apply to the semifinals


The application is open again! Please apply by Sunday 2.11.2025 and you are in the competition!

Are you a student at Oulu University of Applied Sciences, the University of Oulu, or OSAO? You can participate in the competition in Finnish or English, individually or as a team, and from any field of study.

How? 

The competition is organized in two phases. 

Phase 1: Apply to the Kickstart competition of your faculty. If your business idea makes it through, you will proceed to a faculty final, where you will compete against other business ideas from your faculty. Fill out the registration form carefully before submission, as it cannot be edited later.

If you place in the top three business ideas in your faculty, you move on to Phase 2. 

Phase 2: The top business ideas from each faculty compete against each other in the Kickstart grand final. The grand final 2025 will be at the University of Oulu, Agora, 28th November, starting at 12.30. pm. In the grand final, teams deliver 5-minute pitches to a panel of esteemed judges, who then determine the winner.

How to apply?

  1. Create a clear slide presentation that compiles the key information about your business idea.

  2. Record a video in which you (or your team) present the business idea using the slide presentation you created. (More detailed instructions for the video and its content can be found below.)

  3. Fill in the registration form below and attach the video and slide presentation.

    Submit the form and wait for further information about a possible entry into the semi-finals.

Instructions for the video:

Make max 5 minute long video where you explain at least the following things:

  1. Name of Your Business Idea – Spark Interest

  2. A business idea with true potential always offers a solution to a real challenge. What problem or need does your business idea aim to solve? How is this problem currently being addressed by customers?

  3. What is your business idea? Briefly describe your idea in a few sentences.

  4. Describe the product or service you've developed. What would it be like, and who is it for? Who are your potential customers?

  5. How will you make your business profitable? Who pays, what are they paying for? What is your cost structure?

  6. What is the competitive landscape in your industry? What new value does your idea bring to the market? What is your competitive advantage? What have you noticed in the industry that others haven’t?

  7. How have you tested your business idea? Have you talked to customers, built a prototype, launched a website, or perhaps run a social media ad? How do you know there’s demand?

  8. How would you bring your product/service to market? What would be the next concrete steps after the competition?

  9. Introduce the people behind the idea. What skills are needed to make the business idea a reality?

  10. A memorable ending – Slogan, call to action, or something else impactful.

Instructions for Submitting Your Application

  1. Upload the video you recorded to YouTube and create a shareable link that you can attach to the application form. Please make sure the link works properly!

  2. Upload your slide presentation in PDF or PowerPoint format to the application form.

You can film the video using any type of camera, and the style is up to you.
The most important thing is that all the requested information is clearly presented in the video!

Evaluation criteria

When evaluating the Kickstart competition ideas, the judges will pay attention to the following aspects of the business idea. It’s a good idea to keep these criteria in mind when creating your business idea video.

  • Business potential: Competitive advantage and profitability of the business idea

  • Innovation: The novelty and originality of the idea

  • Customer focus: Understanding and reaching the customer

  • Validation: Verified and/or tested demand (e.g. prototype, video, ad, customer interviews)

To succeed, the business idea must be responsible. The jury values ideas that take into account aspects of responsibility, such as ecological, social, or economic sustainability.

The participant's personal data will not be disclosed to outsiders, and will only be processed by the organizers of the competition's educational organizations in communication related to the competition.

 
 
 

University of Oulu students can apply here:

 
Osao kuva.jpg

OSAO students can apply here:

Oulu University of Applied Sciences students can apply here: