On August 20–21, Makuu Eco Solutions Oy (makuu™) joined the Yrityskummit 2025 Conference in Lappeenranta, focusing on growth opportunities for micro and SME companies.
One of the founders Sofia Zakharova was invited to a panel titled “Is international expertise a company’s trump card?”. She shared our story: both makuu™ founders have international roots but found a home in South Karelia. Choosing to grow here is not only about lifestyle but also about contributing back — paying taxes locally and strengthening regional business life.
Sofia is one of the founders of makuu™. Both founders are close friends who grew up in Imatra — and today they continue to build their business together with the same spirit of friendship and trust.
makuu™ carries not only a Finnish name but also Finnish values: quality, minimalism, and sustainability. The brand is rooted in the Nordic way of appreciating timeless design and respecting nature, while also creating products that are meant to last.
Choosing to grow here is not only about location but also about responsibility — paying taxes locally, strengthening regional business life, and showing that an international brand can be built from small Finnish towns as well. It is a conscious decision to contribute to the community that shaped us, and to reflect its values in everything we do.
Why does international background matter?
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Broader cultural understanding from living and traveling abroad.
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Ability to adapt to diverse markets.
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Strong appreciation of Finnish identity — abroad Finnish products stand for quality and trust.
At the event, we also connected with many Yrityskummit mentors. Their support has been invaluable since our early days, offering guidance on textile supply chains, marketing, and building networks.
📖 Just recently, Etelä-Saimaa featured an article about Sofia’s journey: from a sailing trip in Greece, where she struggled with damp cotton sheets, to founding Makuu Eco Solutions with her friend eco-designer who lives by the sea and creating together durable, breathable hemp bedding for boats, campers, and homes.
We are proud to build makuu™ in South Karelia and excited to bring Finnish quality and sustainable design to the world.
#Yrityskummit2025 #MakuuSlowLiving #KasvuOpen #InternationalBusiness #SouthKarelia #Sustainability #EteläSaimaa