Slush 2024, a premier event for entrepreneurs and investors, is set to gather thousands of participants in Helsinki, Finland, on November 20-21. The event promises to offer a platform for startups and investors to connect and explore new opportunities. This year’s theme, “Metamorphosis,” reflects the event’s focus on fostering transformation and growth across various sectors. Slush Week will feature over 300 side events, culminating in a grand afterparty, providing ample networking opportunities for attendees.
The concept of Slush has evolved significantly over the years, transforming from a local gathering into the world’s largest venture capital meeting. In past editions, the event has successfully attracted a global audience, with a substantial number of venture capitalists and media representatives in attendance. This consistent growth illustrates its rising influence in the startup ecosystem, reinforcing its role as a key meeting point for innovators and investors.
What Does Slush 2024 Offer?
Slush 2024 will host over 13,000 attendees, including 5,500 startup founders, 3,300 investors, and 300 limited partners. The event aims to cultivate an environment where founders can pursue growth with purpose, as highlighted by Aino Bergius, the CEO of Slush.
“The whole event experience and concepts are highly curated and focused on helping founders pursue rapid growth with purpose. We believe that by helping founders, everything else will follow,”
Bergius stated.
What is the Role of 4TU in Slush 2024?
Four Dutch technical universities, known collectively as 4TU, are set to attend Slush 2024 to showcase their startups and spin-offs. The delegation will include 25 startups under the banner ‘Dutch at Slush.’ This annual participation is aimed at accelerating the impact of these startups by offering them exposure and networking opportunities with potential investors and partners. 4TU’s presence signifies the importance of academic institutions in nurturing innovation and entrepreneurship.
One of the key attractions of 4TU’s participation is the Deep Tech Drinks event, which will take place at the Wallis Karaoke Bar in Helsinki. This gathering will provide a casual setting for startups to engage with venture capitalists, who will be encouraged to select promising startups from the Discovery Deck for potential investment.
Among the startups featured are Villari, Time Travelling Milkman, Phos4nova, and XMEM. These companies represent diverse sectors ranging from sensor technology to plant-based dairy alternatives, indicating the wide array of innovations being developed under the 4TU umbrella. Each startup aims to leverage Slush as a platform to secure funding and expand their reach in their respective industries.
Villari, for instance, offers advanced sensor technology crucial for infrastructure safety, while Time Travelling Milkman focuses on creating plant-based dairy products with improved taste and texture. Phos4nova develops biocompatible polymers for medical imaging, and XMEM is advancing membrane technology for industrial applications. These varied innovations highlight the potential for impact across multiple sectors.
Slush 2024 stands as a testament to the dynamic nature of the startup ecosystem, providing a vital nexus for the exchange of ideas and capital. By bringing together a diverse array of stakeholders, the event promises to drive forward-thinking solutions and foster collaborations that could lead to significant advancements in technology and business. The presence of 4TU underscores the integral role of academic institutions in stimulating innovation and entrepreneurship, serving as a bridge between research and commercial application.
