What Owal Group does

Owal Group Oy is a Helsinki-based professional services firm specializing in social science research, policy evaluation, and impact assessment, primarily for Finnish government ministries, municipalities, and public agencies. The company's service portfolio includes impact assessments (Vaikutusten arviointi), auditing (Auditointi), a regional wellbeing footprint analysis (Hyvinvointijalanjälki), training and coaching programs, and participation in multi-partner research projects such as the Smartland sustainable urban development consortium. It also operates the Owal Group Research Academy of Social Sciences, described as the first company-established and maintained research institute in Finland, which provides a research backbone for commissioned policy work.

The firm is staffed by PhD-qualified researchers and former government officials, and is led by CEO Jeremias Kortelainen with Senior Partner Mikko Wennberg, Senior Partner Olli Oosi, Chief Economist Emmi Martikainen (joined March 2024 from VTT, with prior roles at EY, Copenhagen Economics, and the Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority), and a broader team of partners, directors, managers, and consultants. Notable engagements include Land Use and Building Act reform impact assessment for the Ministry of the Environment, layoff and labor market research for the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, SOTEpela social welfare and health care reform evaluation with Deloitte for the Government of Finland, vocational education studies for the Ministry of Education and Culture, legal aid research for the Ministry of Justice, and the Koto-SIB immigration integration evaluation with VATT.

Owal Group generates revenue through commissioned research and evaluation projects procured via Finnish public sector tender processes, supplemented by fee-based training courses (priced at 230 EUR per participant) and partnership-driven research grants. Distribution is direct to enterprise/government clients through public procurement, with thought leadership supported by a website blog, case studies, and publications. The firm is privately held with no identified parent company, external investors, or funding rounds, and is headquartered at Kasarmikatu 23A, 00130 Helsinki.

Name

Owal Group

Legal name

Owal Group Oy

Website

https://owalgroup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Owal Group Oy is a Helsinki-based consulting firm providing social science research, policy evaluations, and impact assessments to Finnish government ministries, municipalities, and public agencies. It also operates Finland's first company-established research institute, the Owal Group Research Academy of Social Sciences.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Helsinki

HQ country

Finland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Commissioned Research and Evaluation Services: Owal Group generates revenue through commissioned research, evaluations, and assessment projects for Finnish government ministries, agencies, and municipalities. Projects are typically procured through public procurement processes and range from policy impact assessments to organizational evaluations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Owal Group is a Finnish consulting firm that delivers commissioned research, policy impact assessments, program evaluations, and auditing services to government ministries, agencies, and municipalities. Its work spans policy domains including employment services, education, social and health care, land use and construction, equality, and sustainability, supplemented by training programs and the Owal Group Research Academy of Social Sciences.

Product overview

Owal Group is a Finnish consulting company providing professional research, evaluation, and policy analysis services primarily to Finnish government ministries, municipalities, and public sector organizations. The company offers a unified portfolio of consulting services including impact assessments (Vaikutusten arviointi), auditing (Auditointi), wellbeing footprint analysis (Hyvinvointijalanjälki), training and coaching programs (Koulutukset ja valmennukset), and specialized research projects. The company also operates the Owal Group Research Academy of Social Sciences, Finland's first company-established research institute for social sciences. Their services span multiple policy domains including employment services, education, social and health services, land use and construction, equality, and sustainability.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Owal Group Research Academy of Social Sciences: Research institute focused on social sciences research supporting evidence-based policy making and promoting diverse societal discussion

Products and services

• Vaikutusten arviointi (Impact Assessment) Provides analysis of the effects of implemented or planned measures such as legislation, their significance, and options for mitigating harmful effects, covering economic, social, and environmental impacts. Designed for Finnish government ministries and public sector clients.
• Auditointi (Auditing) Compares operations against guidelines and requirements to ensure compliance, identifies deficiencies, and highlights areas for development in operations and guidelines. Aimed at public sector organizations needing compliance reviews.
• Hyvinvointijalanjälki (Wellbeing Footprint) Comprehensive analysis of a company or planned investment's effects on regional wellbeing and vitality, including employment, tax revenue, environmental impacts, and tourism factors. Targeted at regional and municipal decision-makers and corporate investors.
• Koulutukset ja valmennukset (Training and Coaching) Training programs including employment and vitality service management training and evaluation training, delivered both in-person and via online platforms, with pricing at 230 EUR per participant including preparatory assignments and materials.
• Smartland-tutkimushanke (Smartland Research Project) Research project funded by the Strategic Research Council of the Academy of Finland that develops tools for sustainable urban development through collaboration between researchers, cities, businesses, and authorities. Aimed at Finnish cities and sustainability stakeholders.
• Owal Group Research Academy of Social Sciences Research institute focused on social sciences research that supports evidence-based decision-making and promotes diverse societal discussion, convened as Finland's first company-established research institute.
• KIRA-digi-hankkeen arviointi (KIRA-digi Project Evaluation) Final evaluation of the KIRA-digi flagship project that accelerated digitization in the real estate and construction sector during 2016-2019, examining information management harmonization, regulatory changes, and pilot projects. Aimed at Finnish government and industry stakeholders.

Quantifiable outcome

• Koto-SIB program evaluation showed 4,500 EUR (18%) higher labor market income for participants versus control group
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• VTT Technical Research Centre of FinlandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2020Owal Group partnered with VTT (Teknologian tutkimuskeskus VTT Oy) for the Ministry of Environment's Land Use and Building Act reform impact assessment. The partnership combined Owal Group's policy evaluation expertise with VTT's technical research capabilities.
• VATT (Finnish Institute of Economic Research)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOwal Group collaborated with VATT on the Koto-SIB evaluation, where VATT handled quantitative analysis while Owal Group conducted qualitative research components.
• Deloitte FinlandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOwal Group partnered with Deloitte for the Social Welfare and Health Care Reform (Sotepela) evaluation, combining Owal's policy expertise with Deloitte's consulting capabilities.
• Ramboll FinlandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOwal Group collaborated with Ramboll Finland on transportation sector metrics and indicators project for the national growth program.
• Aalto UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOwal Group supports Smartland research project led by Aalto University, helping facilitate interaction between researchers and stakeholders in sustainable urban development research.
• University of HelsinkiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered in Smartland research consortium focused on land use policy, combining housing availability, segregation, and carbon emissions research.
• Finnish Meteorological Institute (Ilmatieteen laitos)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered in Smartland research consortium studying sustainable urban development and environmental factors.
• VTT Technical Research Centre of FinlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOwal Group and VTT partnered for Real Estate and Construction Sector Skills assessment commissioned by Ministry of Education and Culture, as part of Healthy Buildings 2028 program.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• FCG Finnish Consulting Group: Finnish management and policy consulting firm serving municipalities, ministries, and public-sector clients with evaluation, development, and policy advisory services — directly comparable to Owal on customer base, public procurement model, and Finnish-only geographic scope.
• Pellervo Economic Research Institute (PTT): Finnish economic research institute conducting empirical analyses on labor markets, layoffs, and rural/regional policy — collaborative partner with Owal on Finnish layoff research and operating in the same policy-research niche.
• Implement Consulting Group: Nordic management and policy consulting firm headquartered in Denmark with public-sector evaluation and transformation practices — comparable firm-architecture and Nordic public-sector client profile to Owal.
• MDI: Finnish consulting firm focused on regional development, wellbeing, and public-sector research/evaluation — overlapping closely with Owal's wellbeing footprint, employment policy, and municipal evaluation offerings.
• Copenhagen Economics: Nordic economic consultancy specializing in applied economic analysis for public and private clients — directly comparable to Owal's economics and impact-assessment practice, and a former employer of Owal's Chief Economist.
• Ramboll Finland: Nordic engineering and management consulting firm with significant Finnish public-sector work in transport, environment, and policy projects — direct competitor on joint bid mandates (Owal has already partnered with Ramboll).

Broad incumbents

• EY Finland: Global Big Four firm active in Finnish public-sector consulting including economic impact assessments — competes for the same policy-evaluation mandates; former employer of Owal's current Chief Economist.
• Deloitte Finland: Global Big Four firm operating a sizeable Finnish public-sector advisory practice — competes for the same ministry evaluations (e.g., SOTE reform co-delivered with Owal) while also running a much broader portfolio of services.
• KPMG Finland: Global Big Four firm with a well-established Finnish public-sector practice in policy advisory, audits, and transformation — competes with Owal for government mandates while offering broader service lines.

Others

• VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland: Finland's national applied-research institute — a consortium partner with Owal on Land Use & Building Act reform and construction-skills studies; OTHERS as a state-owned research infrastructure rather than a direct consulting competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/owal-group
• Xx.com/owalgroup
• Facebookfacebook.com/owalgroup

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Owal Group