NorthCode is a software engineering consultancy that helps clients streamline and accelerate their development work through platform engineering, internal developer platforms, automation, and AI-assisted software development.
NorthCode’s collaboration with Grants started a year ago, when the company began planning its first project backed by Business Finland funding.
Industry insight guarantees high-quality applications
Toni Kortepohja, CEO of NorthCode, explains that while they had a strong, clear vision for the project’s core content, they wanted an experienced partner to navigate the specific features of the Business Finland application process. Having heard positive feedback about Grants, initiating the partnership felt like a natural next step.
Together, NorthCode and Grants successfully secured a Business Finland GenAI-grant. Kortepohja highlights that the experience that Grants’ experts have on working with Business Finland made the entire process significantly easier.
“The knowledge and experience that Grants’ expert brought to the table regarding Business Finland was a massive help. For example, when follow-up questions arrived, they could instantly explain the reasoning behind them. This was much easier than trying to figure everything out on my own.”
– Toni Kortepohja
The quality of the application did not go unnoticed; it received excellent direct feedback from the Business Finland case officer.
“We managed to build an exceptionally high-quality application. In fact, the Business Finland handler even asked us directly if we had someone professional helping us put it together.”
An ongoing partnership makes collaboration effortless
NorthCode and Grants have successfully completed one major project together, and the next one is already under consideration. Kortepohja points out that the ongoing partnership model offers a significant advantage: a dedicated expert already knows the company’s background and situation, making it easy to reach out with a low threshold.
Kortepohja recommends Grants to companies that have no prior experience with public funding. He notes that the bureaucracy and nuances of the application process cannot be solved by AI tools alone. This requires a human expert who truly understands the funder’s practical guidelines.
“If you don’t have previous experience applying for public funding, an AI tool alone won’t get you through it. Grants was essential to our success, and they significantly lightened my own workload during the process.”