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Kasvutalo hosts 30 startup ecosystem entities, including Slush, Wave, Founders House
Founders House and Slush are renaming Kamppi's iconic Sähkötalo building "Kasvutalo" (Growth House). The building is already home to around 30 startups, investors, and communities building Finland's next era of growth.
Helsinki, Sep 2, 2026 – Sähkötalo, designed by Alvar Aalto, was completed in Kamppi in 1973 as the head office of the City of Helsinki's electricity utility, at a time when the city's rapid growth was also driving up its energy needs. Now the same building is bringing together the drivers of the next wave of growth: startup community Founders House and growth-company event Slush are christening the building "Kasvutalo" and turning it into Helsinki's new startup and technology hub.
In just six months, nearly 30 startups, investors, accelerators, and communities have moved into the building's five floors. The newest arrival is Slush itself.
The companies working in the building count experienced technology veterans among their founders, including Risto Siilasmaa, Wolt co-founder Oskari Pétas, and Sami Marttinen, founder of Swappie and the Finnish Startup Community. The younger generation is represented by Taavi Paananen and Matias Varjonen, founders of Supercell's AI lab, both of whom have been named to Forbes' prestigious 30 Under 30 list.
Two companies selected for the United States' most prestigious startup program have already emerged from the Kasvutalo community. Last Accounting Company and The Token Company were accepted into Y Combinator in 2026, and both built their early stages at Founders House.
The creation of Kasvutalo is part of a broader shift in Helsinki's startup ecosystem: the city's more than 800 growth companies have long been scattered, but in recent years technology companies, investors, and startup communities have increasingly concentrated in Kamppi. The area is already home to the likes of Maria 01, Wolt, Aiven, and Intergrid.
Slush's move to Kasvutalo further strengthens this development. One of the world's most significant startup events brings its global networks of entrepreneurs, investors, and technologists, along with its year-round operations, into the building.
"Building Slush – just like building Finland's next unicorn – can't be done in a silo. Kasvutalo brings the ecosystem together, fueling a growth mindset and hard work. Every leading tech hub in Europe has its own startup district. Now one is emerging in Kamppi too," says Noora Saksa, CEO of Slush.
At Founders House, the focus is already on the next generation of entrepreneurs.
"Finland's next billion-euro companies won't be born in a vacuum. They emerge from dense communities where the most ambitious growth entrepreneurs, investors, talent, and international networks come together," says Kia Kanninen, CEO of Founders House.
About Founders House
Founders House Helsinki is a selective community for Finland's and Europe's most ambitious startup entrepreneurs. Its goal is to strengthen Finland's ability to produce globally significant technology companies. Based in Kasvutalo in Kamppi, the community offers founders free workspace, mentoring, and connections to business leaders and investors. Members are chosen through competitive application rounds.
Slush
Slush is the world's leading growth-company event and the largest gathering of venture capital, with a mission centered on helping and inspiring entrepreneurs to change the world. Each year, Slush brings €4 trillion in investor capital to Helsinki — thirteen times Finland's GDP. The event introduces nearly 2,000 young people to the startup ecosystem every year. Slush moved into Kasvutalo in July 2026.
Kasvutalo in numbers
- Location: Kamppi, Helsinki
- Building: Sähkötalo, designed by Alvar Aalto, completed in 1973
- Operations began: February 2026
- Companies and communities: approximately 50, of which 30 are startup-ecosystem players
- Floors in use: 5
- Y Combinator companies: 2 (Last Accounting Company, The Token Company)