Saara Rissanen’s doctoral research grew into a health technology startup, Daniel Turkia’s fishing hobby led him to create his own lure brand, and Eeli Hautakangas developed a business idea that matches roommates with student apartments.
For the seventh time, the UEF Startup Day entrepreneurship event showcased business concepts and startup companies based on the research and expertise from the University of Eastern Finland. This year, the event was held on the Kuopio campus in the Snellmania lobby on 12 March 2026.
“There is a lot of entrepreneurial potential bubbling under at the university, and we want to bring it to surface with events like this. At the same time, we’re building startup culture and collaboration with regional stakeholders,” summarizes Innovation Advisor Tomi Tuovinen the aim of the event series.
The event was organized in collaboration with the student-led North Savo Entrepreneurship Society (NSES), whose members volunteered to help with the event’s preparations, marketing, and practical arrangements. NSES consist mainly of students from UEF and Savonia.
UEF Startup Day highlighted case stories of academic entrepreneurship and featured presentations of entrepreneurial support services and regional partners. Entrepreneurship stories included Turkian Uistin, Adamant Health, KämppisFinder, Elmina Oy, Selko and Ravidea Oy.
The case stories show that the spark for entrepreneurship can come from commercializing one’s own research and expertise, from solving an everyday problem, or even from a hobby — just as it did for business student Daniel Turkia.
“I was out fishing with a friend last summer, talking about our career goals. I’ve always had an entrepreneurial mindset, so I decided I wanted to develop my own lure brand,” Turkia explains.
Turkia already has previous entrepreneurial experience, so the lure company Turkian Uistin, born from his fishing hobby, is in capable hands. His business model combines small-scale in-house production, an online shop, efficient logistics, and community-driven marketing.
He knows that interest in fishing is growing, many enthusiasts invest heavily in their hobby, and passionate fishers are always searching for the next legendary lure. Turkia aims to meet that demand with products optimized for Finland’s waters.
“I craft my lures by hand. I make the prototypes at home, it doesn’t require heavy equipment. If I want to change the design, I can do it quickly. I love creating something new, holding it in my hands and feeling it. I’ve sold services before, but this time it’s something concrete,” Turkia says.
He is grateful to Business Center North Savo for supporting his entrepreneurship. What challenges does a young lure maker face?
“The lakes are frozen right now, so I can’t test my products. I don’t want to sell anything I haven’t tested myself. I need that photo with a big fish.”
From research findings to actual patient care
The University of Eastern Finland, Business Finland, and many others actively encourage and support the commercialization of research innovations.
Founded in 2020, the Kuopio-based health technology company Adamant Health is based on Saara Rissanen’s doctoral research at the Department of Technical Physics. The company aims to revolutionize the treatment of Parkinson’s disease by offering objective measurement-based data to support symptom evaluation and treatment planning.
“My dissertation focused on this topic, I developed the analysis algorithms, and now the company is commercializing the results of my research. Seeing my findings used in real clinical work is incredibly rewarding,” says Rissanen, Chief Technology Officer, Chief Scientist, and one of the founders of Adamant Health.
Adamant Health is targeting a large market: the number of people with Parkinson’s disease is growing, and significant resources are spent on treatment – resources that could be optimized. This is where the company’s measurement and analysis tools come into play.
The company has received early-stage funding from Business Finland, the EU, private angel investors, and other financiers. Its customers include public and private clinics, well-being services counties, pharmaceutical companies, and research units. Key target markets currently include Finland, Germany, and Spain. Today, the company employs 18 specialists.
Rissanen shares her advice for commercializing health technology innovations.
“It’s important to consider regulation from the very beginning, although interpreting it can be difficult. Follow the regulations, but don’t overdo it. Build networks with other health tech companies. One of the most important things is to get the product to customers as soon as possible to gather information and feedback on how it fits into healthcare services.”
Turning expertise into a business
For many university graduates, entrepreneurship is a viable way to apply their expertise.
Students of clinical nutrition Sara Koskinen, Roosa Kärki, Jonna Härkönen and Sonja Seppälä have founded Ravidea, a company specializing in nutrition counselling for organizations. Nutrition has a major impact on health.
“We offer nutrition therapy, wellbeing and occupational health services, and support in food service planning. Ravidea’s mission is to promote the joy of eating and be the number one partner for companies that need high-quality nutrition expertise,” explain Koskinen and Kärki.
On their entrepreneurial journey, the team has received mentoring, advice and feedback through the Havuja Bootcamp program.
“We’ve learned a lot about entrepreneurship. Everything can be solved, and help is always available. Starting a company isn’t as difficult as people think. You’re never done learning,” the founders say.
Combining expertise from different fields also opens new opportunities: Emilia Honkanen, a business graduate, and Emmi Tolonen, an occupational therapist, run Elmina, an online platform offering practice materials for occupational therapists, early childhood educators, other professionals working with children, and families to support skill practice at home. The platform supports skills training such as fine motor skills and practicing numbers and letters.
Elmina has developed as a part-time project over the past few years, and this spring the platform will be launched.
“The launch will take place this spring. We’ve already seen interest on our website, and we’re now working on building awareness of the company and the product,” say Honkanen and Tolonen.
Several UEF Startup Day stories are connected to business studies at UEF. Business students Miki Isokuortti and Nikke Kuosmanen, and Oskari Heikkinen studying in Oulu, are developing Selko, an intelligent and understandable online tool for sustainability reporting in SMEs.
“We translate complex ESG requirements into clear language and help companies turn reporting pressure into a measurable competitive advantage within their supply chains,” summarize Isokuortti and Kuosmanen.
The platform, designed for small and medium-sized businesses, was developed using AI-assisted coding, which helped us build the prototype quickly. The next step is to publish the prototype as soon as possible. Selko aims to become a well-known service provider for small and medium-sized enterprises both nationally and across Europe.
From an everyday problem to a business idea
A business idea can arise from solving an everyday problem. Last summer, Eeli Hautakangas, a University Teacher in pharmacy, read a news article about students’ financial struggles and changes to housing benefits.
“I wondered how a student could find a roommate. There was no service like KämppisFinder on the market, so I created one,” Hautakangas says.
KämppisFinder is a mobile application that connects compatible roommate seekers even before they start looking for an apartment, making shared living more affordable, convenient, and sustainable. KämppisFinder is provided by HaVe Living Solutions Oy.
According to Hautakangas, shared housing creates both financial and social benefits. The app allows various users to offer available housing and helps match suitable roommates and apartments. For students, the app is free.
A pilot will take place this spring in Kuopio. In the summer, the service will expand to other cities, and in the autumn to customer groups beyond students.
Hautakangas has long been interested in entrepreneurship. After graduating in pharmacy, he worked as a freelance pharmacist. The Draft Program also provided early support for the startup.
“Draft Program was extremely important – I wouldn’t be here without it. Through it, I gained partnerships, consulting, and funding.”
The investor’s role on a startup’s path
At UEF Startup Day, the investor perspective was provided by Noora Tuikka, CEO & Partner at Kuopio-based venture capital company Nostetta Ventures.
Tuikka described the entrepreneurial journey as far more complex in reality than the mythical straight path, noting that idea is an easy part, implementation is the hard part. From an investor’s viewpoint, three key questions matter: is the problem real and big enough, why is this team the right one, and is there early evidence it might work?
According to Tuikka, startups should contact the investors in the right stage and relevant to strategy.
“Best time to contact investors is not when you need money. It’s when you have something interesting to show. The worst time is when you are running out of money, “ Tuikka emphasized.
In addition to Nostetta Ventures, Business Joensuu was also present at the event, introducing the upcoming SOHJO 2026 startup event to be held in Joensuu on March 26–27. Representatives from the Joensuu Entrepreneurship Society also contributed to the stage program by sharing information about the two-day SOHJO HACKS hackathon that will take place during SOHJO Week.
The University of Eastern Finland’s innovation activities and services are also presented in the new Innovation Pathways Podcast, launched in early 2026.
