Mustafa Abdulameer, an Iraqi refugee now residing in Finland, has transformed adversity into an inspiring entrepreneurial venture. Forced to leave his life in Iraq behind, Mustafa embarked on a perilous journey in 2015, eventually finding refuge in Finland. Despite facing initial challenges in integrating into Finnish society, his determination and skills led him to become the CEO and co-founder of Corrsy, a startup providing educational equipment to school children in Iraq.
In Iraq, Mustafa had achieved success as an engineer and established his own pharmaceutical marketing company. However, compelled to flee due to the threat of conscription, he undertook a journey that involved crossing the Mediterranean Sea and traversing multiple countries before reaching Finland.
Upon arrival, the Finnish immigration system initially underestimated Mustafa’s skills, offering limited prospects. Undeterred, he sought opportunities and found support through Startup Refugees Finland, an organization dedicated to assisting refugees with employment and entrepreneurship.
Mustafa’s journey with Startup Refugees began with volunteering as a translator, eventually leading to various job opportunities. Over time, he progressed to roles as Community Coordinator, Business Program Manager, Head of the Business Program, and later, Global Director at Startup Refugees.
Driven by an entrepreneurial spirit nurtured since the age of 15, Mustafa envisioned creating his own business once again. In 2020, he became the CEO and co-founder of Corrsy, focusing on developing an educational mobile game for school children in the Middle East, starting with Iraq.
Corrsy’s app delivers educational content aligned with the local curriculum, incorporating Finnish education principles. It serves as a cost-effective and flexible alternative to private tutoring, prevalent in the Middle East. Mustafa’s startup aims to bridge educational gaps and make quality learning accessible.
Mustafa emphasizes that his entrepreneurial journey in Finland would not have been possible without the crucial support from Startup Refugees. The organization guided taxation, the Finnish system, and opportunities for investment and funding. Additionally, they facilitated connections with mentors and organized events for testing business ideas.
Startup Refugees, in 2022 alone, received 570 applicants, enrolled 159 individuals, and contributed to the establishment of 69 registered businesses by refugees in Finland. Their Employment Programme has offered over 1,500 jobs to refugees, fostering self-reliance and successful integration.
Elisa Vepsäläinen, CEO of Startup Refugees Finland, highlights the entrepreneurial spirit among newcomers, acknowledging the need for support due to differences in systems. Initiatives like Startup Refugees play a vital role in promoting refugee employment and entrepreneurship.
Karolis Zibas, Integration Officer at UNHCR’s Representation for the Nordic and Baltic Countries, underscores the significance of refugees entering the labor market for self-reliance and integration. Refugees globally exhibit strong entrepreneurial potential, contributing to businesses and civil society initiatives.
Corrsy’s impact is tangible, with its online education equipment now benefiting 167,000 secondary education pupils in Iraq. Mustafa envisions expanding his business to reach more countries in the Middle East, addressing the critical need for supplementary education.
Expressing gratitude to Finland and its people for unwavering support, Mustafa reflects on the positive reception of Corrsy’s work: “There are a lot of things I love about Finland, but what I love is the people. They supported me a lot without wanting anything in return.”