Finland is renown best from Nokia and competence in the mobile technology. In addition to Nokia’s success many unexpected innovations have been born in Finland – Linux kernel, SMS messaging and IRC – Internet relay chat, forefather of instant messengers. So, in addition to mobile technology enthusiasm the Finns can be expected to push to the limits with new, disruptive ideas. The latest – but certainly not the last - was Jaiku, acquired by Google in 2007.

A group of 12 hottest social media startups from Finland are presenting their ideas for a full week in San Francisco. The group is united by the Finnish Social media Business Network (www.sombiz.net). Target of the trip is to provide participating companies with contacts, press visibility, insights of the US market and current Valley startup-scene in social media. Main stops of the trip are Web 2.0 Expo, Startup Workshop run by Guy Kawasaki. The week starts with a cocktail reception for the press, bloggers and industry leaders in the Foreign Cinema restaurant. Joint activities are supported with number of individual partner, customer and investor meetings by the startups.

Participating startups:

• Ironstar - Cross-platform social games - http://ironstarhelsinki.com/
• ConnectedDay - Community site for daycare and pre-schools - http://www.connectedday.com
• Ideakone - digital communication software - http://ideakone.com/
• TripSay - World of mouth (recently TC'd) - http://www.tripsay.com
• Apprix - edutainment, mobile serious gaming - http://www.apprix.fi/
• Gemilo - Social media services - http://www.gemilo.com/
• Ramblas Digital - mobile services for event marketing - http://www.ramblasdigital.com/
• XIHA - social network site, casual gaming - http://www.xihalife.com/
• Some Bazaar - Social media startup consulting - http://www.somebazaar.com
• RunToShop - Social online commerce
• Floobs - mobile streaming video - http://floobs.com
• Norfello - electronic posting services - http://www1.norfello.com
• Futurice - mobile app development - http://www.futurice.com/