Our mission is to improve the care industry.
It feels unbelievable that it has only been three years since Hoiwa was founded. I am incredibly proud that in 1095 days we have created a company, that has established its place as a societal change-maker in Finland. In the beginning, we worked hard to be heard and noticed. The message is loud and clear. Healthcare workers deserve more respect. When I look back at our journey, we quickly got a positive response about our mission. It made me confident in our way of solving the crisis. Now we are at the point where every healthcare operator and nearly all healthcare professionals in Finland recognize Hoiwa. More importantly though, we are known to be on the side of the people.
The figures also support our growth story. A year ago there were around 2 500 Hoiwalians and now we are over 10 000. Our core team has grown from a few to 22 people. We have also been able to expand to almost every major city in Finland over the past three years. Our turnover for the ten months to the turn of the year was EUR 5.9 million.
We have launched something that I am delighted to see in the marketplace as new, like-minded companies. But it is clear that the challenges will not diminish in the coming years. We need to attract more resilient and motivated healthcare professionals to ensure that healthcare resources do not run out. It is therefore important that we work together, with as many actors as possible, to generate new interest in the health sector. New professionals will be needed both in Finland and beyond its borders. Supporting workers from different backgrounds has been a matter close to our hearts from the very beginning. It has been a pleasure to see how we have also been able to break down prejudices in this area. This is reflected in the trust our customers place in us. Our clients trust us to provide them with the most professional care workers, regardless of their background.
2022 was also a year of unforgettable moments. It was a huge honour to be named Espoo Entrepreneur of the Year. It was also great to see Hoiwa's ad in New York's Times Square when we won the Productive Idea competition organised by the Finnish Chambers of Commerce. Of course, great recognition and wins give us a boost and a belief that we are doing the right thing. Although a lot of positive change has been achieved, there is still a lot of work to be done, both here in Finland and elsewhere in the world. We have set up a second company in Germany, where we will next go to help with the skills shortage in the healthcare sector. Germany is grappling with similar problems to Finland, but on an even larger scale. Fortunately, our easily scalable business model allows us to provide agile assistance beyond Finland's borders.
We have good momentum and we will continue on this path to make an even bigger difference. But let me remind you that without prosperous and professional Hoiwalians, we would be nothing. You are showing in practice what this positive change is all about. You give us a reason to be proud of Hoiwa. A huge thank you to all of you Hoiwans! Together, let's make sure that we continue to have good colleagues in the important work we do.
Best regards,
Fadumo Ali
Founderand CEO, Hoiwa