Suomen Yrittäjät searching for immigrant entrepreneur of the year

Suomen Yrittäjät, the Federation of Finnish Enterprises, is again searching for the Migrant Entrepreneur of the Year. Last year's winner was Faisa Egge, a woman from Kenya and who managed to setup a successful business in the care sector in Kokkola, in the central Ostrobothnia region.

Aicha Manai, Network Manager at Suomen Yrittäjät, says, “We are looking for nominees who, in spite of the language barrier and a different operating environment, have succeeded and developed their business areas, as well as shown an exceptionally entrepreneurial attitude.”

Suomen Yrittäjät wants that the candidates will be inspiring examples for other business owners and people interested in entrepreneurship.

Winner to be announced in December

“A nominee’s business must be profitable and have growth prospects,” Manai says about the criteria. “Entrepreneurs have a positive attitude to what they do and to running their own business.”

According to the rules, anyone may make a nomination, in English or Finnish, by 23:59 on 4 November. People can suggest an entrepreneur who they think is worth the award for the Immigrant Entrepreneur of the Year 2020 competition. 

The jury will choose a winner from among three finalists. The winner will receive 5,000 euros in cash.

The conditions

To be nominated for the competition, the migrant entrepreneur must meet the following conditions:

• The entrepreneur was not born in Finland.
• Their native language is not Finnish, Swedish or a Saami language.
• Nominees may not be members of the Suomen Yrittäjät immigrant entrepreneur network management team.
• The business is registered in Finland.
• The entrepreneur and business have an impeccable reputation.
• The business must be capable of continued success and be in good financial standing.
• The entrepreneur and business have met their tax and other statutory duties as an employer and an entrepreneur.
• The entrepreneur’s business has been operating for at least 3 years by the end of this year.
• A single person-business, a pair of entrepreneurs, or team of entrepreneurs may be nominated for the competition.

Votes can be cast online HERE