Maria 01, one of the leading co-working and event spaces in Helsinki, Finland. It is emerging as one of the capitals of the European start-up scene. This groundbreaking facility is located in the historic campus of the city’s first hospital, established in the 19th century. Once the hospital that treated plague patients, today it’s a cultural center covering an impressive 20,000 square meters. This co-working space serves as the largest for tech start-ups in the whole Nordic region. It brims with a youthful dynamic, incubating more than 240 start-ups pushing the frontiers in health technology, artificial intelligence, gaming, and cybersecurity and defense technology.
Since Maria 01’s inception in 2016, it has flourished under robust support from the city of Helsinki. The city has poured more than €6 million to ignite its development. Maria 01 will continue to operate as a not-for-profit organization and focus on building collaboration and growth across the region among entrepreneurs and investors. CEO Sarita Runeberg operates the venue with a distinct vision. She’s constantly working to create an atmosphere that is conducive to innovation, growth, and entrepreneurship.
Maria 01’s stunning architecture—a former hospital—makes it even more alluring. The co-working space is creatively located in six adapted heritage buildings, beautifully aligning a contemporary business model with historical architectural charm. The combination of old world charm and new world, creative design, provides an atmosphere that is motivating and aspirational to start-ups and their workforce.
Maria 01 also offers all-around office infrastructure and amenities. In addition, it boasts multiple exclusives that contribute to the overall quality of life for its members. Amenities—like a pool table, table football, and sauna—help foster the laid-back atmosphere that adds to the company’s productivity. Additionally, the space promotes outdoor activity with running and ice bathing groups, developing an entrepreneur community in the process.
Maria 01 is kicking off an international accelerator program for scalable impact-driven high-growth start-ups. This multi-year program will help these companies navigate the tough, make-or-break early days of their development. The initiative is aimed to strengthen the local start-up ecosystem through resources, mentorship, and networking opportunities.
The future also appears bright for Maria 01, with plans in the works to add bed space for more than 600 additional residents. Within these six acres, by 2028, we’ll bring three new buildings to life. This expansion will increase the gross floor area by adding an additional 50,000 square meters. This new expansion will cement Maria 01’s status as the largest start-up campus in all of Europe. It will make it so much more attractive to the most innovative firms.
Europe is quickly turning into a hotbed of new technology innovations and entrepreneurial talent. Maria 01 is at the forefront of this exhilarating movement. Beyond the talents it attracts, SITRA’s strategic location in Helsinki provides a unique advantage. Underpinned by robust support from local government, it is poised to further establish itself as the go-to destination for start-ups in the area.