Kerala-based ed-tech startup QBay Career has been selected for the Finnish government’s prestigious Sisu Launchpad 2025 accelerator program, marking a major milestone for the young company founded in the rural village of Elettil Vatoli near Kozhikode.
QBay is among 20 startups chosen globally for the program, and the only Indian startup to make the list this year. Founders Fazil Karatt and Dr. Mohamed Shafeeq Karatt are currently in Helsinki to participate in the accelerator, which supports high-potential international ventures entering the Nordic and EU markets.
Founded in 2021, QBay Career offers career guidance, job preparation, and end-to-end support — from application to interview — for international students in the UK, Ireland and the rest of Europe. The founders described the selection as “a proud achievement for the startup ecosystem in Kerala.”
Fazil, who arrived in Helsinki for the program, is also scheduled to meet the President of Finland as part of the visit.
Calling the selection a “recognition of Kerala’s entrepreneurial potential,” Fazil noted, “If QBay was able to reach the global market, we did it with the support of Kerala’s startup ecosystem. With this achievement, QBay is taking an important step in expanding its services to the European market.”
Sisu Launchpad 2025, designed by Sisu Factor, is aimed at helping non-European startups enter and scale in Finland and the wider EU. The program provides mentorship, investor access, and hands-on business training to help founders navigate the Finnish startup landscape and connect with opportunities across Europe.
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