Business Spotlight: Scaling Innovation and Inclusion at Soil Scout
Business Vantaa wants all employers — regardless of their size or resources — to have access to a broad talent pool and to turn diversity into a competitive advantage. In our Business Spotlight series, we showcase Vantaa‑based companies that strengthen their competitiveness by investing in diversity and inclusion. This time, we highlight Soil Scout, a technology startup developing advanced soil‑intelligence solutions for global markets.
@Soil Scout
Body
For a startup looking to scale, having the right expertise and support is critical for success. Soil Scout is a Finnish underground soil data and technology company delivering real-time insights on oxygen, salinity, moisture, and temperature. The data is visualised on an intuitive online platform, helping golf courses, stadiums, sports venues, and agronomy professionals make smarter decisions for long-term soil health.
How IMAGO Coaching Helped Soil Scout
As Soil Scout prepared to scale its digital platform, finding the right talent became critical — and challenging. Nick van den Dungen, Lead Software Engineer, recalls the pressure: “Choosing the best talent to work in your team out of all the applicants was a demanding task for me.” Finding the right people quickly was essential for scaling, but with little prior experience in recruiting, Nick felt he needed structured guidance.
Soil Scout took advantage of Work in Finland’s free, company-specific IMAGO coaching, designed to help organisations build more attractive, inclusive, and diverse workplaces. The training module the company chose offered practical tools and guidance for planning recruitment strategically, assessing candidates effectively, and ensuring smooth onboarding. “The training was tailored to our exact needs and gave me much more clarity and confidence in moving forward,” Nick recalls.
Facilitating their needs early helps new employees contribute confidently, feel valued, and settle in quickly.
Putting Lessons into Practice
Recently, Soil Scout welcomed a new team member, and the training had a direct impact on the recruitment and onboarding process. While onboarding, the focus has been on making the new hire feel fully part of the company. “They feel motivated to do their best, and we want to help them succeed. Facilitating their needs early helps new employees contribute confidently, feel valued, and settle in quickly,” says Nick. The coaching helped him accommodate different perspectives and approach the onboarding process from the new hire’s point of view. “Everyone has a different view, because everyone has a different background. By keeping an open mindset and fostering learning, we can build strong, high-performing teams.”
Combining the IMAGO coaching and the ongoing recruitment process proved especially valuable for a startup in the middle of scaling. Because Soil Scout was hiring at the same time, the training offered timely tools to improve decision‑making and build a more deliberate candidate journey. The insights also shaped onboarding practices so that new team member could integrate faster and feel supported from day one. This kind of learning‑while‑doing approach is particularly well suited for startups, where rapid growth and continuous improvement go hand in hand.
Looking to strengthen your recruitment, onboarding, and team culture?
IMAGO coaching offers free, tailored, and practical support to help companies build more attractive, inclusive, and diverse workplaces. Book your free training or consult Business Vantaa’s experts to find the module that best fits your company’s needs.
