The Participant Experience
What participants actually experience.
What does an 8-week Rooted pilot actually look like?
UPWARD Rooted is an 8-week social onboarding experience designed to help internationally mobile professionals build meaningful local connections outside work.
Rather than creating a packed social calendar, Rooted helps participants reduce the randomness of building a social life in a new country — through thoughtful introductions, recurring social touchpoints, and opportunities to discover people and communities they genuinely enjoy.
- 01Onboard
- 02Meet
- 03Explore
- 04Settle
01 · What's included
Every participant receives
Personal Onboarding
A guided onboarding conversation and questionnaire exploring interests, availability, preferred social styles, previous relocation experiences, and what feeling settled would mean personally.
Compatibility-Informed Introductions
Thoughtful introductions to other participants and relevant communities based on shared interests, preferences, and circumstances.
A Social Home Base
Access to recurring, low-pressure hang-out locations — for example a recurring café evening or community gathering spot — where participants can reliably drop in after work and find familiar people. Inspired by a common request from participants arriving from more spontaneous social cultures, where it's normal to simply meet friends after work without extensive planning.
Curated Experiences
Optional invitations throughout the pilot. Participants choose what suits their interests and schedule.
- · Conversation salons
- · Small-group dinners and brunches
- · Local walks and outings
- · Game nights
- · Pitch-a-Pal events
- · Monthly UPWARD meetups
Community Discovery
Recommendations for local communities, recurring events, clubs, volunteer opportunities, and interest groups aligned with each participant's interests.
Reflection & Support
Light-touch check-ins during the pilot help participants reflect on what's working, where they're getting stuck, and whether additional introductions or recommendations would help.
02 · The arc
A typical journey
Weeks 1–2
- ·Complete onboarding
- ·Meet fellow participants
- ·Receive first introductions
- ·Attend an optional first gathering
Weeks 3–5
- ·Join recurring social spaces
- ·Explore activities and salons
- ·Meet compatible people
- ·Discover relevant local communities
Weeks 6–8
- ·Continue relationships that feel promising
- ·Attend additional optional experiences
- ·Build recurring routines
- ·Leave with people, places, and communities that continue beyond the pilot
03 · How it feels
Designed for flexibility
Not
- Not a course.
- Not mandatory attendance.
- Not networking.
- Not speed-friending.
Instead
- ✓Choose experiences that interest you
- ✓Attend as your schedule allows
- ✓Build connections gradually
- ✓Find communities that continue after the pilot
04 · The goal
The goal isn't to fill your calendar.
Many relocation programs help people arrive professionally.
Rooted helps people build a life outside work.
Success isn't measured by how many events someone attends. It's measured by whether participants leave with:
- people they'd happily message on a Tuesday evening
- places that feel familiar
- communities they genuinely want to return to
- stronger confidence navigating life in Finland
For Pilot Partners
Interested in becoming a pilot partner?
We're currently speaking with organizations exploring better ways to support internationally mobile employees as they build meaningful lives outside work.