GENERAL

FAQ

What is Slush about?

Slush is a not-for-profit organization on a mission to help and create founders to change the world. Based in Helsinki, Slush annually hosts the world’s leading startup event bringing together a curated crowd of European startups, world-class investors, and tech journalists. We stand by relevance over scale, bringing tangible value, and sharing actionable company-building advice. No fluff.

In addition to our event, we serve founders and investors with a year-round online community and matchmaking platform, Node by Slush, and support nascent startup ecosystems globally to build their own local events through Slush’D.

Slush is owned by the Startup Foundation, a Finnish not-for-profit working towards strengthening the Finnish startup ecosystem. Most of any profits made by Slush go back to the foundation which uses it to support other ecosystem initiatives.

Slush is run by a group of students and recent graduates, and our main event is made possible every year with the help of 1,600 volunteers.

When is Slush 2024 organized?

Slush 2024 will take place on Nov 20–21, 2024 at the Helsinki Expo and Convention Center (Messukeskus). The address is Messuaukio 1, 00520 Helsinki, Finland.

Where is Slush organized?

Slush is organized at the Helsinki Expo and Convention Center. Address: Messuaukio 1, 00520 Helsinki Helsinki Expo and Convention Center is located just a few kilometers from the Helsinki city center—you’ll be able to arrive at the venue within 15 minutes from all around the city.

What is the Matchmaking Tool?

The Slush Matchmaking Tool is our in-house tool that gives you an opportunity to book meetings with the most relevant people for you. You can scroll and filter through attendees, book meetings, and chat. A table at our dedicated Meeting Area is included for the meetings.

Access to Matchmaking is included in all of our ticket types.

Access the Matchmaking Tool by having an assigned Slush Pass in your name, and by logging into the Slush Platform.

Does Slush provide ticket discounts?

We do not provide discounts outside our ticket campaigns. We recommend students join as volunteers to get access to Slush 2024. Check out our Slush for Volunteers page for more info.

If you’re interested in attending Slush with a larger delegation and purchasing partner activities, such as a booth at the event, drop us a line at [email protected].

I'm attending a Side Event at Siipi—where is it?

Siipi is Slush’s official Side Event venue located in the same building as the Slush main event. You can access Siipi easily from within the Slush Venue by following the signage or entering through the separate Siipi entrance at Rautatieläisenkatu 3. Side Event visitors without a Slush badge are asked to use this entrance.

What are Slush Side Events?

Originally a two-day event, Slush has now become an entire week of exhilarating program around the Helsinki metropolitan area. In addition to the events organized by Slush, there is a wealth of industry and theme-specific gatherings around Helsinki and at Siipi (the official partners’ Side Event venue) all adding up to the Slush experience.

Side Events for Slush 2024 coming soon.

Where can I see Slush Code of Conduct?

You can find our Slush Code of Conduct here.

We want Slush to be a 100% positive experience for all of our attendees from the beginning till the end. This is why we do not accept any kind of disrespectful behavior at any of our events. Let’s make sure that all of us can have a great time regardless of what we look like, where we come from, and who we are.

How do I contact the Slush team?

You can reach the team by email:

General inquiries [email protected]

Tickets [email protected]

Startups [email protected]

Investors [email protected]

Partners [email protected]

Media [email protected]

Speakers [email protected]

Marketing [email protected]

Slush’D [email protected]

Node by Slush [email protected]

How can I access the Matchmaking Tool?

You will gain eligibility to the Matchmaking Tool once you have purchased a ticket to Slush. The 2024 edition of the tool will be launched later this year.

Where and when can I exchange my ticket for a badge?

You need to have both your badge and wristband to access Slush.

You can exchange your ticket for a badge and wristband at any of our Badge Claim Points before the event or at the Slush venue. Locations and opening hours coming later this year.

Please note: You will be asked to present a pictured ID when picking up your badge and wristband for safety reasons.

Badge Claim is also available upon your arrival at the Slush venue, Messukeskus, during the event days. We have Badge Claim Points at both the Southern and the Northern entrances.

We strongly recommend getting your badge and wristband in advance from the Badge Claim Points to avoid queuing at the entrance. The points will be quietest on Nov 18, and busiest on Nov 19.

For event practicalities on Slush 2024, visit our Event Info.

EVENT PRACTICALITIES

TICKETS

FAQ

How can I get a ticket to Slush?

Purchase your ticket to Slush through the Slush Platform. If you are buying a Startup, Investor, or Angel Pass, we will first ask you to register your company, after which the Slush Team will review the profile and grant you access to purchase your ticket given that you meet the requirements. Attendee and Thursday passes are available for all to purchase.

The estimated wait time for our approval is 2 working days.

What are the different ticket types?

Our available ticket types are Startup, Investor, Angel Investor, Attendee, and Thursday Passes. In addition to those, media representatives can apply for a free Media Pass.

Startup Pass

Our Startup Pass is tailored for young, often tech-driven, companies aiming for rapid growth with a scalable business model. Please remember that each team member needs their own ticket to attend. Requires an application.

Investor Pass

Our Investor Pass is for individuals working for entities making direct investments in startups or venture capital funds—VCs, CVCs, LPs, Family Offices, and M&A Investors. Requires an application.

Angel Investor Pass

The Angel Investor Pass is suitable for individuals investing directly from their personal wealth or as a part of a syndicate. If you represent an institutional entity, please opt-in for the Investor Pass. Requires an application.

Attendee and Thursday Passes

Attendee and Thursday Passes are meant for people who are not startup founders or operators, investors, or media. A Thursday Pass will grant you one-day access to Slush on the second event day (Day 2) on Thu Nov 21. Buying one does not require an application.

However, you can register your company profile as a startup or investor company even with these two ticket types. Given that your company profile is accepted, you may be eligible for some curated activities for startups or investors and show up under the respective category on our Matchmaking Tool.

Media Accreditation

Slush Media Passes are for journalists/editorial members of the press only.

Communications and PR professionals, bloggers, and non-editorial employees of media companies are kindly advised to get an Attendee or Thursday Pass.

How can I pay for my ticket?

Slush uses Stripe Payments Europe Ltd for payment processing, which accepts payments from credit cards with global payment options (Visa, MasterCard, and American Express).

Contact [email protected] if you’ve got any questions about payment methods.

Where can I find my tickets?

You can see your tickets and assign tickets to other people by logging into the Slush Platform. You must sign in with the same credentials as you did when purchasing your ticket.

If the ticket has been assigned to you by someone else, you will have received a confirmation email about this. When logging in, use the specific email address to which you have received the confirmation.

Can I buy passes on behalf of my team members/colleagues?

Yes. When buying on behalf of another person, you must assign their tickets through the Slush Platform.

We recommend you do this well in advance to allow your colleagues to make the most of the Matchmaking Tool and hear about updates regarding the event.

Can I transfer my ticket to another person?

Yes, you can assign your ticket to another person by logging into the Slush Platform.

Please note that this is possible only before the event when the badge has not yet been printed out.

When and where can I collect my Slush badge?

You need to have both your badge and wristband to access Slush.

You can exchange your ticket for a badge and wristband at any of our Badge Claim Points before the event or at the Slush venue. Locations and opening hours coming later this year.

Please note: You will be asked to present a pictured ID when picking up your badge and wristband for safety reasons.

Badge Claim is also available upon your arrival at the Slush venue, Messukeskus, during the event days. We have Badge Claim Points at both the Southern and the Northern entrances.

We strongly recommend getting your badge and wristband in advance from the Badge Claim Points to avoid queuing at the entrance. The points will be quietest on Nov 18, and busiest on Nov 19.

Is there a possibility for a refund if I am not able to come?

Unfortunately, the tickets are non-refundable.

If you can find someone who can attend the event instead of you, it’s possible to transfer the ticket to another person as long as the change has been before the event. You can transfer your ticket to another person by logging in to the Slush Platform.

Do I need to print my ticket?

No, all Slush Passes are electronic. Thus, you only need a valid ID (ie. passport) to collect your Slush Badge from one of our Badge Claim Points or at the Slush Venue during the event days.

Does Slush provide ticket discounts?

We do not provide discounts outside our ticket campaigns (Hatching Bird & Early Bird). We recommend students join as volunteers to get access to Slush. Check out our Slush for Volunteers page for more info.

If you’re interested in attending Slush with a larger delegation and purchasing partner activities, such as a booth at the event, drop us a line at [email protected].

Can you help with my visa application?

Slush can help with visa applications by providing a visa invitation letter. Contact [email protected] for this matter. Read more about Finland’s visa policies on the website of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland.

STARTUPS

FAQ

Who can apply for a Startup Pass?

Our Startup Pass is tailored for young, often tech-driven, companies aiming for rapid growth with a scalable business model. We go through each application by hand.

Once your application has been accepted, you can buy your Startup Pass. Please remember that each team member needs their own ticket to attend.

What opportunities are there for startups at Slush 2024?

We take pride in being the most founder-focused event on Earth. For startups we have:

Mentoring with Slush speakers
Investor Office Hours
Startup Booth visibility
Pitching at Startup Stage
Matchmaking with investors
Founders Day
Founder Experience Events
Pitching competitions
Hundreds of Side Events by Partners
Curated events for underrepresented founders

What is Founders Day?

Our Founders Day is an exclusive gathering to kick off your Slush days on Wed, Nov 19 (Day 0). Focused on connecting founders through peer-to-peer networking and a company-building-focused stage program, spiced up with some grand old fun, this is the largest side-event for startups during Slush Week.

More information on the 2024 edition of Founders Day coming soon.

Please note, that Founders Day has limited capacity and requires separate registration on the Slush Platform under Activities.

Can I book meetings with attendees before the event?

Yes, you can, and, in fact, most of the meetings are booked already prior to the event right after we’ve opened our Matchmaking Tool. Our tool allows you to:

Discover any registered Slush visitor, startup, investor, or speaker based on your search criteria
Book and manage meetings
Have 30-minute meetings with prospective people in the Meeting Area.
Chat with people prior to the meetings through the tool

However, the Matchmaking Tool of Slush does not automatically offer virtual meeting capabilities. Of course, attendees are still free to set up virtual meetings once connected through the Matchmaking Tool.

The 2024 edition of the Matchmaking Tool is launched later this year.

My company would like to announce something at Slush. What should I do?

Contact [email protected] for more information. You can also apply to pitch on Startup Stage. Find the application on the Slush Platform under Activities.

INVESTORS

FAQ

Who can apply for an Investor Pass?

Our Investor Pass is for investors who make direct investments in startups or venture capital funds—VCs, CVCs, Angels, LPs, and M&A Investors.

How can I buy an Investor Pass for Slush?

You can purchase your ticket to Slush from the Slush Platform.

Every investor must register their investor company profile on the Slush Platform before gaining access to purchase a ticket. This process ensures that investor tickets are reserved for actual investors.

The Slush Team processes each application. The estimated wait time is 2 working days. Once your application is approved, you can proceed to purchase your Investor Pass as long as tickets are available.

If you have attended Slush before, please log in using the same credentials as last year to speed up your process.

Do I get a bulk discount when purchasing many investor tickets?

Unfortunately, we are not able to offer any discounts on our tickets. Since we’re a not-for-profit, our revenue calculations are quite strict. Thanks for understanding.

What investor-focused opportunities are there at Slush?

Our team works hard to provide investors with the most valuable activities and opportunities at Slush to help them connect with the right people and make the most of their visit. Read all about opportunities for Investor here.

Where can I find data on startups and other people attending Slush 2024?

All investors at Slush will have the possibility to access and export an extensive list of startup attendees at Slush 2024 from the Slush Platform.

You can also gain access to our Investor Tool through the Slush Platform which will allow you to further filter all startup attendees in a level of self-submitted detail never seen before.

My company would like to announce something at Slush. What should I do?

Contact [email protected] for more information.

What is Investor Day?

Our Investor Day is an exclusive gathering to kick off your Slush days on Wed, Nov 19 (Day 0). Focused on connecting investors through peer-to-peer roundtables, venture-focused stage program, and free-form networking, this is the largest side-event for investors during the Slush week that you don’t want to miss.

More information on the 2024 edition of Investor Day coming soon.

Please note, that Investor Day has limited capacity and requires separate registration on the Slush Platform under Activities.

MEDIA

FAQ

Why should I go to Slush as a media representative?

Year after year, journalists, opinion leaders, podcasters, and writers come to Slush(y) Helsinki in November to find the best startups and write their next hit piece. If this is your first time, we have 3 reasons why you should join us this year.

Discover stories worth telling
Slush is the most founder-focused event on earth, bringing 5,500 international startup founders and operators to Helsinki. Coming as a journalist, content creator or podcaster allows you to hear about cutting-edge innovations before it’s released, ask all the questions you have directly to the founders, and break the news before anyone else.

Trendspotting
Slush is THE hotspot for emerging trends in the tech and startup landscape. By coming to Slush, you get to find out about the development of new technologies and research results for the next year.

Everyone is here
Whether you want to interview that high-profile speaker you’ve been chasing for weeks or the upcoming founder who will make it big with a groundbreaking idea, Slush is the right place for you.

Who can get a Media Pass?

Slush Media Passes are intended for journalists and editorial members of the press. We have a limited number of Passes available and therefore prioritize outlets with a significant following and journalists who show a track record of writing about startups, technology, or venture capital.

Freelancers, podcasters, bloggers, and other individual contributors are also welcome to apply but will be screened more thoroughly for relevance.

Communications and PR professionals and non-editorial employees of media companies are kindly advised to purchase an Attendee Pass.

How can I find news during Slush?

At Slush, we’ve made it easy for you to find news for your next piece:

Listen to our stage program and get to know our fantastic speakers.
Explore our Media Bank, your go-to spot for the latest announcements, media kits, and contact details. The 2024 edition is launching later this year.
Plus, make the most of our in-house Slush Matchmaking Tool, designed to help you message speakers, founders, and investors you have been eager to meet and interview. The 2024 edition is launching later this year.

Where can I find photos from Slush?

All Slush photos can be found here.

Publications, articles, and all non-commercial Slush-related usage of our photos and videos are allowed when crediting the photographer or videographer and mentioning that the photo or video is from Slush.

You are not allowed to edit the photos or videos or to use them for commercial purposes. If you want to use the photos or videos for commercial use, get in touch with us.

Who are the speakers coming to Slush?

We will launch Slush 2024 speakers on August 12. Stay tuned. Browse past speakers here.

How can I book interviews with Slush attendees?

The best and most efficient way to book interviews at Slush is through our Matchmaking Tool. You can search for people, startups, investors, and other attendees and filter them based on your interests. You can book the interviews directly on the tool to the Slush Media Area and chat with the participants in advance.

You can access the Matchmaking Tool on the Slush Platform after you’ve received your ticket. The 2024 edition of the Matchmaking Tool is launching later this year.

What activities will be available to the media?

Media Morning (Nov 19) is a media-only event taking place on Day 0 with a curated program just for you. More information coming soon.
We will have a large Media Area in the main event venue with pre-bookable interview and podcast pods, working tables, shooting locations, and a silent streaming area.
You’ll have exclusive access to our Media Bank, which will feature all the information you’ll need to create your next piece successfully: from the latest announcements to the media kit and contact details. Available later this year.

How can I find more insights and data about Slush Attendees?

Slush 2024 will gather 13,000 founders, investors, and media this year on Nov 20–21 in Helsinki. However, we understand you may need a little more information to convince your editor to join us—don’t worry, we got you.

Slush 2024 in numbers:

5,500 startup operators and founders
3,300 global investors, mainly from Europe and the US
350 media representatives
160 industry stars on four Slush stages
Dozens of partners
In 2023, Slush held over 20,000 meetings in two days. That means, that at least every single attendee met someone relevant during their time here. But you don’t have to believe us, examples speak for themselves. Check out some of our success stories.

Where can I work during Slush?

As a media representative, you’ll have exclusive access to the Slush Media Area, where you’ll discover workstations, tables, interview spots, and podcast pods to make your week even more productive and enjoyable.

COME VISIT

Malminkatu 16
00100 Helsinki

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