One of the most significant barriers is language. This challenge has also been highlighted in previous studies (Yeasmin & Hasanat, 2022; Yeasmin & Koivurova, 2019), and it continues to shape the everyday lives of immigrant women. The workshop once again highlighted that many essential formal processes – such as business registration, banking and rules or regulations– are mainly available in Finnish, and English language skills are limited. This causes particular difficulties in the early stages of entrepreneurship, where obtaining the right information requires considerable time and effort. Long and complex instructions can lead to situations where entrepreneurs spend hours completing relatively simple tasks, such as business registration. Communicating with authorities, service providers and partners can also be challenging without sufficient language skills.
Digital tools and generative AI offer new opportunities, but their use is not without challenges. While tools like ChatGPT can support idea generation and content production, the language they produce is not always precise or context-sensitive, especially in Finnish. Native speakers need to check the language at the end. This highlights the need to strengthen both technological competence and critical evaluation. Furthermore, implementing digital marketing can be difficult if there is no common language with marketing service providers or if the potential of digital tools is unclear.
In everyday business, these challenges are particularly evident in marketing and customer acquisition. Entering the Finnish market often requires knowledge of Finnish, as marketing in English alone does not reach all customer segments. In addition, introducing new products or services can be difficult, as consumers may be wary of unfamiliar or foreign offers. Business regulations, taxation, and administrative practices require entrepreneurs to navigate information from multiple sources, which are often available only in Finnish. While AI-based translation tools can provide initial support, their outputs are not always sufficiently accurate or reliable for legal and administrative purposes, increasing the risk of misinterpretation.
It is also noted during the workshop that, from a business environment perspective, Finland offers stable and well-structured institutional systems, but their complexity can pose significant challenges for new entrepreneurs. For example, understanding requirements such as the pension insurance system for entrepreneurs and industry-specific regulations often requires considerable preparation even before starting a business. At the same time, the importance of mentoring, entrepreneurial communities and peer support was strongly emphasized, but access to such support structures remains limited or unevenly distributed.
The core objective of the Älyvoima project is to address these challenges by strengthening entrepreneurial competence, digital skills and the effective use of artificial intelligence. The aim is not only to develop technical capabilities, but also to empower participants, helping them to identify their own skills, navigate the new operating environment and build sustainable business solutions.
The project shows that despite existing barriers, these challenges can be addressed by combining competence development, accessible digital solutions and community-based support. In this way, it is possible to promote inclusive and sustainable entrepreneurship, which benefits both individuals and society as a whole.
The main implementer of the Älyvoima project is the University of Oulu, and the co-implementer is Oulun seudun Uusyrityskeskus Oy. The project is co-funded by the European Union (JTF).
Author: Nafisa Yeasmin, LL.M., D.Soc.Sc., Adjunct Professor of Migration Sociology, Development Manager, Kerttu Saalasti Institute, University of Oulu, MicroENTRE
Photo: Cedric Fauntleroy / Pexels
Sources:
Yeasmin, N., & Koivurova, T. (2019). A factual analysis of sustainable opportunity recognition of immigrant entrepreneurship in Finnish Lapland: Theories and practice. Journal of Entrepreneurship, Management and Innovation, 15(2), 57–84.
Yeasmin, N., & Hasanat, W. (2022). Understanding inclusive entrepreneurship: With special reference to women immigrants in Arctic Finland. Nordic Yearbook of Population Research, 56, 91–114.
In Kerttu Saalasti Institute's blog we write about the topics of the Institute's research groups, micro entrepreneurship education and the Institute's general topics. The authors are researchers, experts and members of networks.