Entrepreneurship and alumni 

Many of the entrepreneurship services and studies offered by Karelia UAS are available for you even after the graduation. 

  • Draft Program® 
  • INVEST Entrepreneurship Program 
  • POLKU Entrepreneurship Event 
  • Start Me Up Business Idea Competition 

Entrepreneurship-related studies can also be studied at Open UAS: https://karelia.fi/avoin-amk/ 

Draft Program® for entrepreneurship 

The Draft programme for entrepreneurship provides you with the opportunity to get funding and entrepreneurship coaching that help you make your entrepreneurial dreams come true and develop as a launcher of successful products. The funding for the first phase is EUR 1000, and EUR 3000 for the second phase.  

The Draft Program® is intended for the students, staff and alumni of Karelia UAS, Riveria, Savo vocational school, Savonia UAS, and UEF. 

Applying for the program is easy! See application instructions and check the deadline for the following application period at: https://draftprogram.com/

INVEST Entrepreneurship Program 

The Invest Entrepreneurship Program is an international entrepreneurship program implemented by Karelia UAS together with four other European partner institutions of higher education in the INVEST alliance.  

The program offers encouragement and small-scale financial support in exchange for the sharing of experiences of the teams selected for the program in form of e.g. blog posts. You can apply for the program if you are a Karelia UAS student, staff member, or alumnus.   

Read more about the program: https://www.invest-alliance.eu/en/Home/NewsInfo?link=32-apply-to-invest-entrepreneurship-program 

POLKU Entrepreneurship Event 

POLKU is the largest and most diverse entrepreneurship event in North Karelia. The event brings together all entrepreneurial-minded people, regardless of age and field, to hear top speakers, attend lectures and workshops, and to network. 

POLKU entrepreneurship event will definitively provide you with something interesting and the event is free of charge for students. The event inspires, opens new doors to the world of business, and gives the participants a wide range of opportunities for personal growth. 

The University of Eastern Finland organises a course Yrittäjyysviikko/Entrepreneurship Week (2 ECTS), which you can complete by participating in the activities of the POLKU event and by conducting a related learning assignment. The course is available for UEF students and Karelia UAS students. 

Read more at https://polku.es/

Start Me Up Business Idea Competition 

SMU is a business idea competition organised annually by Business Joensuu, with a total value of several tens of thousands of euros. Karelia UAS is a long-term partner of the business idea competition, and one of the main sponsors of the student series in the competition. 

Read more at: https://www.businessjoensuu.fi/startmeup/