About Lokala
Lokala is an innovative web platform dedicated to connecting local producers and artisans with customers who value high-quality, locally sourced goods. Our mission is to support small businesses by providing visibility and an online community.
We want to empower you to shop locally and choose domestic products with known origins, supporting sustainable consumption. With our interactive map, you can easily find and buy locally sourced items, with convenient pickup locations where you can connect with the creators behind these products.
Our Journey
Lokala began one September evening when a group of Åbo Akademi students gathered to brainstorm ideas for a course project. Various suggestions were thrown onto the table, but the idea of creating a web application to support local shopping and small businesses started to resonate the most.
After a few hours of deliberation, the decision was made: we would become Lokala. 'Let's do it! Who's in?'
The project course kicked off in the fall of 2022 and lasted about six months, culminating in the ICT Showroom competition, which aimed to crown the best project among groups from various universities in Turku. After months of hard work and an eventful competition day featuring both project exhibitions and pitches, Lokala emerged victorious — and we thought, why stop now?
Since then, we've continued to develop Lokala alongside our studies and jobs. Lokala was officially founded as a company in the spring of 2024, and the name has remained with us since the project's beginning. The first version of the Lokala platform was released in Itä-Uusimaa.
Goals
Lokala's main goals are as follows:
– Supporting local producers: Promote local farming, craftsmanship, and small businesses by providing them with a platform to showcase and sell their products.
– Communicating product origin: Help you increase awareness about where the products you buy come from by offering clear information about their origin and manufacturing process.
– Promote local shopping: Make it both easy and enjoyable to shop locally by providing a seamless and engaging platform where customers can discover and purchase unique locally produced items.
– Sustainability: Promote and support sustainable production methods and consumption habits to reduce environmental impact.
Team Members
Questions?
Do you have any questions? Head to our frequently asked questions page.
You can also contact us via email at info[at]lokala.fi.