Growth and development always stem from people and collaboration between them. In the early stages of a startup, the importance of networks is particularly evident: they open doors, complement expertise, and enable growth that would be impossible to achieve alone.
In the incubator community, this becomes a reality in everyday life. The right contact, the missing skill, or a crucial perspective can be found surprisingly close by—sometimes just a coffee-table conversation away.
“We wouldn’t be where we are today if we weren’t here at Yritystehdas. For us, growth will come later, and this time at Hautomo will be a critical phase for that growth. There would be no Graani in its current form, nor any growth, without Hautomo,” says Graani’s founder, Maarit Rockefeller, who has been an entrepreneur for 25 years.
Graani is a mobile tool for direct food sales and purchasing, developed by producers and currently in the pilot phase, that aims to revolutionize direct sales with its ease of use.
“Immediately after joining Yritystehdas, I gained access to an international network. Two international contacts have led to us soon being connected across all the Nordic countries,” Rockefeller continues.
While Graan’s networks have expanded internationally, for Rapid Structural Design (RSD), Yritystehdas’s Incubator has opened doors especially locally in Jyväskylä.
“Hautomo has been a real networking hub for us. We’ve been able to connect with the right people at the right time. We’ve found expertise, contacts, and talent,” says RSD founder Jussi Puurula. RSD is a technology partner of Siemens that develops next-generation ship design software.
“In Jyväskylä, companies have excellent opportunities to find expertise thanks to the university and the university of applied sciences. The talent of the future is genuinely available here,” Puurula continues.
“In Jyväskylä, companies have excellent opportunities to find talent thanks to the university and the university of applied sciences. The builders of the future are truly within reach.”
Jussi Puurula, RSD
For both entrepreneurs, the most important benefit of Hautomo ultimately comes down to the network.
“We’re still small companies that lack resources. Through networks, we can supplement our own expertise. That’s critical for a small startup,” says Puurula.
“An entrepreneur can’t possibly have all the expertise. Every person who helps us move forward is an incredible gift,” Rockefeller adds.
One of the most significant experiences for both companies during their time at Hautomo was participating in the International Venture Academy ( IVA) in the spring of 2025. This investor program, aimed at startups and scaleups, is organized in broad collaboration with Jyväskylä Business Services, the European Business Angels Network (EBAN), the Finnish Business Angels Network (FIBAN), Sophia Business Angels (SBA), Entrepreneur Avenue, and Yritystehdas.
IVA serves as an example of just how extensive the entrepreneurial ecosystem surrounding Hautomo is, and how important it is for startup founders to know how to choose the right events at the right time.
“Our year at Hautomo had prepared us to get the most out of IVA Week. It was a pivotal week for us that significantly changed our way of thinking,” Puurula says.
At IVA, the companies were challenged by both mentors and fellow entrepreneurs.
“At first, we were completely overwhelmed, but through these insights, we found a new direction. That’s when our new mission and way of thinking began to take shape.”
Rockefeller also describes the IVA week as demanding, but extremely rewarding.
“You don’t reach the top by taking it easy. You have to challenge yourself and push yourself hard for progress to happen.”
Joint events and day-to-day life at Hautomo also led Graani and RSD to concrete collaboration. RSD was inspired by Graani’s strong mission and customer-centric approach, and wanted to implement that same mindset in its own company using Graani’s tools.
“With Graani’s help, our message became clearer, and it’s really taken off now. Good things started pouring in, and we’re trying to keep up with them,” Puurula sums up.
Both entrepreneurs see that collaboration with other incubator companies is often greater than the sum of its parts.
“When you come to Yritystehdas, you know someone will be there to greet you. It’s easy to invite guests here, and the facilities are the kind a startup wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford.”
Maarit Rockefeller, Graani
“Sometimes 1+1 is more than two when you dare to give things a chance and don’t say no to everything,” Rockefeller says.
At the incubator, collaboration isn’t limited to events; at its best, connections are made every day simply by working in the same space.
“The incubator has given me a work community. I used to work alone. Now it feels like we’re a real company. It’s also been important to talk with other entrepreneurs about the tough times,” Puurula says.
For Rockefeller, the communal workspace has brought structure to his work.
“When I come to Yritystehdas, I know there’s someone there to greet me. It’s easy to invite guests here, and the facilities are the kind a startup wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford.”
Collaborations and conversations with fellow entrepreneurs have also helped her realize that she’s not alone in facing problems; many others are going through the same challenges.
Graani and RSD are currently planning a business group project. Although the companies operate in completely different industries, they both have the same needs, and the project could help find a solution.
“It’s fun to work with Jussi because he’s smart and solution-oriented. If you’re constantly finding more problems than solutions, things will never get off the ground,” Rockefeller says.
If Maarit Rockefeller had to describe Hautomo with a single metaphor, it would be a trampoline at the end of a running track.
“With Hautomo’s help, you can really make great strides forward—if you dare to take the leap.”
Rockefeller admits that before joining Yritystehdas, she’d heard more negative than positive things about incubators.
“My experience has been the exact opposite. Without the incubator, Graani wouldn’t exist in its current form. It all comes down to what you do: do you take that leap onto the trampoline, or do you just stick around for coffee?”
For Puurula, too, the incubator has been a nurturing environment—both for the company and for the entrepreneur.
“The incubator has been a lifeline for us. Without this support, we probably would have given up at the first sign of trouble.”
He also highlights the importance of resilience.
“Here, they also look out for the entrepreneur. Thanks to the coaching, I avoided burnout, which could have brought the whole company down.”
Both encourage other startup entrepreneurs to reach out to Yritystehdas without hesitation.
“It’s worth coming here if you’re really serious about it. You have to be at least 100% committed to moving your business forward,” Rockefeller sums up.
Check out Yritystehdas’s Incubator and see how we can help you build growth.