LAUNCH YOUR COMPANY AND GET FUNDED IN 8 WEEKS WITH ANTLER IN FINLAND

Launch your startup and get funded — We’re a global early-stage VC backing founders from day zero. We invest €500,000 into exceptional early founders and work closely with you through hands-on support, sparring, and a driven community to help you move fast from idea to company.

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Helsinki

Find your co-founder

Three male cofounders sitting on steps smiling

Surround yourself with the most driven and committed founders who have gone all-in to build category defining companies. Leverage the community to find co-founders, hold each other accountable, and build a support network.

Focus on building

Antler female founder presenting

This is not a startup school. We work with you on what matters most to move as fast as possible. We don’t fill your calendar with generic content sessions.

Access to resources

Antler founder pitching to investors

We provide access to hundreds of thousands of dollars of cloud credits, access to a world-class global network, and 1 on 1 sparring with people who have built major companies.

Kickstart VC funding with €500,000

Antler partner speaking on podium

We come on board as your first investor at day zero. We are a long-term partner who can invest up to €30m in your business through subsequent investment rounds.

HOW ANTLER WORKS

Antler works with both teams and individual founders to help them launch and secure pre-seed funding. We support founders who have already started developing an idea, offering hands-on sparring, access to a driven community, and initial capital to accelerate progress from idea to company.

Application process

The Antler Platform

The Antler Investment

Application Process

The application process takes about two weeks. After applying via our website, candidates go through two interviews. Successful candidates receive an offer to begin working with Antler in Finland, and we onboard founders continuously. You can apply as a team or as a solo founder.

Download our Founder Info Brochure to learn more about our application process and our next residency:

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Build and get first funding

Talk to customers, develop your MVP, refine your business model, and develop your go-to-market strategy. You will get the opportunity to pitch your startup to Antler’s Investment Committee. If successful, Antler will commit €500K at Day Zero and we will continue to invest in follow-on rounds up to €30M.

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The Antler Investment

We invest to catalyze your pre-seed raise, with reserves for later rounds. Our terms are simple: We invest €200,000 upfront (€100,000 for 8.5% of ownership + €100,000 on an uncapped SAFE or convertible note). In addition to the €200,000, we pre-commit €300,000 of matching funds into the first funding rounds you raise, for a grand total of €500,000. We can continue with follow-on investments in our companies with larger amounts until Series C.

Post-investment, we foster an even higher touch relationship, where founders continue to work with Antler weekly. Focus areas include customer and revenue growth, and future fundraising preparation. As portfolio companies progress toward their next round, Antler introduces its most recent investment cohort of downstream investors.

Three coworkers collaborating at a table, with one person on a phone call while the others review something on a laptop.

Louise Gauffin

CEO

Arkion

Robin Wingardh

CEO

Wingbits

Andreas Franke

CEO

Telgea

Joining Antler was more than just starting a company— it accelerated my journey, helping me find the right fit, providing entry into the Nordic tech ecosystem, equipping me with essential skills, and giving me access to a vast advisory network for ongoing support throughout the company-building process.

We are super grateful to be part of the Antler Platform and to have their unwavering support as we continue to grow our company.

I wouldn’t have met my co-founder without Antler and got great support from the Antler team even after the Residency.

We’ve helped put hundreds of founders on the path to success

We have one of the largest communities of early-stage founders in the world—and a growing portfolio of game-changing companies that are creating jobs, contributing to GDP, and improving lives.

1,300+

Portfolio companies

$4.8B

Total portfolio value

10,000+

Antler founders

24+

Locations worldwide

Tangled

tangled is a new decentralized git collaboration platform

Finland
ConsumerTech
2025

Prenew

Refurbished gaming PC marketplace

Finland
ConsumerTech
2026

Homie

Turning networks into B2B companies #1 growth channel

Finland
B2B Software
2024

QMill

The first to unlock quantum advantage.

Finland
B2B Software
2024

Kidre

Tackling labor-intensive reverse logistics in children’s fashion.

Finland
ConsumerTech
2024

Untuvia

Down feather that outlives its fabric.

Finland
Industrials
2024

Arcline

Arcline, the AI-powered lawyer for startups.

US
B2B Software
2024
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FREQUENTLY —ASKED QUESTIONS

Outliers. Founders already building. Solo operators obsessed with a specific problem. People who've done it before, and people doing it for the first time, but moving like they've been doing it for years.

Already shipping and have customers? Even better — we can help you move a lot faster.

What we care about is drive — the kind that actually ships, not the kind that talks. You don't need a co-founder, an incorporated company, or a finished product. You need to be all in.

We commit to pre-seed investing €500,000 in the companies that are successful at our investment committee:

  • The first part of €200,000 is wired immediately post investment decision. The second part of €300,000 is conditional on further capital being raised from other investors within nine months following our first investment

In addition to this, we can support our companies with larger amounts as follow-on investments until Series C.

That's the standard deal — and what most founders come in on. Further along, or raising bigger? Reach out and convince us.

The details:

Initial investment of €200,000 (first part):

  • The €200,000 is divided in two components:
    • €100,000 for an 8.5% ownership stake
    • €100,000 on an uncapped SAFE (or convertible) with a MFN (most-favored-nation) clause
  • Full €200,000 is wired immediately post investment decision

Pre-committed next investment of up to €300,000 (second part):

  • We'll invest one-third of the total amount raised in the next funding round
  • Within nine months after our initial investment
  • The round needs to involve professional or semi-professional investors
  • On the same terms as those investors
  • No specified cap on the total matching amount
  • For illustrative purposes, if your company raises €600,000 from professional investors after our initial investment, Antler may invest an additional €300,000 on the same terms, totalling €900,000.

Further investments (after initial and next investments):

  • Potential pro rata investments
  • Until Series C
  • No amount limits

Tomorrow. We bring founders in as they come — no fixed start dates slowing you down. For the right team, we can invest in as little as two weeks.

You can build from any of our four Nordic hubs: Stockholm, Oslo, Copenhagen, or Helsinki. Pick the one closest to your customers, your talent, or your home. The team, the terms, and the community are the same across all four.

Neither. Antler is an inception-stage VC. We invest first, take a small equity stake, and stay with you through Series C. No course, no curriculum, no graduation. Just capital, sparring, and a network — for as long as you need it.

We're usually the first investor on your cap table. We don't take board seats and we don't interfere — but we stay close.

That often makes us the first call when it really matters: when co-founder dynamics get complicated, when you're heading into a fundraise and need a sharp second pair of eyes, when you need warm intros to customers. We are on your side through ups and downs — and we know both you and your business.

Practically, you get:

  • Fundraising that moves the needle — round strategy, investor targeting, warm intros, pitch prep for Series A and beyond
  • A network with real utility — 1,500+ Antler companies globally, for first customers, hires, and investor backchannels
  • Global reach when you need it — GTM support in Asia, growth capital intros in the US, a deep tech peer in Australia
  • Capital that scales with you — up to €30M per company, from day zero through Series C
  • Office space in our Nordic hubs for as long as it's useful
  • Credits and perks across cloud, compute, AI, and tooling (see perks →)

We also run high-leverage moments when they matter — a week in San Francisco meeting top-tier Series A investors, a retreat in Oxford that ends with most of Europe's VC capital in the room.

Most founders come to us before they've raised anything — but usually with a team and often an early product. That's our sweet spot, but it's not the only place we work.

Solo founder? We can help you find the right co-founder or team - or maybe even invest as you are.

Already have an MVP or early customers? Even better — we can help you move even faster towards your seed round. Most teams we bring in are at this stage.

If you have (or are closing) a priced pre-seed at a materially higher valuation, you might be past us — but talk to us anyway. For the right outlier, we always want to see what we can do.

We are industry agnostic. We invest in scalable companies and exceptional people. However, we do not invest in the following areas: drugs, narcotics, adult entertainment, and gambling.

Apply now for Antler HELSINKI

There has never been a better time to start a business. The barriers to entry are lower than ever, and the dynamic economy provides endless opportunities for spirited entrepreneurs. Join Antler and get started.

Apply now
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MEET OUR TEAM

Jussi Kallasvuo

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Partner

Spokesperson

Jussi started his career in finance, but has since turned entrepreneur and investor. During the past 20 years he has worked or studied in Europe, USA and Asia and loves Antler’s international spirit. Jussi has founded and exited two companies and, in addition to doing a variety of sports and being outdoors, gets his kicks from seeing entrepreneurs thrive.

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Antti Tormanen

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Partner

Spokesperson

Antti started his career at OliverWyman and then McKinsey&Company with a brief stint to public sector in the middle. Since then, he has founded two start ups, exited one and worked for the last years in wealth management in leadership roles. During his career, Antti has worked across the Middle East, Europe, US and South America. Antti is also a passionate cyclist and outdoor enthusiast.

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Balder Eklöf Eira

LinkedIn profile (opens in new tab)

Investment Team

Spokesperson

EXPAND BIO

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Antler portfolio companies raise capital from other leading VCs