Nine business ideas receive funding through the North Savo Draft Programme
North Savo Draft autumn round highlights diverse growth opportunities from audio technology to digital services
The September 2026 application round of the North Savo Draft business idea programme once again brought together a diverse range of new business concepts. A total of 27 teams applied for funding, and nine were awarded financial support.
The selected business ideas range from audio recording technology designed for demanding outdoor conditions to digital tools for the construction industry, cosmetics, services supporting self-care in healthcare, and solutions that improve business decision-making.
The September round showcased business ideas from several different sectors. The applications included both business-to-business solutions and consumer products and services. The concepts address themes such as improving operational efficiency, developing digital services, and responding to the needs of various customer groups.
Through the Draft programme, teams can evaluate the commercial potential of their ideas and further develop them towards market entry.
The round also demonstrates how entrepreneurship can emerge from a variety of starting points. A business idea may originate from a personal hobby, a challenge identified in working life, or the observation that existing products and services require new alternatives. Within the Draft programme, these ideas are refined through customer validation, business model development, and exploration of commercialisation opportunities.
One of Draft’s key strengths is its extensive regional collaboration network, which brings together expertise from business networks, educational institutions, cities, and business development organisations. The September round includes teams from Kuopio, Iisalmi, and regional educational institutions. This multidisciplinary network provides diverse perspectives for business development and supports teams as they progress towards launching viable businesses.
€1,000 Seed funding recipients
Fedor Vinogradov – City of Kuopio
“The business idea is to develop an audio recorder designed for demanding outdoor conditions for media professionals and researchers. The goal is to combine ease of use and durability while enabling reliable audio recording in situations where there is no opportunity for a second take.”
Janita Lasaroff and Sofia Pietikäinen – City of Iisalmi
“The business idea is to develop a vegan cosmetics product line for young consumers, combining good value for money with solutions tailored to sensitive and dry skin.”
Cynara Kemppainen – City of Iisalmi
“The business idea is to provide information and intelligence services for companies and expert organisations to support decision-making and risk management. The aim is to help customers make informed business decisions and reduce operational uncertainty.”
Lars Remes – City of Kuopio
“The business idea is to offer a digital service that supports construction contractors in work supervision and project progress monitoring. The objective is to improve information flow at construction sites, reduce the need for paper-based documentation, and streamline daily operations. The solution aims to save time, reduce waste, and improve project profitability.”
Elias Teriö, BeaiviGo Team – Savonia University of Applied Sciences
“The business idea is to develop a digital service that supports the everyday self-management of people living with diabetes. The goal is to simplify practical aspects of care management while improving daily convenience and creating a greater sense of security.”
Mika Mujunen – Savo Vocational College
“The business idea is to provide a digital platform for small entrepreneurs, trainers, and consultants to support day-to-day management, business development, and training. Digital tools offered through an online marketplace support operational management, strategic planning, and cost analysis while helping identify wasted time, money, and effort. The solution is also suitable for educational use in schools and organisations. In addition, online courses and live training enabled by the platform will be delivered through Savon Koulutus Oy.”
Teams awarded €3,000 growth funding
Three teams received follow-on funding during the September round. This additional funding enables them to further develop their business concepts and accelerate the commercialisation of their products and services.
Riku Parkkinen – Savonia University of Applied Sciences
“The business idea is to develop a digital onboarding solution for the construction industry that simplifies daily site operations and improves safety. The solution helps companies save time, standardise practices, and ensure quality.”
Oksana Silina – Savo Vocational College
“The business idea is to create visually impressive and fully edible gift and celebration products that combine aesthetics, taste experiences, and practicality. The solution offers an alternative to traditional flowers and decorations, functioning both as an experiential gift and as an enjoyable refreshment.”
Artur Karabitckii – Savonia University of Applied Sciences / City of Kuopio
“The business idea is to develop a digital scoring solution that enables smooth scorekeeping and game tracking in recreational sports. The solution is intended for sports clubs, sports facilities, and hobby players who need an easy way to manage scoring in games and small tournaments.”
Draft’s strength lies in its multidisciplinary network and practical support
The goal of the Draft programme is to help teams transform business ideas into viable products, services, and businesses. In addition to early-stage funding, the programme provides personalised coaching, expert feedback, and opportunities to strengthen business development skills.
Collaboration enables business ideas to be evaluated from multiple perspectives and helps teams identify development needs, utilise expert knowledge, and connect with regional entrepreneurship networks.
A key feature of Draft is the opportunity to test ideas in practice, identify potential customers, and tackle commercialisation challenges. Participation does not require an established company or a fully developed product. A structured business idea and a desire to explore its market potential are sufficient starting points.
In North Savo, Draft is part of the Business Center North Savo service network. The programme brings together educational institutions, cities, and entrepreneurship experts to support the creation of new businesses and business ideas. Through the network, teams also receive support in planning the next stages of development for their concepts.
Next application round
The next Draft programme application round will take place in January 2027. Applications must be submitted by 21 January 2027.
Draft welcomes a wide range of business ideas, whether they involve a new product, service, digital solution, or innovative business model. Applicants are encouraged to prepare with the support of personal coaching, where ideas can be further refined and their business potential assessed even before submitting an application.
Learn more and apply:
