The Startup Circus is an annual early-stage business idea pitching event that brings together the leading student teams from the Helsinki area. The teams represent the best talents from higher education courses and incubator programs in the Helsinki area, including Aalto University School of Business, Hanken School of Economics, Aalto Ventures Program (AVP), Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences, and The Shortcut. The teams pitch to an expert panel that decides the winners of seed funding prizes. The evening is featured with both performing and visual arts. This year we will have a pop-up exhibition by three artists, a participatory painting installation and a variety of performing circus arts.

The philosophy of the event is grounded on fostering creative collaboration and crossing both disciplinary and institutional boundaries. We aim to enable a deeper collaboration between different educators in Helsinki area to give direct support and visibility to the most talented student teams. In order to foster creativity within Helsinki´s startup ecosystem, by bringing both performing and visual arts closer to everyone the Startup Circus aims to give talented artists more visibility to their beautiful work to new audiences