Building for International Scale from Day One

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The Nordics continue to defy expectations. While much has been written about the challenges facing the welfare state across the region, we often overlook one of its most powerful by-products: a deeply ingrained culture of learning and scientific curiosity. These systems, though frequently criticised, have created an environment where those who want to explore, question, and expand boundaries are given the means to do so. The result? A foundation that is both innovation-focused and scientifically rigorous, a place where ambition and access coexist. 

In an interview by Rejlers Play, Alexander Fred-Ojala (Head of AI at EQT Ventures) described the ongoing paradigm very well: “We have a long history of embracing technological change”. International expansion is risky, but without embracing the risk from day one, we risk something far greater, a failed international transfer of potentially world-changing technologies.

Despite a challenging funding climate, startups across the region are not just surviving; they’re steadily expanding their horizons. In 2025, we’ve seen bold funding rounds that point to a new phase of Nordic ambition. Finland’s DataCrunch raised €55 million to accelerate Europe’s AI sovereignty, while IQM Quantum Computers closed a €300 million Series B that underscored the strength of Nordic deep tech. These examples signal a broader mindset shift among founders, thinking globally from the very start, and not selling themselves short.

The Case for Global Orientation

For many Nordic founders, global scalability is no longer something to be achieved later, but a part of the foundation. From product design to hiring, the best startups are embedding cross-border growth into their DNA. Investors increasingly look for proof that a company can operate beyond its home market, whether through early international customers, pilot projects abroad, or leadership teams that can bridge cultural and regulatory divides. When I speak to Nordic founders, one of my first questions, more often than not, is how much work will be required to adapt a given solution to a broader market context, such as to a central European expansion down the line.

Building your business case around a global orientation not only showcases beyond the cradle ambition, but also helps de-risk a business in the eyes of international investors. Demonstrating traction in several markets shows both validation and execution capability. Founders like those at ICEYE and ReOrbit have turned early global orientation into category leadership. And whether you’re building a product with inherent international pull, like Lovable, or scaling through smart platform partnerships as Virta Ltd. has done, the pattern is clear: companies built with global intent tend to grow faster, attract stronger partners, and weather downturns more effectively.

Using the Nordic Ecosystem as a Launchpad

The Nordic ecosystem offers a remarkable set of tools for founders who want to take their ideas abroad. Organisations such as Business Finland, regional accelerators, and local venture networks do far more than provide capital. They open doors. When used well, they can connect founders to the right mentors, customers, and investors beyond their home base. Too often, though, these systems are treated as domestic stepping stones rather than the international launchpads that they can be, when leveraged correctly.

Events like Slush, TechBBQ, and Arctic15 play a vital role in exposure and network building, but true visibility requires going further. Founders should aim to be heard in Amsterdam, Singapore, or San Francisco, not only in Helsinki or Copenhagen. A clear and confident story, backed by substance and an ability to convey realistic confidence, is what transforms a good startup into one the world takes seriously.

Confidence Beyond Humility

I’ve previously written about the Nordic culture of humility on my Medium blog, describing how our collective reluctance to self-promote, what I called “ruinous humility”, can quietly undermine our ability to compete internationally. In that piece, I reflected on how Finnish modesty, while rooted in sincerity and respect, often manifests as a kind of allergy to self-assertion, leaving even world-class innovators hesitant to speak of their achievements with confidence. Across cultural borders, what we see as modesty is sometimes read as uncertainty. 

The companies that thrive internationally are those that pair the quiet endurance of Sisu with an open, self-assured presence. Investors don’t just back technology, they back belief. Building for scale requires not only an excellent product but the confidence to articulate its significance without hesitation.

About the author

Daniel Uusitalo was born in Finland but grew up in New York City, Vienna, and London. He is a European venture capitalist and environmental activist with a passion for climate tech and the rapid deployment of technology. Daniel currently invests in European digital tech ventures at 4impact capital.

4impact capital is a Dutch venture capital fund investing in digital ventures across Europe that solve problems relating to our Planet & People. We target market rate returns by investing in strong teams with international growth ambitions and commercial traction, backing highly scalable digital technology ventures that deliver intentional and additional impact (SFDR 9) at Seed to Series A. 

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