In spring 2026, Tribe Tampere organised Startup Rocket, a 12-week incubator programme for 15 early-stage startups. The programme was part of a development project funded by the Council of Tampere Region through AKKE funding, aiming to strengthen early-stage entrepreneurship and develop new approaches to startup support.

As part of the project, we're sharing stories from founders who participated in the programme. Through their own words, these stories offer a glimpse into the experiences, challenges and milestones of building a startup.

In this Founder Story, Jan Schmieder from JuneTen shares his journey so far, enjoy!

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From an Idea to a Business: My Journey Through Tribe Tampere's Startup Rocket

When I joined Tribe Tampere's Startup Rocket, I had an idea, a lot of ambition, and a general direction for what I wanted to build. What I didn't have yet was a fully developed business model, a clear market position, or a customer base.

Looking back, Startup Rocket became an important part of the process of turning that initial idea into an actual company.

I'm originally from Germany and have been living in Finland for several years. After completing my studies in International Business at HAMK, I knew I wanted to build something of my own. Having experience in the German-Finnish business environment, I had become increasingly interested in international business and the opportunities that exist between the two countries.

I noticed that Finnish companies often have interesting products and services, but entering the German market can be challenging. Differences in business culture, language, networks, and local market knowledge can make international expansion more complicated than it initially seems.

I wanted to do something about that.

Building the business while learning how to build a business

One of the most valuable aspects of Startup Rocket was that I wasn't simply developing a business idea in theory. I was working on building a real company while learning what it actually takes to become an entrepreneur.

During this period, I founded JuneTen Oy and started developing the foundations of the business. This meant working on everything from the company's positioning and services to its website, sales strategy, and potential partnerships.

My original idea was more focused on cross-border HR and recruitment. I wanted to help Finnish companies find German talent and navigate the practical challenges of hiring across borders.

 However, as I started speaking with companies and exploring their needs, I realised that recruitment was only one part of a much bigger opportunity.

The challenges companies face when entering a new market go far beyond finding employees. They need market knowledge, potential customers, business partners, local contacts, and support with actually getting things moving.

This made me rethink the entire positioning of JuneTen.

Instead of focusing exclusively on HR, I started developing the company into an expansion partner for Finnish businesses looking to enter Germany and the wider DACH region.

That change was an important milestone for me. It showed me that building a business is not about stubbornly sticking to your original idea. It is about being willing to adjust your direction when you learn more about the market.

Learning through real conversations

A big part of my work during Startup Rocket has been getting out of my own head and talking to potential customers.

I've spent a lot of time researching Finnish companies, reaching out to decision-makers, discussing possible cooperation, and developing proposals.

Some conversations have opened doors to interesting opportunities. Others have led to valuable feedback, even when they haven't resulted in a deal.

One of the biggest lessons I've learned is that there is a considerable difference between someone liking your idea and someone being willing to pay for it.

That sounds obvious, but experiencing it yourself changes how you approach business development.

I've learned to ask better questions, understand customer needs more carefully, and think more critically about how I communicate the value of my services.

I've also realised that entrepreneurship involves a lot of uncertainty. You can spend days developing an offer or preparing for a potential partnership without knowing whether anything will come out of it.

You have to learn to keep moving without having all the answers.

 The importance of the startup ecosystem

Building a company independently can sometimes feel like working in a vacuum.

You are responsible for making decisions, finding opportunities, solving problems, and keeping yourself motivated. Having access to a startup community provides a different perspective.

For me, being part of the Tribe Tampere ecosystem and participating in Startup Rocket has been an opportunity to connect with people who are also building something from the ground up.

It is valuable to exchange experiences with other founders, hear different perspectives, and realise that many of the challenges you face are not unique to you.

I've come to appreciate that a startup ecosystem is not only about funding, investors, or finding your first customers. It is also about the people, conversations, and environment that help you develop as a founder.

Sometimes the most useful thing is simply being able to discuss an idea with someone who understands what it means to build a business from scratch.

What has changed since I started?

When I first started, I had a fairly broad idea of what I wanted JuneTen to become. Today, I have a much clearer understanding of the problem I want to solve and the type of companies I want to work with.

JuneTen is now focused on helping Finnish B2B companies expand into Germany. My ambition is to become a practical expansion partner: someone who doesn't just provide advice, but also helps companies build relationships, identify opportunities, and take concrete steps in a new market.

I've also learned a lot about myself.

I enjoy the process of building things, connecting people, developing strategies, and turning ideas into something tangible. At the same time, I've learned that having ambition is not enough. You need structure, focus, patience, and the ability to deal with setbacks.

Perhaps the most important lesson from this journey so far is that you don't need to have everything figured out before you start. You need to be willing to start, learn from what happens, and adapt along the way.

What's next for JuneTen?

JuneTen is still at an early stage, and there is plenty of work ahead.

My current focus is on developing the company's sales process, building a stronger online presence, and converting the conversations and connections I've made into long-term customer relationships.

I want to establish a solid foundation before thinking too much about scaling. First, I need to prove that the business model works and that I can consistently create value for customers.

Looking back, Startup Rocket has been part of a period in which I went from thinking about becoming an entrepreneur to actually building a company.

I'm still at the beginning of that journey, but I now have something concrete to develop, improve, and grow.

And that is probably the biggest difference between where I started and where I am today.

-Jan Schmieder / JuneTen