# Kiuas

> Kiuas is a founder collective in Finland for ambitious idea-stage builders. It helps founders go from an early idea to paying customers and a high-growth company — completely free, with no fees and no equity taken.

Kiuas runs two programs, based in Otaniemi, Finland (hybrid model; solo builders and teams welcome):

- The Collective: a 4-month residency for early-stage founders with mentorship, investor connections, building tools, and workspace, aimed at helping teams reach €100k MRR.
- The Validation Sprint: a 5-week structured program for validating a business concept before committing to building it.

Kiuas is not a traditional accelerator: there are no fixed cohorts, no set curriculum, and no demo day. Founders are selected for drive and willingness to test ideas, not background.

Contact: hello@kiuas.com

## Pages

- [Home](https://kiuas.com/): What Kiuas is and how to apply
- [About](https://kiuas.com/about): Mission, how Kiuas works, and details of The Collective and The Validation Sprint
- [People](https://kiuas.com/people): The team — Tuomas Vapaavuori (CEO), Ida Oittinen (Head of Operations), Samu Bergman (Startup Intern)
- [Library](https://kiuas.com/library): Articles and resources for founders

## Library articles

- [What others call us and what we actually do](https://kiuas.com/library/what-others-call-us-and-what-we-actually-do): How Kiuas differs from a traditional accelerator
- [Why validation matters](https://kiuas.com/library/why-validation-matters): The case for validating a startup idea before building it
- [Sunstead Hackathon under the midnight sun](https://kiuas.com/library/sunstead-hackathon-midnight-sun): Sunstead Hack, a hackathon under the Arctic midnight sun in Levi, Finnish Lapland