Inside Finland’s next wave of innovation: 10 promising startups to keep an eye on this 2026!

Finland's deeptech sector is demonstrating significant innovation, with a burgeoning ecosystem centered in Helsinki and Espoo. The country's strong foundation in engineering and education, coupled with robust collaboration between academia, industry, and government, fosters a fertile ground for groundbreaking startups. This environment is attracting international investment, particularly in advanced fields like AI, quantum technologies, and healthtech. Among the emerging players, Distance Technologies, founded in 2024, is pioneering AI-driven optics and computer vision to create glasses-free 3D lightfield displays. Their technology transforms transparent surfaces into displays capable of projecting digital content at variable distances, seamlessly integrating with the real world. This innovation holds particular promise for defense, aerospace, and automotive sectors, enhancing situational awareness and safety through advanced sensor fusion and head-up displays, having already secured €11.8 million in funding. Further contributing to Finland's advanced technological landscape is Donut Lab, another 2024 Helsinki-based startup. They are developing an integrated electric vehicle (EV) technology platform featuring all-solid-state batteries and in-wheel electric motors. This unified system aims to deliver high energy density, fast charging, and extended battery life at a lower cost than traditional lithium-ion batteries. Donut Lab's solutions are already being deployed in electric motorcycles, lightweight EV platforms, and industrial robotics, having raised €40 million to accelerate its platform's growth and partnerships.