Supporting Companies with Growth Ambitions
The South Ostrobothnia Growth Fund invests in companies headquartered in South Ostrobothnia or with significant operations in the region.
The fund focuses on businesses capable of building scalable international operations and creating long-term growth.
Fund at a glance
- Fund size: approximately €4 million
- Investment focus: South Ostrobothnia
- Typical investment: €25,000–€300,000
- Target portfolio: 10–20 growth companies
- Investment approach: minority ownership position with an active growth perspective
The fund is backed by leading regional organisations, including the City of Seinäjoki, OmaSp, Cooperative Society Eepee, LähiTapiola, OP Financial Group, South Ostrobothnia Entrepreneurs and Lakeuden Etappi.
Our Objectives
The fund aims to:
- Strengthen entrepreneurship and growth-oriented business in South Ostrobothnia
- Accelerate the creation of new jobs
- Support the development and attractiveness of the regional business ecosystem
- Generate competitive returns for investors while supporting promising regional companies
Frequently Asked Questions
Who Can Apply for Funding?
The fund can invest in companies of any age and industry, provided they operate in South Ostrobothnia and demonstrate significant growth potential.
Typical investments range from €20,000 to €300,000. The fund becomes a minority shareholder and works alongside the company’s existing owners to support growth over the long term.
When Does Equity Investment Make Sense?
Equity financing can be an attractive option when a company is pursuing substantial growth and traditional debt financing alone is not sufficient.
Typical situations include:
- Accelerating international expansion
- Scaling business operations
- Developing new products or services
- Entering new markets
- Financing major growth initiatives
In many cases, equity investment complements other funding sources and strengthens the overall financing package.
Portfolio companies may also benefit from the networks, expertise, and market connections that an investor can bring.
How Does the Process Begin?
The first step is a confidential discussion about your company’s plans, ambitions, and growth objectives.
Companies can contact Tapio Seppä-Lassila directly for an initial conversation. If the opportunity appears to be a good fit, it will be introduced to the fund manager, Redstone Nordics, who will continue the investment evaluation process.
Alternatively, companies may submit an enquiry through the fund website: https://www.southostrobothniafund.com/
Who Invested in the Fund?
The South Ostrobothnia Growth Fund is financed by a group of regional institutions, financial organisations, and business development stakeholders committed to strengthening the region’s growth potential.
The total fund size is approximately €3.64 million.
The fund operates with a ten-year investment horizon. During the first phase, capital is invested in selected growth companies. The latter phase focuses on developing portfolio value and executing exits.
Main Investors
- City of Seinäjoki – €1.0 million
- Kuortane Savings Bank Foundation and Töysä Savings Bank Foundation – €1.0 million
- LähiTapiola South Ostrobothnia – €490,000
- OP South Ostrobothnia – €360,000
- Cooperative Society Eepee – €300,000
- Lakeuden Etappi – €200,000
- Redstone Nordics – €140,000
- South Ostrobothnia Entrepreneurs Association – €50,000
Looking for Growth Capital?
If your company has ambitions to scale, expand internationally, or accelerate growth, we would be happy to discuss whether the South Ostrobothnia Growth Fund could be a suitable partner for your journey.
For more information, please contact:
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Seppä-Lassila Tapio
Read more: Seppä-Lassila Tapio
