International House South Karelia newsletter (3/2026) - Entrepreneurship in South Karelia
Welcome to read the International House South Karelia newsletter, which in this edition focuses on entrepreneurship! The newsletter is aimed at international residents who have moved to the region and partners who support integration and settling in the region.
Why entrepreneurship?
Entrepreneurship is a possible way to get employed and a good option for entering working life. A business idea can be based on your own skills, profession or hobby. It can help you create a career for yourself, and sometimes for others as well. Entrepreneurship can also be started as a part time job.
Advice and support are available in South Karelia for those interested in entrepreneurship.
- If you have an idea for your own business, feel free to explore it and ask for help from the network of experts in South Karelia, encourage Business Advisor Amira Kouki from the South Karelia Employment Area.
Upcoming events
Get inspired by entrepreneurship and come to network at upcoming low-threshold events! The events are free of charge and no advance registration is required.
International House Living Room invites you to connect and engage in free discussion in a relaxed atmosphere at the Community House (Yhteisötalo) in Lappeenranta once a month on Tuesdays at 15-17. Upcoming events and themes:
17.3.2026 Entrepreneurship, guest: Mikko Toiviainen / BusinessMill
14.4.2026 Networking in Finland
12.5.2026 Hobbies & Summer Activities
Career Club invites you to get inspired by speeches from specialists and entrepreneurs on the possibilities of entrepreneurship and self-employment! On Wednesday 25 March, at 15-17 in the Lappeenranta Main Library, room Heikki. More information on the programme and guests:
Save the date: Career Club goes to Imatra - 21.5.2026, at 16–18, at Einonkatu 10.
Startti yrittäjyyteen in Lappeenranta - Vallikatu 2. At the Getting Started in Entrepreneurship open doors event, you can exchange ideas, clarify your direction and get feedback on your new business idea with business advisors. You’ll also receive a clear overview of the start-up grant: how to apply and what criteria you need to meet.
Upcoming events: March 19, April 23, and May 21 at 16-18.
Yrittäjyys tutuksi in Imatra - Einonkatu 10. Are you dreaming of becoming an entrepreneur or considering starting or buying a business? At the Yrittäjyys tutuksi (Introduction to Entrepreneurship) events, you will receive clear guidance, good advice and practical tools for starting a business.
Upcoming events: April 9 and May 6 at 17.30-19.
- Yrittäjyys tutuksi (tapahtumat.imatra.fi/en)(in Finnish)
Support for entrepreneurship in South Karelia
The South Karelia Employment Area supports new entrepreneurs in many ways. We provide high-quality and free services for personal customers interested in and starting entrepreneurship.
A strong start to entrepreneurship
The South Karelia Employment Area organizes entrepreneurial coaching and training courses, that are free of charge. You can find out about the courses available through JobMarket, or by asking your own expert at the employment services.
Start-up grant – Support for new entrepreneurs
If you are starting a business or expanding your part-time business into a full-time business, you can apply for start-up grant from the employment area. Start-up grant is a support for new entrepreneurs that helps secure personal finances and livelihood in the early stages of entrepreneurship. Start-up grant is equal in amount to a basic unemployment allowance and is granted for a maximum of 12 months. Start-up grant is discretionary support, and each application is processed on a case-by-case basis. Contact the South Karelia employment area and apply for start-up grant well in advance of starting your business.
You can find a summary of services supporting entrepreneurship on the International House South Karelia website:
News from the network
NAVI – Free support for aspiring entrepreneurs in South Karelia
A new free support resource for aspiring and early-stage entrepreneurs is being developed in South Karelia. Within the Entrepreneurship Starter Kit project, NAVI – New Entrepreneur Navigator – is created as a clear and practical framework that helps individuals understand how to move forward in entrepreneurship in Finland and where to find the right services and contacts.
For many people, the challenge is not the business idea but understanding the process: where to begin, who to contact and what to consider. NAVI brings these steps together and guides users to local services and organisations in the South Karelia region. The material explains key business and financial concepts in simple language and supports people in structuring their path to starting a company. NAVI is intended for anyone interested in entrepreneurship, including people with an immigrant background who need accessible information about the Finnish business system and regional support.
NAVI will be published in autumn 2026 in both physical and digital format. The service is free of charge. The project is managed by Etelä-Karjalan Yrittäjät and funded by the Regional Council of South Karelia.
More information:
Sara Rapo, Project Manager
Follow us: @yrittäjyydenäitiyspakkaus
Stay connected!
- Website: International House South Karelia (lappeenranta.fi/en)
- Facebook: International House South Karelia
- Instagram: @internationalsouthkarelia
- E-mail: internationalhouse@lappeenranta.fi
- Subscribe to newsletter: Lappeenrannan kaupunki tiedotetilaus (epressi.com)
Want to share your event, course, or service with internationals in South Karelia? Our next newsletter will be published in May. Please send your materials (in Finnish and English) by 10.5.2026, via link > QuestBack
The International House operating model is part of the South Karelia Employment Area's services. Information for personal customers, employers and entrepreneurs can be found here: