The International Venture Academy 2026 companies have now been selected
The International Venture Academy in Jyväskylä once again brings together promising growth companies and experienced investors. The startups selected for the bootcamp taking place in May will have the opportunity to develop their funding readiness, refine their growth strategies, and build international networks on their path to the next stage of development.
The companies selected for the International Venture Academy investor program, which starts on May 19 in Jyväskylä, have now been announced! The participating companies are Braveson, FUTUAI, Mentalrace, Roadial and Massai Sense Oy from Jyväskylä, Dokport from Helsinki, Nuanic from Kouvola, Cetrium - Nordic Energy Innovation from Varkaus, SportaPost from Rovaniemi, and INRACE from France.
The International Venture Academy, held from May 19–22, will take place in Jyväskylä for the seventh time. The four-day bootcamp helps startups refine their investment readiness and take the next step forward.
- The International Venture Academy strengthens the position of Jyväskylä and the entire Central Finland region as a hub for international startup and growth company activity. The program is not just a single bootcamp, but part of broader regional development aimed at attracting investments, talent and international networks to Jyväskylä, while helping local companies internationalize. At the same time, the program builds Jyväskylä’s profile as an innovation and startup city in Europe, says Nina Rautiainen, one of the program’s mentors, a FiBAN angel investor, and Program Manager at the City of Jyväskylä.
An international mentor team supporting startups
As in previous years, the IVA mentors include a skilled team of experienced angel investors from EBAN (European Business Angel Network) and FiBAN (Finnish Business Angels Network): Jean-Louis Brelet, Marcel Dridje, Nina Rautiainen and Audra Shallal. The startups selected for the program will work intensively with the mentors for three days, and the fourth and final day of the bootcamp, May 22, culminates in the companies’ pitch presentations developed during the week.
- Pitching is like a movie trailer: it sparks the listener’s interest and leads to further discussions. Companies should master both the so-called classic one-minute ‘elevator pitch’ as well as a longer, approximately five-minute presentation with a more detailed growth plan, Rautiainen summarizes.
The hard work of the startups is rewarded in the IVA week finale on Friday, as the company with the best pitch will be awarded the opportunity to participate in the investor event Jyväskylä Business Rally Investor Day, held on July 30. The selection is supported by a jury that this year includes Jaana Seppälä (Kasvu Open), Jarkko Kosonen (Midinvest), Juha Harju (Woolman), and Ella Salmela (FiBAN).
The International Venture Academy is organized by Jyväskylä Business Services and the bootcamp will be held at Jyväskylä Startup Factory.
The programme is part of Jyväskylä's innovation ecosytem work. The innovation ecosystem work is based on an agreement between the City of Jyväskylä and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment and is funded by the Regional Council of Central Finland (ERDF).
