-312. More information on the Pathways homepage.
WHY
Come and learn useful entrepreneurial and work-life skills that you can use in the future even if you don't continue as an entrepreneur, find out what makes an idea viable and how starting and running a business works, and get to know an interdisciplinary community interested in entrepreneurship. In addition, undergraduate and postgraduate students can receive 5 credits towards the completion of the programme.
FOR WHOM
The programme is open to all students, researchers, alumni, and employees of the University of Helsinki, as well as other people from the Helsinki metropolitan area who want to develop their skills.
WHEN
The call closes on 21 September. The programme starts on 4 October and ends on 8 December, and takes place from 17-20 on the central campus on Mondays, Wednesdays, plus on Thursdays for Builders. For more info, see the detailed programme here.
INFO SESSIONS
We'll be holding two info sessions for those interested in applying to Pathways:
- Wednesday 10 September 2025, 12:00-13:00, at the Helsinki Incubators office (Yliopistonkatu 3, 00100 Helsinki)
- Monday 15.9.2025 at 16:00-17:00, via Zoom
APPLY
MORE INFORMATION
Check out the Pathways home page, or reach out to programme manager Santeri Tuovila santeri.tuovila@helsinki.fi