Educating the Entrepreneurial and Growth-Oriented Mindset

The entrepreneurial and growth-oriented mindset has gained significant attention in the last two decades in most economically advanced countries. Entrepreneurial growth is vital for a nation due to its positive impact on socio-economic and political infrastructure. The purpose of this thesis was to study the technologically innovative growth-oriented Finnish startup company and to study the entrepreneurial mindset and education. The key research questions were to understand the perspective of entrepreneurs as well as the skills and education entrepreneurs would need in the future. It also examined whether the different networking events, "Y-kampus," and growth maker activities were beneficial for the startups and students. This study also gathered information on family and cultural effects on entrepreneurship and future support needed for growth makers. The thesis used the qualitative and quantitative research model, where the data was collected through semi-structured interviews as well as surveys. Different entrepreneurs attended SWC 2019, and students of the "Y-kampus," altogether ten individuals participated in the data collection process. All the respondents agreed about the necessity of networking events in company formation. The findings show that vital skills for future entrepreneurs are communication and people skills, grit, risk-taking attitudes. In terms of entrepreneurial education (EE), respondents suggested a few points, which were a hands-on experience, customer-focused project works, and networking. Productive entrepreneurial traits and personalities consist of problem-solving, innovativeness, openminded, focused, influential, self-reflective. "Y- kampus" students survey showed that the current entrepreneurial and growth-oriented studies were helping them to start entrepreneurship while it could be even more compelling by introducing more real-life business cases and study trips. To scale up to international markets, such practices (entrepreneurial skills, education, and networking) have absolute power, whereas the students of the "Y-kampus" argued about the effectiveness of growth makers course followed by the family and cultural effect on entrepreneurship