Abilities of Immigrants in Entrepreneurship in South Karelia
Kurkinen, Kari (2026)
2026
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2026052014644
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2026052014644
Tiivistelmä
The aim of this thesis was to contribute to an understanding of the conditions under which immigrants can establish and develop sustainable and profitable entrepreneurial activities in South Karelia region. To achieve this, the study examined the challenges, needs, practices, and motivations encountered by immigrant entrepreneurs, assessed their utilization of business and financial support services, and analyzed the perceptions held by the regional business service network.
A mixed-methods approach was used, utilizing data triangulation to ensure validity. Statistical data were analyzed to establish entrepreneurial trends in South Karelia, while semi-structured interviews with seven immigrant entrepreneurs and an action-processual focus group provided in-depth qualitative insights into lived experiences and institutional navigation strategies.
The study showed that immigrant entrepreneurs were primarily driven by personal aspiration. However, while the foreign-born population in South Karelia has grown significantly, the number of immigrant entrepreneurs has remained stable, suggesting unrealized growth potential. Structural barriers were identified, including systemic difficulties in opening corporate bank accounts and high reliance on tacit knowledge within the funding ecosystem. Furthermore, Finnish language proficiency was found to be a critical determinant for local market entry and recruitment.
The thesis concludes that the current business support ecosystem lacks mechanisms for effective social capital formation and scaling. The findings offer a broader perspective on immigrant entrepreneurship for public organizations and resulted in specific suggestions for the sustainable development of business services to make them more accessible to non-Finnish speakers, thereby enhancing regional vitality.
A mixed-methods approach was used, utilizing data triangulation to ensure validity. Statistical data were analyzed to establish entrepreneurial trends in South Karelia, while semi-structured interviews with seven immigrant entrepreneurs and an action-processual focus group provided in-depth qualitative insights into lived experiences and institutional navigation strategies.
The study showed that immigrant entrepreneurs were primarily driven by personal aspiration. However, while the foreign-born population in South Karelia has grown significantly, the number of immigrant entrepreneurs has remained stable, suggesting unrealized growth potential. Structural barriers were identified, including systemic difficulties in opening corporate bank accounts and high reliance on tacit knowledge within the funding ecosystem. Furthermore, Finnish language proficiency was found to be a critical determinant for local market entry and recruitment.
The thesis concludes that the current business support ecosystem lacks mechanisms for effective social capital formation and scaling. The findings offer a broader perspective on immigrant entrepreneurship for public organizations and resulted in specific suggestions for the sustainable development of business services to make them more accessible to non-Finnish speakers, thereby enhancing regional vitality.