FAQ
Here's everything you need to know about Slush—we've got you covered. If your question isn't answered bexqlow, you can reach us here.
General FAQ
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.
In practice, this means that our 2025 event will host:
- 6,000+ Startups
- 3,500+ Investors
- 1,700+ Partners and Ecosystem builders
In addition to our event, we serve founders and investors with a year-round online community and matchmaking platform, Slush Online, 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.
Read more about us here.
Slush 2025 will take place on Nov 19–20 (Wed–Thu), 2025. Nov 18 is our official Day 0, featuring Investor Day and Founders Day, tailored for ticket holders in those categories.
Slush is organized at the Helsinki Expo and Convention Center, Messukeskus.
It's located just a few kilometers from the Helsinki city center, so you’ll be able to arrive at the venue within 15 minutes from almost anywhere in the city.
Address: Messuaukio 1, 00520 Helsinki
We do not provide discounts outside our early ticket sales campaigns.
If you’re a student, the best way to attend Slush 2025 is by joining as a volunteer. Check out our Slush for Volunteers page for more info.
If you’re planning to attend with a larger delegation or are interested in partner activities, such as a booth at the event,
drop us a line at partners@slush.org.
Originally a two-day happening, Slush has grown into an entire week of events around the Helsinki metropolitan area.
In addition to the official Activities organized by Slush, there are hundreds of Side Events around Helsinki and at the official
Partner Side Event Wing in the Slush venue.
You'll be able to browse and apply for the Slush 2025 Side Events during the fall.
You can reach the team by email:
General inquiries hello@slush.org
Tickets tickets@slush.org
Startups startups@slush.org
Investors investors@slush.org
Partners partners@slush.org
Media media@slush.org
Speakers speakers@slush.org
Marketing marketing@slush.org
Slush ensures that everyone can fully participate in and feel comfortable at the event, regardless of their accessibility needs. Below is a guide to the features and services we provide to make your experience as smooth and enjoyable as possible. If you need additional information or assistance, feel free to reach out to the Slush Team at hello@slush.org—we’re here to help.
Entrances, venue & wheelchair access
- Messukeskus has two main entrances, and both the Southern and the Northern Entrance are equipped with automatic
doors for easy access with a wheelchair. The Northern Entrance is best for arriving by car. - All floors of the Slush venue are accessible by lift, ensuring easy movement between different areas.
- Each floor of the venue is equipped with easy-access toilets, clearly marked with signage at the venue and
visible in the event map. There is also guidance provided at info desks whenever needed. - We have dedicated wheelchair spots for audience members at each stage, as well as wheelchair-accessible ramps for speakers joining us on stage. If you need assistance, our friendly Info Volunteers are happy to guide you to these spots. You can find the Info Team at the Info Points marked on the event map, or recognize them by green “Slush” vests.
For more information, please contact the Slush Team or visit the frequently asked questions (FAQ) by Messukeskus to learn more about visiting Messukeskus.
Parking for people with reduced mobility
- During the event, parking is free for people who have a disabled parking permit.
- The lowest P1 level near the Northern Entrance has 20 marked parking spaces for people
with disabilities. Please declare your vehicle registration at the Messukeskus customer service point (located on the 1st floor of Messukeskus, left corner of the Southern lobby). - Disabled persons staying at the on-site hotel can also park for free during the event.
Assistants and interpreters
Attendees requiring assistance or an interpreter are welcome to bring an assistant free of charge. Guide and assistance dogs are also welcome at Slush. Please visit the Ticket Help Desk, located at the Southern Entrance of Messukeskus, for assistance.
If you have any specific questions about access or assistance, please reach out to us at tickets@slush.org.
Sensory accessibility & quiet spaces
At Slush, we strive to create an inclusive environment for attendees with sensory sensitivities. We understand that large events can be overwhelming and have designed the following services to support your experience.
- Quiet Room: Messukeskus Siipi Room 213 on the third floor of the Partner Side Event Wing is designated as a Quiet Room
where attendees can relax, meditate, or pray. It’s open from 8 AM–10 PM during the main event (Nov 20–21) and is equipped with simple furniture to ensure a peaceful atmosphere. - Sensory toolkit: To assist with managing sensory overload, attendees can request earplugs, sunglasses, and
communication cards at the two Info Points found at the venue. These items are designed to help visitors who may experience sensory sensitivities during the event. - Noise levels: During the day program, noise exposure will remain below 85 dB LAeq (8h).
- Event design & flashing lights: Please note that many areas at Slush feature sensory elements like flashing lights, lasers,
and large screens. Additionally, the venue includes art installations, bold colors, varied shapes, and diverse lighting, all of which can create significant sensory stimulation. These elements may affect individuals with photosensitive epilepsy or those sensitive to visual or auditory stimuli.If you need to avoid these areas, our Info Volunteers are available to guide you to quieter, less stimulating routes.
Safety Mediators
We are dedicated to ensuring Slush is a safe and welcoming space for everyone. Our Safety Mediators are trained professionals available to help in situations of discomfort, conflict, or sensory overload.
- Who they are: Our Safety Mediators are licensed psychologists from Laavu.io, easily identifiable by their blue vests. They are present at all key events, including the Main Event, Investor Day, Founders Day, and the Afterparty.
- How to reach: Find them live at the venue. Anyone can approach the Safety Mediators at the events they are present (ID, FD, Main Event, Afterparty, Volunteer Afterparty). You can recognize the Safety Mediators from their blue vests.
Ask our security, volunteers, or crew. You can approach any of our security personnel, volunteers, or crew and ask for the mediators, and they will find the Safety Mediators for you and stay with you while you wait for them. Security can also be reached by calling the number listed under “Contact Security”. Finally, you can also go directly to the Security Helpdesk next to the Southern Cloakroom and ask for the Safety Mediators. Use the Info Chat in the Slush App. The Info Chat in the My Slush App is monitored by our volunteers, who can connect you with the Safety Mediators if needed.
Planning your visit
We look forward to welcoming everyone to Slush. Please contact us in advance so we can help plan your visit according
to your needs and optimize your experience.
Tickets FAQ
Purchase your ticket to Slush through the Slush Platform.
If you are buying a Startup, Scaleup, or Investor Pass, we will first ask you to register your company via an
application process. After applying, the Slush Team will review your company profile within 2 working days and grant you access to purchase your ticket given that you meet the ticket requirements.
Ecosystem and Thursday passes are available for all to purchase but require to be part of a company profile on the
Slush Platform.
Our available ticket types are Startup, Scaleup, Investor, Ecosystem and Thursday Passes.
In addition to those, media representatives can apply for a free Media Pass.
Startup Pass
Our Startup Pass is for young, tech-driven companies aiming for rapid growth with a scalable business model (no agencies or consultancies). Max. 7 years old, not exited yet. Subject to accepted Startup application.
Scaleup Pass
Our Scaleup Pass is for mature tech companies that have product-market fit, a scalable business model and evidence
of rapid growth over several years. Over 8 years old, or younger companies that have raised more than €100M in funding. Not exited yet. Subject to accepted Scaleup application.
Investor Pass
Our Investor Pass is for individuals and companies investing into high-growth tech startups and/or venture capital fund.—VCs, CVCs, Angels, LPs, and M&A Investors. Subject to accepted Investor application.
Ecosystem and Thursday Passes
Our Ecosystem Pass is for exited scaleups, corporations, ecosystem players, accelerators, policymakers, and general
attendees. Requires to join/create a company profile.
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 Ecosystem Pass.
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 tickets@slush.org if you’ve got any questions about payment methods.
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.
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.
Yes, you can reassign your ticket to another person by logging into the Slush Platform and navigating to
Tickets -> Manage tickets.
Please note that reassigning your ticket is possible only before the event when the Slush Badge has not yet been
printed out.
More detailed instructions here.
Unfortunately, all tickets for Slush 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.
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.
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 partners@slush.org.
Slush can help with visa applications by providing a visa invitation letter. Contact tickets@slush.org for this matter. Read more about Finland’s visa policies on the website of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland.
Startups FAQ
Our Startup Pass is tailored for young, 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 2025?
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
Our Founders Day is an exclusive gathering to kick off your Slush days on Wed, Nov 18 (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 2025 edition of Founders Day coming soon.
Please note, that Founders Day has limited capacity and requires separate registration on the Slush Platform under
Activities.
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 2025 edition of the Matchmaking Tool is launched later this year.
Submit your news to our Media Bank. Note that your announcement is subject to review by our Media Team.
Investors FAQ
Our Investor Pass is for investors who make direct investments in startups or venture capital funds—
VCs, CVCs, Angels, LPs, and M&A Investors.
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.
Unfortunately, we are not able to offer any discounts on our tickets. Since we’re a not-for-profit, we already keep ticket prices as low as possible while still organizing the best startup event on the planet. Thanks for understanding.
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.
All investors at Slush will have the possibility to acess and export an extensive list of startups at Slush from our
Startup Database on the Slush Platform.
Submit your news to our Media Bank. Note that your announcement is subject to review by our Media Team.
If you’re looking for a chance to speak on stage, please reach out to speakers@slush.org.
Investor Day is an exclusive gathering to kick off your Slush Week. Focused on connecting investors through
peer-to-peer roundtables, venture-focused stage program, and free-form networking. Investor Day is the largest side-event for investors during the Slush week that you don’t want to miss.
Please note that you need to have an assigned ticket on your profile to register successfully.
Information on the 2025 edition of Investor Day coming soon.
We recommend you arrive in Helsinki one or two days before the main event to be in town for the official Day 0 (Nov 18) program and various side events hosted by our partners and the wider startup community.
Register as the company type that you most identify with.
If you reach out to investors@slush.org, and let us know so we can make sure you’re invited to both LP and VC events.
Media FAQ
Every year, journalists, opinion leaders, podcasters, and writers gather in Helsinki for Slush in November
to find the best startups and capture their next big story. If this is your first time considering Slush, here are three reasons why you won’t want to miss out:
Discover stories worth telling
Slush is the world’s most founder-focused event, with 6000+ startup founders and operators gathering in Helsinki. As a journalist, content creator, or podcaster, you’ll get the inside scoop on cutting-edge innovations, have the chance to ask founders all the questions only you’d think to ask, and break stories before anyone else.
Trendspotting
Slush is the place for uncovering emerging trends in tech and startups. Coming to Slush means you’ll have a front-row seat to new technology developments, research breakthroughs, and what’s next on the horizon.
Everyone’s here
Whether you’re chasing an interview with a high-profile speaker or scouting for the next breakout founder,
Slush is the perfect place to make it happen.
Slush Media Passes are reserved for journalists and editorial members of the press. With limited availability,
we prioritize passes for outlets with a strong following and journalists with a solid track record in covering startups, tech, or venture capital.
Freelancers, podcasters, bloggers, and other independent creators are also invited to apply, though applications will be
closely reviewed for relevance.
Please note that PR and communications professionals, as well as non-editorial media staff, are encouraged to
purchase an Ecosystem or a Thursday Pass.
At Slush, we’ve made it easy for you to find news for your next piece:
- Join our main event’s 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.
- Make the most of our in-house Slush Matchmaking Tool, designed to help you message the speakers, founders,
and investors you have been eager to meet and interview.
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.
You can discover all the speakers coming to Slush in our Speaker Page. Note that we publish new speakers
regularly and that the Slush agenda will launch in the fall.
The best and most efficient way to book interviews at Slush is through our Matchmaking Tool. You can seach 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.
- Media Morning (Nov 18) 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.
Slush 2025 will gather 13,000 founders, investors, and media this year on Nov 19–20 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 2025 in numbers:
- 6000+ startup operators and founders
- 3500+ Investors
- 250 media representatives
- 1700+ Partners and Ecosystem Builders
We’re expecting more than 20,000 meetings to take place during Slush. Check out some of our success stories to see the impact for yourself.