From Student to Signage Entrepreneur: How One Immigrant is Transforming Finland’s Visual Landscape
A foreign student who arrived in Finland just five & half years ago is now leading a green transformation in the country’s signage industry. Md Mahfuzul Alam, a Bangladeshi entrepreneur, has successfully carved a niche for himself by revolutionizing traditional signage systems with energy-efficient alternatives.
MD Alam, who moved to Finland in 2019 to pursue higher education, is the founder and CEO of Keravan Valomainos, a company now known nationwide for its contribution to sustainable visual advertising. Through his firm, he has replaced many high-voltage neon signs with low-energy LED solutions. Keravan Valomainos, significantly contributing to the reduction of electricity consumption across the country.
“Many don’t realize how much energy traditional gas-based signage consumes. These systems not only pose electrical risks but also run almost continuously, especially from evening to early morning,” Alam explained. “Switching to LED technology is not just a smarter business move—it’s a responsible environmental decision.”
The journey, however, was far from easy. Alam recalls the challenges of convincing his first business-to-business (B2B) client. “Getting someone to trust a new entrepreneur—especially a foreigner—was a huge hurdle,” he said. “But once we proved the quality and efficiency of our work, word began to spread.”
Today, Keravan Valomainos serves some of Finland’s most reputable companies, including IBM, Heureka, KAMPPI, Espoon Terminaali, Digia, HSY, Keravan Energia, MEIRA Oy & many more. The company specializes in LED channel letters (irtokirja valomainos), custom LED neon signs (neonit), and offers a full suite of services from installation and maintenance to recycling and signage relocation.
The environmental benefits of low-voltage LED signs are significant. Alam estimates that if every company in Finland converted their signage to modern LED systems, national electricity consumption could drop considerably. He emphasizes that the shift is not only environmentally necessary but also aligns with modern branding needs. “Today’s LED signs are more vibrant, customizable, and visually engaging than their outdated counterparts,” he added.
When asked why he chose entrepreneurship over a conventional 9-to-5 job, Alam replied with a smile: “Being human is not just about thinking for myself. It’s about taking responsibility for others and for society.”
With nationwide operations already in motion, Keravan Valomainos has set its sights on expanding across Europe in the near future.
Source: www.dailyfinland.fi
