Passion can grow into an international success, but not without work
Subsoccer was born during a family holiday when founder Jarno Saarinen came up with the idea of a table football game or under table game, played with your feet. After years of development, failed prototypes, and persistence, the concept evolved into a patented product with global traction. Today, Subsoccer is partnered with major brands such as Adidas, UEFA, and Heineken.
While Subsoccer is not yet a billion-euro business, the company has sold thousands of games, secured international patents, and built strategic brand partnerships – all of which signal significant growth potential. Subsoccer is working for the next big steps. The company’s path is a compelling example of how individual passion and an idea – initially hard to explain – can become a real, scalable business.
Jarno Saarinen has also been working hard in social media. It has been one of Saarinen’s most powerful tools. His persistence in sharing content and telling the story helped turn a niche idea into a globally recognized product.
In the following video, Saarinen shares two key pieces of advice for using social media effectively and the power of teamwork.
Saarinen shared his insights at the Scaleup Launchpad workshop held in Tampere, where growth companies from Finland, Estonia, and Sweden gathered to work with experts on scaling strategies. The day’s agenda also included a visit to the Imagine the Citiverse event, exploring the digital future of cities, and a relaxed networking evening at the Come Together gathering.
Scaleup Launchpad is a cross-border initiative supporting promising programme for scaleups in their international expansion. The programme is coordinated in Business Tampere, in Sweden by Norrköping Science Park, and in Estonia by Tartu Science Park.
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