Future x technology x creativity
For the people building what’s next
Who is SOHJO for?
We believe the future isn’t something we wait for.
It’s something we create together.
SOHJO brings together dreamers, doers and world-changers turning bold ideas into reality.
From entrepreneurs and researchers to artists, creators and community builders, we’re connecting people from different worlds who share an ambition to build a better tomorrow.
The story so far
What began as a small creative gathering has found a new direction almost every year.
Here’s how we got here.
2023
Where it all began
SOHJO began as a small networking event for creative professionals at Kerubi, organised by Business Joensuu. Even then, there was a bigger idea in the air: what if this could become something truly special?
2024
The first big leap
SOHJO grew into a larger, more technology-oriented event. Held at Konsa & Tiedepuisto, this was the first year where we showed that Joensuu can be the stage for something epic. And behind the opening was much of the team that has since become XP Crew.
2025
Growth & hacks
Under Business Joensuu’s leadership, SOHJO continued growing into a highlight 600 people event in Sokos Hotel Kimmel and gained recognition nationally. The new SOHJO HACKS brought a new dimension: working on ideas and solutions together. The idea for HUB Joensuu, one of our 2027 venues, actually started in the hackathon.
2026
Go international
SOHJO 2026 became a fully English-language event, reached a more international audience and leaned further into startups & entrepreneurship with the integrated Susicorn Startup Competition. The 2026 event went as far as the Times Square, as Nasdaq mentioned SOHJO in their iconic New York billboard.
2027
SOHJO goes
underground
New hosts & direction
In 2027, XP Crew and Joensuu Entrepreneurship Society (JoES) become the new hosts, with many from the creative team behind the 2024 event returning. XP Crew brings the production expertise and JoES brings fresh ideas and the next generation of world-changers.
We originally planned and designed a 2,000-person arena event, with production plans to match. But before scaling, we asked: what would make an international gathering in Joensuu genuinely worth travelling for? What are the people and themes we really want to focus on?
We wanted to find a fresh direction for the event.
So we put the arena concept on hold for a year and returned to Kerubi, where it all began.
In 2027 we’re exploring how to maximise meaningful encounters, participation and the overall attendee experience — and whether people are as interested in the human side of the future as they are in technology hype.
Smaller scale and multiple venues also allows us to test new ideas and create a very unique event experience instead of just another business conference. The aim is to learn what works, then build on it for the larger-scale vision in 2028 and beyond.
We’re not starting by making SOHJO bigger.
We’re starting by making it different.
2028+
Epic
future
event
We’re building toward an internationally recognised gathering where business leaders, entrepreneurs, researchers, artists, students and grassroots community builders meet as equals.
With initial production plans for a larger event already developed, we want to take the most valuable ideas from 2027 to a bigger stage in 2028 — connecting emerging ecosystems across Europe without losing the grassroots energy that makes Joensuu something special.
We have big ambitions and bold long-term visions. If you want to be a part of the story, come talk with us and let’s see how we can partner together.
Partner contact: hello@xpcrew.fi
Come build
what’s next.
The next chapter starts here.
See you in February 2027.