Abstract:

The extensive economic literature and public discourse on immigrant entrepreneurship underscore its potential to significantly contribute to innovation and market dynamics, making it a subject of widespread attention and debate. Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Finland play a crucial role in fostering youth entrepreneurship through the organization of entrepreneurial education and training programs geared towards cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset, with an additional emphasis on supporting international students in this endeavor. Moreover, entrepreneurship and self-employment are often the only alternative to employment for immigrants and international students in Finland. There are many networking, matchmaking, training, community-building and information services supporting startup entrepreneurs in Finland. Nevertheless, there are multiple challenges aspiring international students and startup entrepreneurs with foreign backgrounds face in Finland. This study utilizes qualitative in-depth interviews of the players of the entrepreneurship ecosystem in Finnish HEI (n=22), observations of the mentoring of immigrant entrepreneurs in startup incubator in Finland, as well as in-depth interviews with companies, including those funded by foreigners (n=33). The findings indicate a range of challenges associated with the entrepreneurship of international students and startups founded by foreigners. Entrepreneurship services are is not without ambiguity, fractalization and unclarity. Moreover, there is a lack of regional cohesion and cross-border activities on youth and immigrant entrepreneurship activities. Most of the educational modules focus on shaping young people’s attitudes, skills and behaviors by exploring ideas and opportunities, developing entrepreneurial ideas, planning and organizing. Still, more emphasis should be on understanding the entrepreneurial ecosystem and how it works, on vitality and engagement of parties.

Keywords:

Entrepreneurial education, entrepreneurship ecosystem.