Hydrogen presents major opportunities for start-ups

“Crazy ideas are welcome,” said Esa Eerola, Programme Manager at the Central Finland Mobility Foundation (Cefmof).

Cefmof, founded by the City of Jyväskylä, Toyota and Toyota Gazoo Racing, is widely recognised for establishing Finland’s first hydrogen refuelling station in Jyväskylä.

According to Eerola, opportunities for innovation and new business creation continue to emerge across the hydrogen sector.

“Researching hydrogen-powered buses, studying their performance and developing solutions for northern operating conditions is something unique that we can do. Everyday challenges such as workforce scheduling, maintenance and reporting optimisation are just as relevant in the hydrogen sector as anywhere else. Who certifies gases and carries out the testing? Should it be continuous monitoring or sampling? I don’t know the answers, but there is plenty of room for someone to do excellent work in these areas.”

The need for new technologies and expertise is only growing as energy markets become increasingly complex.

“The entire energy market is becoming more volatile and carries greater risk. New capabilities, better automation, improved optimisation and more accurate forecasting are all needed,” said Heidi Ahoniemi, Business Development Lead at Helen.

Mentoring, networks and industry access

While access to funding through organisations such as Business Finland and EU programmes remains important, start-ups often need much more than financial support to scale successfully.

Kasvu Open’s Seed Village mentoring programme provides free support for growth companies. Participating businesses gain access to expert coaching, hydrogen economy networks, research and industrial partners, support for proof-of-concept and pilot projects, and connections across Finland’s hydrogen value chain.

ABB is also actively looking for start-ups to join its H2 Springboard ecosystem. The company seeks businesses developing innovative technologies or breakthrough ideas and offers opportunities for joint development projects, access to industrial pilot environments, testing in real-world applications, and connections with energy companies, investors and industrial customers.

“We use real investment projects as testbeds for scaling up technologies. Solutions developed together with our partners are validated in industrial environments, and during that process we aim to create models that can be replicated across the industry,” explained Teemu Valminen, Ecosystem Developer at ABB.

Start-up Factory in Jyväskylä also offers a two-year incubator programme designed for scalable start-ups. The programme does not require founders to give up equity and provides business coaching, sales development support, access to financing and investor networks, assistance with international growth, and mentoring.

Research institutions ready to support innovation

Universities and research organisations at the event highlighted the range of expertise and facilities available to support hydrogen-focused businesses.

The University of Jyväskylä offers opportunities for collaborative research and development projects with academic experts. Areas of expertise include modelling and simulation, catalyst development, hydrogen storage research, circular economy and life-cycle assessments, and energy system optimisation.

At the Jyväskylä University of Applied Sciences (JAMK), start-ups can test and develop technologies without investing in extensive infrastructure of their own. Available services include materials testing, 3D printing, prototyping laboratories, digital twin development and pilot environments.

VTT emphasised its role in helping companies navigate the so-called “Valley of Death” between innovation and commercialisation. The organisation provides support for technology validation, scaling, pilot equipment, electrolysis and fuel cell testing, as well as spin-off creation and commercialisation activities.

Kasvu Open’s Seed Village programme for hydrogen economy growth companies is accepting applications until 30 August 2026.
For more information and to apply, visit:
https://kasvuopen.co/seed-village-h2-fuel-the-momentum/