Yle and Nestholma are Looking for new Startup Stars

HELSINKI, June 19, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

Yle and startup accelerator Nestholma will launch an international Media Startup Accelerator programme in autumn 2014. The aim of the project is to speed up the general development of the media industry and encourage Finnish and international growth companies to come up with new services and ways to utilise media content.

Yle is providing media expertise and business premises for the companies involved in the programme. This comprises one of the many partnerships formed under Pasila Studios. In addition, the accelerator involves communications and service company Elisa which provides growth companies with help and opportunities to set up partnerships.

Yle and Nestholma are looking for growth companies that have a new idea, service or technological solution for using, creating or distributing digital content. Startup's idea may be related to, for example, the development of media content into an unforeseen game concept, learning, social content, utilising virtual reality or developing new tools for reporters.

The accelerator programme is part of the Pasila Studios project led by Yle. Pasila Studios creates new business operations and acts as a growth platform for multi-industrial innovations. It gives birth to new network methods between companies, educational institutes, researchers and producers of creative content.

The three-month application period for the accelerator programme starts on 11 June and ends on 15 August. Eight to ten companies will be selected. For the companies accepted into the programme, Finland will act as a test market area, but the aim of the programme is to find internationally attractive growth companies.

"As part of Yle's strategy, we want to develop the media and different content with others.  We want to build up business cooperation, expand networks and promote the creation of media campuses. Setting up technical partnership projects, making Yle's resources available to partners and working with organisations, companies and educational institutes form important parts of Yle's role as a public service media organisation," says Gunilla Ohls, director of strategy at Yle.

The accelerator programme will be built around the Nestholma model, which offers an easy way for large and growth companies to work together, while utilising each other's strengths. Nestholma provides growth companies with financing models at different stages and helps them find the best public or private funding mechanism.

The programme is being carried out in close cooperation with Tekes. The Nestholma programme offers seed money to companies that obtain a positive financial decision from Tekes during the application process. The selected companies must meet the requirements set by Tekes for companies eligible for funding. The initial need for funding will be analysed separately for each company. In the model used in the programme (Planning for global growth), the maximum amount of funding is EUR 67,000. More information about the programme's themes is available on the application page at http://www.nestholma.com/yle-accelerator

Yle is a Finnish public service media company, and the largest creative community and content provider in Finland. Yle produces a diversity of reliable high-quality content for all electronic channels. http://www.yle.fi

Nestholma is a startup accelerator which provides large companies and startups with a whole new way of working together. The objective is to provide interesting startups with the opportunity to work with and learn from a larger company operating in the same field and to form partnerships. For larger companies, Nestholma's three-month accelerator programme offers a new and rapid way to develop and innovate, and to find new partners. Nestholma has received support for the project from the European Social Fund. http://www.nestholma.com. 

Further information 

Yle, Chief Partnership Officer Anssi Komulainen, anssi.komulainen@yle.fi, +358-400-129524

Nestholma, Managing Director Topi Järvinen, topi@nestholma.com, +358-40-754-3131