Startup dreams come true at Maria 01 in Finland

When Paramartha “Para”   Narendradhipa  arrived at the University of Oulu in 2016 for a Master’s in Computer Vision and Signal Processing, he expected a Nordic adventure. Little did he know, Finland had something special in store. Now, this Indonesian-born, UK-raised global citizen has found his permanent home in Helsinki’s vibrant startup scene.

From Oulu to booming Helsinki

Para quickly switched his studies in Oulu for an exciting career in the capital, Helsinki. After an e-commerce venture and heading partnership development for an NGO, he co-founded a marketing tech startup with a fellow expat from Nigeria. 

“We were two international founders in Helsinki. We had no idea how to do anything!”

Luckily, the startup scene in Helsinki is close-knit and collaborative.”

“A lot of advice came from networking. People had already solved the same problems, and they had a strong give-back mentality.”

After two years of ups and downs, Para shifted his focus to helping others succeed. As the Head of Events and Production at Maria 01, he oversees over 370 events annually, leading to inspiring encounters every week.

“I support over 180 startups instead of just one. Every person here wants to create something that changes the world. People here support each other; their success is my success.”

Why is Helsinki a haven for startups?

To Para, Helsinki is a startup haven. There is a lot of support, and the government schemes and grants increase the chances of 

“If you need a well-known speaker for your event, it’s not about 'how much do they charge?' but 'are they available?' Where else do you have that?”

Finnish directness and low hierarchy save time and help find the right connections. In fact, Para thinks that’s what makes Helsinki great for networking.

“It’s easy to reach people. You ask for help, and they’ll lead you directly to the right person. In Indonesia, you would need the assistant’s number.” 

Networking helps find partners, customers, and talent. 

“Everything here is based on networks. Attend as many events as you can and be clear about what you need!”

The only challenge is the language. Finns switch to English easily, but Para wants to learn Finnish.

“I’ve been doing Duolingo for 500 days. A little effort is better than none! Without Finnish, it’s more difficult. This is less of an issue with international companies.”

Perfect balance in life 

It’s not just work life that’s great in Finland. Summers in Helsinki are amazing.

“It’s not too busy, not too quiet. Nature is so close. Helsinki has the perfect balance: in 20 minutes from the city, you are deep in nature.”

Even the notorious winters are not that bad. 

“I learned early: there’s no bad weather, only bad dressing! But every January, I need to escape, he laughs.”

Travel is possible, as Finland takes work-life balance seriously.

“Work-life balance is good here. On holiday days, you are expected to be fully off.”

World-traveler found his home

Para loves exploring the world, but he always returns to Helsinki.

“The best part of traveling is coming home to Finland. It’s safe, predictable, and calm—what home should be.”

Having traveled to 50 countries has inspired Para’s latest venture. You guessed it: a new travel tech startup!

“I’m exploring AI-powered travel planning—OkayLetsGo is something magical to help people save time and plan better. Let’s see where it will go.”