Startup Specialist

Häme University of Applied Sciences (HAMK) is looking for a Startup Specialist / Mentor. The position is part-time (54 %) and fixed-term from 1 August 2026 to 30 April 2028.

The Startup Specialist will work in the project Entrepreneurship Service Ecosystem for Immigrants (an EU-funded ESR+ project). The goal of the project is to improve employment by developing a permanent service model to support entrepreneurship among people with an immigrant background.

The Startup Specialist will work according to the project plan and together with the HAMK project team to develop and pilot a startup service pathway for immigrants. This includes mentoring for startup entrepreneurship, as well as low-threshold activities and events to support and grow the startup community.

Main responsibilities:

• Act as a mentor for immigrant startup founders, people interested in entrepreneurship, and innovation projects led by immigrants
• Plan and organize low-threshold community activities and events (e.g. informal community gatherings). Develop community cooperation with the student entrepreneurship community HAMKES (https://hamkes.fi/)
• Support dialogue with startup founders and innovators in different areas of startup business development
• Build networks and partnerships with Finnish and international business leaders, investors, and accelerators
• Take part in planning and implementing a startup idea competition
• Participate as an expert in the project steering group, communication, reporting according to the project plan and funding decision, and internal planning meetings at HAMK

Working environment

The Startup mentor will work together with the HAMK project team and in close cooperation with project partners. The position is administratively under the Research and Innovation Director at HAMK. The workplace is at the HAMK Riihimäki campus.

✅Requirements

We expect:

• Suitable education and competence for the position
• Experience in (startup) entrepreneurship
• Good language skills, at least Finnish and English

We value:

• Studies in entrepreneurship (vocational, higher education, or other training)
• Experience working in a higher education environment or with students
• Experience in mentoring and group guidance
• Personal experience of working as an entrepreneur in a foreign country or culture

We encourage applicants with suitable skills and experience from diverse language and cultural backgrounds to apply.

For a 54 % working time, the salary of the position sets to approximately 1944 euros (the full-time salary is 3600 euros).

Please send your applications latest at June 18th 2026. For more information about the position, please contact Director of Research and Innovation Annukka Pakarinen (annukka.pakarinen@hamk.fi).

Häme University of Applied Sciences (HAMK) is a learning and research community of people driven to make a positive impact on the world. We are a team of over 10,000 people shaping the future of bioeconomy, health, education, business, design, and technology. Our presence spans across seven campuses, online, and internationally. We provide exceptional tools and environments to our students, staff, and partners to work and collaborate together to accomplish useful actions.