The most founder-focused event on the planet
We know building companies is hard work. That’s why we’ve dedicated our event to making it just a little bit easier for you. Whether you’re looking for investor meetings, on-stage visibility, or founder friends to vent with, we’ve got you covered.
At Slush, you can pack months worth of VC meetings, sales calls, and growth efforts into just three days—leaving you more time back in the office to focus on building. Join Slush, and you’ll be able to clear out your event calendar for all of H2.
Activities
Founders Day
Founders Day is laser-focused on helping founders and facilitating a safe space for creating personal connections. No investors, no BS, no sales pitches: just 1,300 founders in the same room. Whether you want to learn from others mistakes through the stage program, connect with our partners in the partner lounges, or meet peers building in the same industry as you—Founders Day has it all.
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Slush 100
Slush 100 is the most coveted startup competition in the world. From over 1,000 applications, the 100 top ones are hand-picked to compete for a €1M investment by General Catalyst and Cherry Ventures—two of the leading early-stage VCs in Europe. The competition is open for any company founded in 2022 or later that has raised max. €2M in equity funding. Applications open until August 26.
Investor Office Hours
Looking to network with and learn from VCs at Slush? Investor Office Hours are the perfect opportunity. These 75-minute, private sessions are hosted by a selection of top VCs, with a large range of founder-focused topics. All sessions will be published in the fall. Increase your chances of getting an invite by making sure your company profile is up-to-date on the Slush Platform.
Speaker Mentoring
Our speakers are some of the most accomplished founders, operators, and investors in the startup ecosystem, and at Slush, they don’t just share their learnings on stage—they also dedicate their time to mentor early-stage founders. Through our Speaker Q&A’s and Chatham House Rules-style Chamber Sessions, you have the chance to get personalized advice and honest insights from the best of the best. More info about Mentoring Sessions will come in early September.
Startup Stage
Spotlighting top early-stage founders from Europe and beyond, the Startup Stage is where we showcase 60 of the most promising future unicorns, from pre-seed to Series A. Companies like Pleo, Kahoot, and Lovable got their start here. Now it’s your turn. We give founders 10 minutes to pitch, demo, or do both—the stage is yours.
Apply to speak using this form by Aug 31.
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Startup Activities
Kickstart your Slush week in a memorable way
At Slush, networking isn’t just a polite handshake—it’s a cold plunge, a pitch 40 meters above Helsinki, or a hard question over lunch. Maybe you’re here to push your comfort zone, or maybe you just want to meet people who get what you’re building. Anyways, you’ll walk away with conversations and experiences you’ll remember for years, new people in your corner, and a few very Finnish stories from your time in Helsinki.
360° Pitching: Nov 18, 3–5 PM
Sauna & Ice Dipping: Nov 18, 9:30–11:30 AM and 12–2 PM
Scaleup Office Hour: Nov 18 (timeslots TBA)
Female Founder Lunch: Nov 18, 1–3 PM
Founder Re(DEI)fined: Nov 19, 8–10 AM
Deeptech SISE: Nov 19, 11–1 PM
Sign-ups opening soon on the Slush Platform.
Questions? Contact us at startups@slush.org
Matchmaking Sprint
Meet investors 1-on-1
Matchmaking Sprints are your chance to meet investors who have the capital to back what you’re building. Get to know investors, pitch your company, and lock a follow up in 15–minute calls. Land up to 8 VC or CVC meetings within a 2-hour sprint. Matchmaking Sprints are hosted every month.
Wednesdays · 5:00–7:15 PM (EET)
Sep 10 · Oct 8 · Nov 5
Questions? Contact us at online@slush.org
Startup Booths
Concrete traction at the heart of Slush
For years, Startup Booths have been a go-to spot to for startups to gain traction, leads and visibility at the heart of the Slush Venue. A selected group of potential early-stage startups gets to showcase their product at these turnkey 5 m² booths. Startup Booth applications are open at Slush Platform under the “Activities” section until Aug 19. You’ll need an accepted company profile to apply.
Apply here!
Questions? Contact us at partners@slush.org
The core of the startup ecosystem under one roof
Founders who joined early at Slush
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Investors attending year after year
Founders who joined early at Slush
Investors attending year after year
Got any questions?
Reach out to startups@slush.org