Teemu Saarenpää: the entrepreneur behind "Tourism from Hell" and Dark Tours
His journey is not just about eerie destinations; its a story of resilience, adaptation, pivoting and love for entrepreneurship. This is because Teemus interest in dark stories didnt emerge overnight.
Teemu Saarenpää, is the co-founder of ForenSeek, a platform initially dubbed as the "Google Maps from Hell". That’s because Saarenpää is at the forefront of "dark tourism", an industry focused on guiding visitors to locations marked by tragedy, death, and mystery.
With a background in Comparative Religion, he developed a fascination for myths, legends, and darker narratives. "I've always loved stories, especially from the dark side of life," Saarenpää reflects. This fascination became the seed for ForenSeek App, which he co-created with his brother.
The Birth of ForenSeek: the start for Dark Tourism
"We called it the "Google Maps from Hell" because it wasn’t your typical travel guide"
Teemu Saarenpää, cofounder of Forenseek.app
"We wanted to take people to places where history had left a dark mark, places that are usually left off regular tourist routes."
The potential of "Dark tourism" was clear, with interest growing steadily. "True crime and dark tourism were niche but growing sectors when we started. Now, you turn on Netflix, and half the shows are about serial killers or unsolved mysteries," Saarenpää says. This shift in popular culture validated their concept, but the timing couldn’t have been worse.
COVID-19: A Major Setback
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the travel industry was decimated, and with it, the momentum ForenSeek had started to build. "Three months after we launched, the Prime Minister went on TV and announced lockdowns. People couldn’t travel, and investors backed out. It was like watching our hard work dissolve overnight."
Despite the setbacks, Saarenpää remains optimistic about ForenSeek’s future. "We're working on a rebirth of the app," he says. "We’ve brought in a new person who has some clout in the dark history world, and we’re hoping to relaunch by 2025."
Walking Tours from Hell: A Side Hustle with a Dark Twist
Teemu’s love for dark stories extends beyond ForenSeek. He offers walking tours in Turku, Finland’s oldest city, which is rich in dark history.
"I give what I call the 'walking tour from hell' - haunted houses, famous homicides, unsolved mysteries. People love it, especially bachelor party groups," he laughs.
The Future of ForenSeek
Saarenpää’s ultimate dream for ForenSeek goes beyond an app. He envisions a television show focusing on the darker figures in Finland’s history, particularly women who lived on the fringes of society.
"We had this idea for a show about the women who were part of Finland’s dark past, but COVID halted everything," he reveals.
A New Role as Business Consultant
While ForenSeek remains his passion project, Saarenpää took on a new role as a business consultant, helping other entrepreneurs navigate Finland’s business landscape.
"I started working as a consultant during the pandemic because, frankly, I needed an income. But the skills I learned from building ForenSeek - the ups and downs of a startup - made me a better advisor," he admits.
Saarenpää has been working with immigrants and refugees since 2010, advising them on how to start businesses in Finland.
"One of the great things about Finland is the government support for entrepreneurs. If you have a solid idea and a plan, there are grants and resources available," he explains.
