For whom?

Tempo funding is intended for Finnish limited liability companies: startups, SMEs and mid cap companies aiming for international growth that have the desire and ability to build their expertise and solutions into an international success story in innovative ways. Innovation can mean a lot of things, not just the technical implementation of a product or service. The result to be achieved must have a credible advantage over potential competitors.

Tempo-funding is always based on consideration.

At the start of the project the company must have a competent team and credible funding for implementing the project.
The sufficiency of the cash flow financing is assessed on a case-by-case basis. If the company has no retained earnings or cash flow financing based on previous financial years, a demand for equity financing is a possibility. In practice, this means at least EUR 30,000 in equity funding as the project's own funding. Accumulated earnings are eligible for equity to exceed the threshold only from the official and full accounting period.

Acceptable equity funding includes, for example:

• Investments in share capital or a SVOP fund (invested unrestricted equity fund) paid to the company in cash
• Subordinated loans

Before drawing up a project plan and the actual application, we recommend having a discussion with one of Business Finland's experts. Find out here how to become our customer.

In order for your company to get the best possible benefit from Tempo funding, we recommend that you critically evaluate the development needs related to the company's competence and business in relation to the company's growth vision for 3–5 years. If these needs have not been identified yet, we also recommend learning more about the following services as needed before a potential Tempo project plan:

• ELY Centre's development services
• Business Finland's innovation voucher, if the study is related to the company's new product, service or business
• Business Finland Market Explorer, for studies on international markets new to the company

What?

With the funding, your company can improve its potential for international growth in various ways, test the functionality of its business concept, obtain feedback from potential customers, and investigate demand in a new international market.

In a Tempo project, the main focus is on developing the capabilities related to the company's international growth, not product development. Product development costs can only be approved as a small part of the project to gain customer insight and feedback. If the focus of the project is on product development and the company has a sufficient idea on its global competitiveness, you should learn more about Business Finland's research and development funding.

When?

• Your company's objective is significant international growth, and the competence and development needs related to the objective have been identified and your company is a limited company.
• Your company has a realistic idea of its competitive advantage in the market.
• You understand what need your product or service idea meets.
• You have identified the potential clientele and earnings model.
• You have estimated the size and business potential of the target market.
• Key employees are committed to the company and its growth strategy.
• There are enough resources and a wide range of skills available for development. We do not award funding to single-person businesses. At minimum, your project team must consist of, for example, one full-time person and two half-time persons in Finland.
• The company has a credible funding plan and the prerequisites for profitable business and growt

When not?

• If the company form is not "limited liability company"
• The company does not have its own innovative product or service idea
• The company/group has already taken advantage of the Tempo or Kiito funding
• The company's team is not sufficiently committed and competent prior to Tempo
• The company does not have the necessary equity funding of its own
• The company does not have a justified view of its competitive edge and growth potential in the international markets
• The project targets operative work/the company's ordinary operations
• The project focus is on product development

Please note! This list is not all-encompassing. Please read all the instructions on this page carefully!

What can the funding be used for?

With Tempo funding, we promote activities with the aim of making the company's growth vision reality. The project should include a balanced mix of market surveys, collection of early customer feedback, and the development of the business model, technology and the company. A significant portion of the project costs should consist of expenses other than research and development expenses, such as

• preparation of an internationalization strategy
• market analyses
• testing of demand for the product and service concept
• piloting of the product and service concept among customers
• market validation
• test marketing
• development of management, practices and the organization in the point of view of internationalizational growth
• analysis of growth funding
• drawing up an IPR report and patent analysis

In addition, Tempo funding can be used for the participation costs of business accelerator programs and the costs of MAPs (market access programs). Further information

Goals

During the application stage, we will agree on 2-5 clear and measurable goals which are based on the stage of internationalization of your company. We evaluate what concrete is achieved at the end of the project and what business objectives are set for the project, for example:, for example:

• Realization of customer pilots
• Growing the company's turnover
• Increasing the number of customers
• Development of internationalization processes
• Strengthening the partner network
• Making progress with funding arrangements
• Strengthening the team, advisers and/or Board of Directors
• Setting up or launching an significant development project

Goal achievement will be an important factor when considering possible funding for the next stage of the project.
Usually a company is granted Tempo funding only once. In exceptional cases, such as pivoting or participation in a business accelerator program, discretionary Tempo funding may be granted a second time. In practice, pivoting is a situation where a company has completely abandoned its old business and is heading for a new business area.

Amount of funding

The maximum amount of Tempo funding is EUR 50,000. Funding from Business Finland covers 75 percent of the project's total budget, which is in maximum EUR 66,667. This funding constitutes a grant which does not have to be paid back.

We will pay 70 percent of the funding (up to EUR 35,000) after the funding decision, and the remainder in conjunction with the project's final report. For Midcap, the entire funding will be paid in conjunction with the final report.

Company's own funding

Your company must have sufficient funding of its own for the project's completion.

We require at least EUR 30,000 in equity financing as the company's own funding for the project (either through investments, subordinated loans or as results of realized accounting periods). In addition, the company must have confirmed self-financing during the project.

Note! In Tempo funding, the share of public funding is exceptionally high (75% of costs). Therefore, the self-financing of the project must be entirely from private sources and for example, no Finnvera funding can be used as self-financing for a Tempo project.