By Elin Dölker, President at Slush
When the pandemic hit, there was widespread concern across the event industry about what the “new normal” might entail.
Would people still be eager to travel and meet in person when we’ve demonstrated that so much—work, collaboration, even fundraising—can be done entirely online?
Today, entrepreneurs can raise millions without ever leaving their homes, and employees can work remotely from anywhere in the world without meeting their colleagues face-to-face.
However, the fear that in-person events would become obsolete has proven to be unfounded. In fact, the desire for meaningful human connection has ensured that the event industry not only survived but thrived.
There’s evidence to back this up.
Research indicates that face-to-face interactions are significantly more effective—requests made in person are 34 times more successful than those made via email.
These in-person meetings build a level of trust and understanding that simply can’t be replicated through virtual interactions.
Why Slush Remains a Must-Attend Event
Slush is an example of why in-person connections are still invaluable, and here’s why it continues to be a crucial event for entrepreneurs and investors:
The Power of Face-to-Face Interaction
Meeting in person allows you to present yourself and your product in a way that virtual meetings simply can’t match.
In-person conversations at Slush ensure that you have the full attention of the other party, free from the distractions and multitasking that often accompany online meetings. And don’t worry about having to take meetings in the lobby—our Meeting Area has 300 dedicated tables to ensure your meetings run as smoothly as possible.
The Largest Gathering of Venture Capital
In the current economic climate, finding accessible capital can be challenging. Slush offers a unique opportunity to connect with a large number of investors in one place.
Instead of navigating through spam filters and gatekeepers to secure a meeting, you have the chance to meet top investors face-to-face, sometimes even by chance in the hallway. Save some money on your Bay Area flights and just come to Slush instead—all the relevant investors will be here.
It’s like condensing a month’s worth of meetings into just two days.
Connecting with Fellow Founders
Being a founder can be isolating, but Slush provides a perfect environment to connect with peers who share similar experiences.
With numerous founder-to-founder events, it’s an opportunity to share learnings and build strong relationships.
Relevance Over Scale
At Slush, it’s all about quality over quantity.
With 70% of attendees being either founders or investors (each and every single one screened by the Slush team), you’re surrounded by the right people—the ones who matter most in the startup ecosystem.
So, that’s our take: F2F events can get you significant ROI.
We humbly believe that if there’s one event you should invest into, it’s Slush.
