For many foreigners in Finland, entrepreneurship is the only viable route to employment. And while starting a business here may be easy, continued commercial success isn’t guaranteed. Ghanaian-Finnish Edem Agbekey-Taylor, the founder of the Inkuto Organics skin and hair care brand, says there are many organisations dedicated to helping SMEs succeed, but they don’t always provide the support needed.
“It's a country where they will say, yes, entrepreneurship, which is beautiful because it doesn't take the complication of the bureaucracy of starting a business. It's very minimal. But then when you start, how to keep the momentum going, how to keep the business afloat is something that immigrants face a lot or small businesses,” she said. “You don't get the financial support, you don't get the loan that ... to push the business and then there aren -- that is my personal experience -- there are a lot of organisations that are in place that are supposed to push, help, fund or push those businesses. But they are not there. They are not there for some of us,” Agebekey-Taylor added.
No time for networking
It is often said in Finland that personal and professional networks are critical in helping individuals and businesses to progress. However the Inkuto founder said that in her efforts to ensure the business thrives, she often does not have the time to take advantage of her connections.
”Running a family business or a small business, this is what keeps entrepreneurs away, because you have the network, but you don't have the time to network, because you are always in the business, you don't have the time to socialise, you don't have the time to even have a coffee break with a friend to talk. So you are kind of by yourself, you become lonely in the field of your expertise and that is kind of challenging,” she explained.
The former auto engineer said that the small business has experienced challenging times, including a global pandemic and the resulting economic uncertainty that have caused consumers to be conservative about spending on non-essentials. Nevertheless she declared that she is grateful for her community of faithful supporters.
“There are people who believe in our story, who believe in our products, that they are also quality, and people who want to empower and see some change happen in the world. So it's everybody, the Afro background, the Finnish, and actually the Finnish people's voice is so loud, has been louder.”
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Audio production was provided by Travis Glossop and the podcast was recorded at Enchanté Café in Helsinki.
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