IMIB Network Entrepreneurship Path Process

Luotu 14.09.2026
IMIB Network Entrepreneurship Path Process
IMIB Network Entrepreneurship Path Process

Tiivistelmä

Structure of the operating model

The core of the project is the workshop model in addition to one-to-one tutoring opportunities from experts from one of our partners.

Themes and methods of the workshops:

Self-efficacy and entrepreneurial identity

  • Creative and participatory methods (e.g. storytelling, reflection).
    • Identifying one's own skills and strengths.
    • Experiential exercises and practical simulations.
    • Visits by entrepreneurs of foreign background who share their own experience in Finland.
    • Solution-oriented exercises and futures thinking.
    • Visualisation of the personal entrepreneurial path.
    • Peer networking opportunities.
    • Networking meetings, mentoring and joint events organised by IMIB Network, such as the end of cycle events.
    • Link to business advice.
    • Art-based exercises, e.g. pictures, writing, and other art-related exercises.
    • Creative methods strengthen the participants' self-understanding and recognition of the potential related to their own competence.

Strengthening hope in entrepreneurship

Maintaining hope and motivation

Networking in Finland

Creative methods to support inclusion

Kohderyhmä

Ammattilaiset
Opiskelijat
Työttömät
Vähemmistöt

Arviointi

Toimintamallia ei ole vielä arvioitu.

This image includes a widening path that presents many images and text describing the steps that take place in the entrepreneurship path process. It starts with planning and iteration, continues with invitation to experts, marketing, registration process, orientation, the actual workshops during which there is adjustment according to the participants' needs, also the offer of one-to-one tutoring, group reflexivity at the end of the workshop cycle, certificates, networking event, and final follow up later on
IMIB Network Entrepreneurship path process.

Toimintamallin kuvaus

Ongelma tai haaste, johon toimintamalli vastaa

Background and needs

  • In Finland, entrepreneurship is a significant mode of economic activity for immigrants.
  • Nonetheless, the employment and entrepreneurship of highly educated immigrants often fall short of their potential.
  • Challenges include language and cultural differences, weak networks and uncertainty about one's own abilities to operate as an entrepreneur in the Finnish work environment.
  • The aim of the IBM project's Entrepreneurship Path has been the self-efficacy and the entrepreneurial hope of highly educated immigrants as well as their own network. This helps them build a path towards entrepreneurship.
Toimintamallin kohderyhmä ja sen tarpeet

The target groups were mainly formed by international people with higher education background. The following target groups were selected for this project due to the fact that they face multiple challenges to find suitable employment connected to their skills and experience in Finland. Besides of facing language barriers and structural racism, the target group needs to develop their network within the Finnish society. This process facilitated that.

Target groups

  • International students.
  • Highly educated immigrants who are interested in entrepreneurship or are considering starting a business in Finland.
  • The groups have been multidisciplinary, which has increased mutual peer support and networking opportunities. The diversity of the participating groups is also reflected through their age, gender, and cultural backgrounds. All of that has provided a rich experience for the participants too.
Toimintamallille asetetut tavoitteet
  1. To use creative methods that facilitate psychological safety and the development of trust.
  2. To apply a variety of knowledge and expertise in entrepreneurship in Finland.
  3. To guide the participants to recognise their existing competences and strengths and connect them with entrepreneurship.
  4. To guide the participants to recognise the competences and strengths that they need to develop for their entrepreneurship journey.
  5. To develop a network.
Mittarit ja keinot tavoitteiden toteutumisen seurantaan ja arviointiin

The main method was reflexive writing by the participants. Another indicator was following up on their business idea by contacting them after the end of their participation, and by following them on social media and their next steps.

Toimintamallin keskeiset edellytykset
  • Leadership: It is necessary to ensure the collaboration with stakeholders, the periodical organisation of the process and its implementation that adapts according to the lessons learned from previous implementations.
  • Stakeholder collaboration: It is essential as entrepreneurs of international background were contacted and invited to share their entrepreneurship journey and talk about the topic of the workshop at hand. Also, for collaboration with NGOs that bring expertise in the field of entrepreneurship and immigrants.
  • Human resources: This process required three staff with expertise in: leadership, creative methods and coaching, communication and marketing. Additionally, the expertise of staff that can coach individually in between workshops was required.
  • Facilities: At least a good ample room for people to move around and work independently and in groups is necessary. Tables and chairs. Technology for sharing presentations.
  • Funding: Funding for the core team hours is required, as well as for paying the experts for their contribution and their time.
  • Communication: It is essential for getting participants to come to the workshops. This can be done through social media, such as LinkedIn and internal institutional channels, as well as through stakeholders in contact with the target group.

Toimintamallin ydinsisältö

Structure of the operating model

The core of the project is the workshop model in addition to one-to-one tutoring opportunities from experts from one of our partners.

Themes and methods of the workshops:

Self-efficacy and entrepreneurial identity

  • Creative and participatory methods (e.g. storytelling, reflection).
    • Identifying one's own skills and strengths.
    • Experiential exercises and practical simulations.
    • Visits by entrepreneurs of foreign background who share their own experience in Finland.
    • Solution-oriented exercises and futures thinking.
    • Visualisation of the personal entrepreneurial path.
    • Peer networking opportunities.
    • Networking meetings, mentoring and joint events organised by IMIB Network, such as the end of cycle events.
    • Link to business advice.
    • Art-based exercises, e.g. pictures, writing, and other art-related exercises.
    • Creative methods strengthen the participants' self-understanding and recognition of the potential related to their own competence.

Strengthening hope in entrepreneurship

Maintaining hope and motivation

Networking in Finland

Creative methods to support inclusion

This file provides the full description of our process. (115.09 KB)

Toimintamallin aikaansaama muutos
  • Participants developed a network.
  • Participants learned about entrepreneurship in Finland.
  • Some participants got closer to a decision on their entrepreneurship in Finland.
  • Some participants received the last push towards the concretisation of their business idea.
Todennetut lyhyen aikavälin tulokset ja vaikutukset
  • Impact of network development.
  • Getting knowledge or increasing participants' knowledge on entrepreneurship in Finland.
  • Concrete examples of entrepreneurship journeys were highly valuable.
  • Realistic business ideas were supported and guided towards.
  • Some participants started their businesses.
Todennettu tai tavoiteltu pitkän aikavälin vaikuttavuus

The intended long-term impact is that process participants continue and expand their network. Also, that they believe they can use the competences developed during the process.

Toimintamallin kustannusvaikutukset lyhyellä ja pitkällä aikavälillä

This was a cost model based on project funding focused on staff salaries. Additional cost included catering services for the workshops and the experts.

Onko toimintamalli siirrettävissä toiseen toimintaympäristöön ja/tai toiselle kohderyhmälle?
Kyllä
Lisätietoa toimintamallin siirrettävyydestä

While we have only tested this model with people in higher education and with those with higher education in their background, this model is very flexible due to its nature on creative methods and reflexivity. The course can be transferred to other target groups, and it could be an element of an entrepreneurship course too.

The way it is designed would mainly require multilingualism to allow for participants of a variety of languages express themselves and be understood by others in their own languages. 

Furthermore, this model should be adapted to groups that include immigrants and Finnish people. In this way, both social groups would discover the experience of a two-way integration. The creative methods, competence awareness and reflexivity allows to people to talk with respect and understanding of complex issues around entrepreneurship and adaptation to life in Finland. 

The most important element is that the facilitators are staff with multicultural awareness, knowledge and experience. Facilitators that also know and apply creative methods is a plus.

Käyttöönotossa ja levittämisessä huomioitavaa

That it requires sensitivity towards the variety of experiences that immigrants have experienced, particularly due to unemployment issues and the consequences that such experience has on the psyche, and on the personal and family finances. People participating in this path come from all walks of life and from a wide variety of backgrounds. Therefore an open mind is essential and a high level of empathy, not being patronising is key too. Clear direction of where further information and support can be gained is important, concrete information needs to be provided, as well as a friendly attitude.

Taustatiedot

Maantieteellinen alue
Espoo
Helsinki
Vantaa
Kehittäjäorganisaatiot
Haaga-Helia ammattikorkeakoulu
Laurea ammattikorkeakoulu
Metropolia Ammattikorkeakoulu Oy
Toimiala
Sosiaalipalvelut
Toimintaympäristö
Educational institution (Higher education)
Toimintamallin tyyppi
Prosessi
Toimintamallin alkuperä
Alkuperäinen (omaan tarpeeseen kehitetty)
Käyttöönotto ja levinneisyys
Kokeiltu ja pilotoitu
Rahoittaja
Euroopan sosiaalirahasto (ESR/ESR+)