November 18–19, 2026 Helsinki, FIHelsinki Expo and Convention Centre (Messukeskus), Messuaukio 1, Helsinki
annual
Europe's premier early-stage startup event, Slush fills Helsinki's Messukeskus every November with 13,000 founders and 3,500 investors for two days of curated matchmaking and the Slush 100 pitch competition.
Who goesNordic and European pre-seed through Series B founders, deeptech researchers, European early-stage VCs with $4T+ collective AUM
Slush has resisted the industry drift toward vendor-heavy trade shows. The event is structured around matchmaking: investors attend specifically to meet companies, and the in-app meeting system produces a higher-than-average rate of conversations that continue after the event. Founders at pre-seed and seed stage consistently rate it as the single best use of their European conference budget. The Founder School programming adds a substantive educational layer beyond the networking.
What works
+3,500 investors representing over $4 trillion in AUM attend across two days; the investor density per founder is unusually high for a European event
+Curated matchmaking via the Slush app pairs founders with investors by stage and sector rather than by alphabetical proximity
+Founder School mentorship programme includes workshops on fundraising, mental resilience, and leadership from founders who have navigated the same stages
+Slush 100 pitch competition provides structured stage time for selected startups with investor panel feedback
What doesn't
−November Helsinki weather and geographic location add travel friction compared to Central European alternatives; budget $900+ for flights from the US
−The event has grown to 13,000 attendees, which some long-time participants say has diluted the close-knit atmosphere of earlier editions
−Less relevant for post-Series B companies whose priorities fall outside the early-stage fundraising and founder development focus
Attended Slush? Rate it for 7 days of Pro Mini.
Honest verdict in 60 seconds. Trial activates the moment you submit.
Attendee reviews (0)
No attendee reviews yet. Be the first — write a quick verdict and we'll grant 7 days of Pro Mini.
