Making funding options visible for companies
About this good practice
The Into Seinäjoki website serves as a centralized resource for large companies, SMEs and micro companies in the region, providing access to a wide range of funding opportunities tailored to different stages of the business lifecycle. To facilitate ease of use, funding instruments are organized into three distinct categories:
• Launching and Establishing Business
• Development and Investments
• Export and Internationalisation
Within each category, funding options are further detailed by funding institutions, offering a clear and structured overview of available support mechanisms. This practice primarily benefits companies and entrepreneurs of all sizes, enabling them to efficiently identify and access the financial resources needed to support their growth and development.
The website is used in many ways. It can be the first source of information for a company to get to know different funding options. It also serves Into’s own experts when offering sparring to companies. Thirdly, companies can be advised to look for more information via the service.
The website is introduced to regional SMEs by face-to face consultations with Into staff or SMEs find the website by their own on the Into website.
The service has also been acknowledged by neighbouring business support organisations.
Resources needed
Concepting and building up the service requires significant resources and knowledge about different funding options.
Maintaining the information requires regular updates. Updates are made 1-2 times per year when all the information is checked and validated.
Evidence of success
It gives good overview of different funding options at a glance.
Today, Into is not collecting separate data about the companies who get funded after using our funding consultancy. Actually, funding consultancy is a part of the discussions with every sparring with launching and developing entrepreneurs.
In 2024, website was visited by 314 individual users.
Potential for learning or transfer
This good practice is quite easy to implement in other areas but naturally this requires some adaptations. Easy because it is simple and it has a very clear structure. Digital format allows simple and easy distribution and updates.
Implementing the guide requires a coordinating organization, who takes responsibility for content updates and provides support services to companies.
Funding opportunities should be presented to companies as practical solutions that address their specific needs. This approach groups funding programs according to the stages of the business lifecycle, rather than listing them solely by funding organisation. By aligning funding options with the natural progression of business development, this practice provides a more intuitive and solution-oriented framework, making it easier for companies to identify and leverage the right funding opportunities at the right time.
