Starting a Game Company in Finland

A game idea does not automatically mean that establishing a company is the next step. Before proceeding, it is useful to consider what you want to achieve, whether you have the necessary team and skills, how the idea could be tested, and what kind of business can or could be built around it.

Some useful questions to consider before starting a game company:

• Do you want to develop games as a hobby, as paid professional work, or as a business?
• Is establishing a company necessary at this stage, or can the idea first be developed through a hobby project, studies, a game jam, an incubator or another setting?
• What are your goals for the game and, potentially, for the company?
• What kind of company are you aiming to build: a growth-oriented company, a sustainable and profitable business, or a creator-led indie company?
• Who is the intended audience, and what do you know about that market?
• How do the chosen genre, platform and monetisation model affect the market opportunity, production needs and business model?
• Can the core idea and its market potential be tested before committing to full production?
• Does the team have the necessary development, production, business, leadership and marketing competences?
• Do the people involved share the same expectations concerning ownership, workload, decision-making, risk and long-term goals?
• Does the planned production scope match the available time, skills, funding and realistic market opportunity?
• What kind of funding path supports the company’s goals and business model?
• How will the team or company operate before the game begins generating sufficient revenue?

Neogames has produced two visual tools for different stages of this process:

1. For people with an early game idea: “I have a fantastic game idea. How do I proceed?”This introductory flowchart is intended for people who are still considering how to develop a game idea, find a team, test the concept or move towards establishing a company. Please note that the flowchart was last updated in 2022, and information concerning individual funding and support organisations should be checked from the original sources.
2. For the people that have decided to found a game company: “Finnish Game Industry Entrepreneurship Paths”This more recent visualisation is intended for founders and early-stage teams considering what kind of company they are building. The visualisation and the full report are currently available only in Finnish.

Neogames has published reports, visual tools and industry information that may be useful to prospective founders and early-stage game companies.

• Finnish Game Industry Entrepreneurship Paths
  This report and visualisation examine the different paths game companies may take and the early decisions that can influence their development. The themes include the founders’ shared goals, market understanding, team competences, funding, production scope and growth expectations. The visualisation and the full report are currently available only in Finnish.
• Best Practices for Young Start-ups to Raise Private Investments
  This study examines private investment from the perspective of young game companies. It is particularly relevant to teams considering an investment-led growth path. Private investment is only one possible way to finance a company and is not suitable or necessary for every studio.
• The Finnish Game Industry Report
  The report provides an overview of The Finnish Game Industry, including its companies, employment, platforms, turnover and broader development. It can help founders understand the environment in which they are planning to operate.
• About The Finnish Game Industry
  Neogames Finland maintains an overview of companies and other organisations operating in The Finnish Game Industry. It can help prospective founders explore the ecosystem and identify relevant companies, communities and other actors in Finland. Inclusion on the page does not mean that an organisation is a Neogames Finland member or that Neogames Finland  endorses or recommends its services.

Game development can be financed through a combination of founders’ own resources, public funding, publisher funding, private investment, service work and revenue from games.

Public funding in Finland

• In Finland, relevant public funding organisations may include Business Finland specially Sprint funding, particularly for companies pursuing international growth and development, and AVEK DigiDemo funding, which supports audiovisual and digital content projects.  A worth of checking is also regional Economic Development Centre Funding options. Different criteria, instruments and application periods vary and may change.

Support for the entrepreneur

• New full-time entrepreneurs may also be eligible for a start-up grant to support their personal livelihood during the early stage of entrepreneurship. The grant is administered by local employment authorities and must normally be applied for before starting full-time business operations.

Further information

• Neogames has compiled an overview of support and funding options for Finnish game entrepreneurs. The overview is currently available only in Finnish. 
• I have a game start-up and I need funding. How do I proceed? This introductory flowchart helps illustrate how the type of company, business model, team, production plan and growth goals influence possible funding paths. It was published in 2022, so information concerning individual funding instruments and organisations should always be checked from the original sources.

Always check the latest information directly from the relevant funding organisation.

Building a company also means becoming part of the wider industry community. Events, local communities and professional networks can help founders understand how the industry works, meet potential team members and partners, and learn from other developers.

Useful starting points include:

• IGDA Finland events and regional hubs
• The Finnish Game Industry events calendar
• Play Finland on Facebook
• Neogames Weekly News  and to subscribe our newsletter
• Neogames’ list of Finnish game companies and other industry actors

You can find more links and practical tips on Neogames’ How to Get Into The Finnish Game Industry page.

General information on establishing and operating a business in Finland is available from the relevant Finnish public authorities. These sources cover matters such as choosing a form of enterprise, registering a company, taxation and the practical obligations of a new business.

• Suomi.fi: Starting a business. General guidance on planning business activities, choosing a form of enterprise and launching business operations in Finland.
• Finnish Patent and Registration Office (PRH): Start a business.  Official information on registering a company with the Finnish Trade Register and submitting a start-up notification.
• Finnish Tax Administration: New business enterprise. Guidance on taxation, registrations and other tax-related matters for new businesses.
• Finnish Immigration Service: Residence permit for a start-up entrepreneur. Official information on the residence permit for founders of growth-oriented start-ups, including the requirement for a positive Eligibility Statement from Business Finland before applying.
• Startup in Finland. Business Finland’s practical information portal for international founders interested in Finland. It introduces the Finnish start-up ecosystem and provides guidance on topics such as establishing a company, accessing support and building a business in Finland.

Requirements and procedures may change. Always check the latest information directly from the relevant authority.

This page is intended as a starting point and does not constitute legal, tax, accounting, funding or investment advice. Links to external organisations and service providers are included for information only. Their inclusion does not mean that they are Neogames Finland members or that Neogames Finland endorses, recommends or guarantees their services. Always check the latest information directly from the relevant organisation.