Members and alumni of the StartHub community in Lahti generated a combined total of more than EUR 17 million in revenue between 2020 and 2024. The figure highlights the growing importance of the startup community to the vitality of the region.
Located on the Lahti campus of LAB University of Applied Sciences, StartHub is an entrepreneurial community and startup accelerator that supports new business ideas and growth companies. In March 2026, the community has 16 active members and 55 alumni, and its operations have grown steadily in recent years.
Approximately 74 percent of StartHub companies operate in the Päijät-Häme region, underlining the community’s importance in strengthening local entrepreneurship and employment.
“StartHub is not just a community – it is a platform where ideas turn into business and companies grow into part of the region’s vitality,” says Ulla Ristkari, Head of Operations at StartHub.
StartHub members have daily access to modern facilities to support the development of their own activities.
A new team is building the next phase
StartHub has entered a new phase in which its operations are being developed with an even stronger sense of purpose and ambition. With the new team in place, the focus is especially on:
- increasing local impact
- strengthening the community and supporting entrepreneurs
- deepening collaboration between companies, educational institutions, funders, and other local stakeholders
- strengthening international networks and opportunities for cooperation
- developing visibility and events
“Our goal is to build an even stronger and more impactful startup community in Lahti. We want to be a place where entrepreneurs genuinely receive support and where new growth stories are born. A place where local networks and ecosystems grow stronger and from which connections also open up to international opportunities,” Ristkari says.
Dream will bring startups together in Lahti again this autumn
One of StartHub’s key annual events is the Dream startup competition, which brings together entrepreneurs, investors, and partners from across the region.
The next Dream event will be held on 9 October 2026, and the competition’s main prize is EUR 10,000. This year marks the fifth edition of Dream, and to celebrate the anniversary, the event will feature exciting new elements and impactful programme content in addition to the startup competition.
“Dream is an important part of our operations and the highlight of the year. At Dream, startup business ideas are presented to the right audience and, true to its name, dreams can come true,” says Mikko Kittelä, Event Manager at StartHub. More information: https://dream.starthub.fi
Aiming for a stronger role in building Lahti’s vitality
StartHub aims to strengthen its role as part of the Lahti region’s innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem, increase collaboration between businesses and educational institutions, and build even stronger connections to international networks. The growing startup community is seen as a key part of the region’s future – locally impactful and internationally connected.
Further information
Head of Operations Ulla Ristkari
Event Manager Mikko Kittelä
StartHub in brief
StartHub is an entrepreneurial community and startup accelerator located on the Lahti campus of LAB University of Applied Sciences. It supports early-stage entrepreneurs and growth companies by providing a community, coaching, networks, events, and opportunities to develop business operations as part of the Lahti region’s innovation ecosystem.