We have many times been at lost when we have not been able to find adequate information on the startups we’ve wanted to cover at ArcticStartup. Similarly we have heard many investors and startups complain how there are no adequate directory where the investors could find potential investments or the startups could register themselves for the press and investors to find them.
Just like we like to see ArcticStartup weblog serve those interested in Nordic and Baltic startups, we want to provide other tools for our readers that contribute to our common cause, namely to encourage entrepreneurship and to help create a radically optimistic entrepreneurial culture here in the Nordics and Baltics.
To do this, we figured that we better start listing those companies and what a better way to do that than to build a CrunchBase-like directory of all the startups coming from the region.
We believe that even though one can list a Nordic or Baltic startup in CrunchBase or in Tradevibes it will not do justice to the many startups we have in Northern-Europe as the great number of US based startups will outnumber the Nordic and Baltic ones many fold. This naturally means less visibility and publicity for the non-US ones. Also, by registering your startup to our directory you will greatly improve the changes of us writing your startup.
The Arctic CrunchBase will be ready soon, but we’re still unsure what we should call it. This is where we figured you, our readers, could help out. Propose a name in the comments and we’ll announce the winning name and the person who came up with it as soon as we make our mind. Thanks!
Biovakka Suomi Oy 
Bitbar
Igloo
Thats great! I was thinking of names and came up with “Arcticspot” or “Arctichub” or “Arcticblock”, though spot seems to sounds better with the word “arctic”.
Example:
http://www.box.net/shared/oejbgnnky6
Cheers,
Tair
ArcticBarrack or Valhalla ?
Santtu, Tair, Memphis,
Good ones =) Keep ‘em coming! I came up with ArcticCloud. What do you think about that one?
In my opinion thats the best! +1 to Ville :)
Here’s a few suggestions:
Arctic Zone
Electric Artic
Artic Future
Artic Opportunity
Artic Circle
Artic Station
Artic Base
Polar Base
Polar Future
Northern Lights
Northern Light
Magnetic North
StartNorth
Northern Pioneer
Arctic Pioneer
Startic
A few more:
GoNorth
AllArtic
NorthernSpirit
LookNorth
ArticFind
ArticPlus
If you had a database of failed startups, you could call it “PolarCapsize” :)
Sorry, once I get started I can’t stop.
I think “IceBase” has a nice ring to it.
Also “ArticStarts” might nicely mesh with the existing name.
Oops please replace all occurrances of “Artic” with “Arctic”. Can’t spell today :(
Stephen,
Loving them all! Keep those ideas coming! =)
Arctic Camp, Arctic Legion, Seed Base, Arcanatic (Arcana + Arctic)
Yet more:
PoleStar
NorthStar
NorthernCross
ArcticList
ArcticDirect
ArcticDirectory
ArcticFile
NorthernFile
PolarPost
ArcticIndex
Index.Arctic (index dot arctic)
Arctic.Index (arctic dot index)
Arcticmatic
Polarphile or Polarfile
In The Arc
Growers Arc
ArcSeed
ArcSite
ArcStart
Now that there is a long list of different names, which ones do you guys vote for? Which ones are some of the better ones? What is your absolute favorite?
Also, if you have more suggestions keep ‘em coming! The more the merrier. Thanks! =)
I guess ArcticIndex is my personal favorite. How about ArcticCompaniesWithAdBasedBusinessModel? ;) For those who are interested, our internal codename for the project is Arktinen Katiska ;)
I vote for ArcticIndex by Stephen. Arctic-Index is exactly what it is – an Index of Arctic startups in ArcticStartup.com. Makes sense to me.
Or maybe “IceIndex” for easier pronunciation. :)
I think this is a very good idea to list the startup-s….and also investors and freelancers or companies supporting the startup’s. Like for example internetmarketers, consultants who help using the government financing, angels etc. The first investor-startup-resource relator portal will get the community and you have a good chance of doing it for the Nordic and Baltic’s.
What is ‘railo’ in English? ;o)
ArcticIndex gaining ground =) I like it as well. Anyone else? Opinions and/or ideas?
Juhani,
The best thing I can come up with is ‘crack’. I’d have to go for ArcticIndex if ArcticCrack is the other option ;)
Hmm, yeh, the word crack is rather soiled by it’s association with drugs amoungst other meanings :(
Railo perhaps translates as “channel in the ice” – I would suggest “ArcticChannel” is actually pretty good.
ArcticIndex is good and functional as a name, but in danger of being slightly boring. (But unfortunately Arcoogle and Arc-hoo are not much good :)
One further suggestion that I particularly like:
“Arctic Born” / “ArcticBorn”
Not sure if this will work, but how about “ArcticStartups”?
how about ICECAP?
I like Northern Lights myself. Has a very positive twang to it, and I came up with it independently before realising Stephen had already suggested it.
If you have to have Arctic in the name then Arctic Base would both reflect what TC calls it and also has that nice double meaning.
If you want something more cheeky then: “Frozen Bums Index” or “Icy Balls”
All,
Great Suggestions!
Kristoffer,
Love the ‘Icy Balls’ LOL! =)
I love Northern Lights – to me it sounds like the startups would be cultural “change champions” – bearers of light to the dark north – which resonates to ArcticStarup’s mission. ArcticIndex is very boring and sounds more like a stock index.
Petri,
I very much like the way you see startups as cultural ‘change champions’. Great way to put it and indeed Northern Lights resonates this messages -Beacons of light in the North.
I wonder what Henri Weijo says about startups’ role as cultural change champions at http://www.facade.fi/.
Ask and ye shall receive =)
I don’t know if startups as such can be change champions, but I think Arctic Startup can. For brands, cultural leadership comes from showing an ethos or “mission” other than making money: challenging the status quo, going against the establishment and speaking to people’s concerns about their identities. As a startup, it might be a little hard to do when you constantly have your other hand extended for funding =)
Also, cultural leadership stems from your history, from shared stories and meanings that people have gathered about you. A startup is by definition a blank sheet of paper when it comes to cultural meaning. I don’t know of many brand that has stepped directly into a cultural void and shown the way.
But as said, Arctic Startup could very likely in time show this kind of non-profiteering ethos and cultural leadership. Just keep doing what you guys have been doing and create some ruckus to challenge the Finnish business environment, then AS will find its voice.
Henri,
I agree that ArcticStartup can act as a cultural change agent and that is exactly what I hope it can do. Our editorial team channel all our efforts to make this happen just as we outline in our misssion.
What comes to startups, I tend to slightly disagree with you. I agree that a single early-stage startup can hardly act as a cultural change agent by itself.
That said, collectively startups can, in my opinion, do just that. They can create a collective culture of Change since by definition biggest force they have going for them is the change in the society which also creates the very opportunities they aim to exploit in the markets. They accelerate this change and act as echo chambers to enforce the message.
Thus, I see ArcticStartup just channeling and reporting on this cultural change which originates from the startups themselves. Without the startups and the people behind them ArcticStartup would be just an empty shell.
After a good conversation about the cultural change champions back to the topic at hand =)
ArcticIndex and Northern Light are leading pack. I agree that Northern Lights has the double meaning quite nicely build into it, but then again will it be too cryptic if seen out of context?
I like ArcticIndex for it’s uniqueness, even if it’s a bit stiff.
“That said, collectively startups can, in my opinion, do just that. They can create a collective culture of Change since by definition biggest force they have going for them is the change in the society which also creates the very opportunities they aim to exploit in the markets. They accelerate this change and act as echo chambers to enforce the message.”
Well if you put it that way, then I’d argue that the cultural change is happening irregardless, and the startups are just a manifestation of that change. You hear a lot of talk these days about the “good vibe” in Finland, and I’d say that the surge of startups in Finland is a result of this change in culture or atmosphere. Of course, seeing more people choose entrepreneurship will encourage others to do so as well. But that’s a chicken/egg problem right there.
Startups as such, I feel, cannot lead this change, at least not knowingly because it would require coordination, a shared vision etc. That’s why you call it leadership, not “go with the flow”-ership =) Arctic Startup, on the other hand, could act as a leader.
Thanks Henri! I subscribe to your argument and believe that we’re on the same side of the table on this one.
Further, I assure that the ArcticStartup team will do it’s very best to drive the cultural change and make sure the ‘good vibe’, drive and passion will not die out. And yes, even to lead the initiative if the community decides to trust that role for us.
Even ArcticStartup can not lead without the support of the local startup community. We are very proud to be able to write about such a dynamic and supportive community we have here in the Nordic and Baltic countries. Thanks guys!