Introducing...

The Most Coveted Startup Competition in the World

Never been done before. The winner gets €500,000 with 0% equity.

That’s the largest equity-free amount in a startup competition, ever. Free runway, money to experiment, no strings attached. Just win in front of 10,000 people and return to Slush 2027 as a main stage speaker.

Slush bets on you.

Apply here

Unmatched Access

The top 20 pitch on stage. If you make it that far, we’ll kick doors open for you:

Accommodation with other top founders, hand-picked by us
Curated Slush Week with access most founders dream of at the world's largest gathering of VC
Mentoring by our main-stage speakers

€500,000, Equity Free

Slush gives one team €500,000 in front of 12,000 people, equity free. That's the largest equity free amount in a startup competition, ever.

Eligibility Criteria

Applying startups need to be founded in 2023, raised less than €10M and be at Seed Stage or earlier in Nov 19.

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

What does the winner of Slush 100 get?

The winner of the Slush 100 competition gets €500,000 with 0% equity from Slush and gets to return to Slush 2027 as a main stage speaker.

Who can apply to Slush 100?

All startups who're founded in 2023 or later, raised less than €10M and are at Seed Stage or earlier can apply. Applicants are expected to meet the criteria until the finals on Nov 19.

What is the competition timeline of Slush 100?

Aug 12 – Applications open

Sep 7 – Applications close

Sep 11 – Top 100 is chosen

Oct 1 – Top 20 is chosen

Nov 18 – 20 semifinalist pitch on Startup Stage. Three finalists are chosen.

Nov 19 – Finals on Founder Stage. The winner of Slush 100 is announced

How do I apply to Slush 100?

You can apply by creating a company profile and uploading a pitch deck on the Slush Platform. After you've submitted your profile, our team verifies it within 48 hours. Once we've accepted your profile, you can apply for Slush 100 on the Startup Activities page.

When is the deadline to apply?

The deadline for applications is Sep 7.

How do I know if my startup has already applied for Slush 100?

Check the text next to Slush 100 in Startup Activities page on the Slush Platform. If Slush Team “has registered your company to this activity”, you've successfully applied.

Do I need a Slush Pass to apply?

You don't need a ticket to Slush 2026 to apply for Slush 100. However, if chosen for the top 100, you will have to purchase a Slush 2026 Startup Pass to take part in the rest of the competition. Slush 2026 takes place in Helsinki, Finland on Nov 18-19.

Who chooses the winner?

Top 100 are chosen by the Slush team. After this, a curated jury of top investors selects the semifinalists, finalists and the winner.

Got any questions?

Reach out to startups@slush.org