When you slip and glide your way to Messukeskus (Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre) in Helsinki in zero-degree snowy rain and wind blowing from all directions, the fact that Slush got its name from the slushy and grey rain–snow mixture covering our streets is suddenly making sense. But you’ll gladly defy the elements when you know what to expect a few steps ahead. As soon as you enter the doors, you’re struck by the warmth of 1,600 volunteers who take care of more than 13,000 visitors.
Startups in focus
Slush is big, yes – almost overwhelmingly so, yet you have no problem finding your way in the mighty well-arranged exhibition hall, with a full laser light aura and a pulsating well-balanced sound carpet.
Whether you’re looking for inspiring Fireplace Talks from entrepreneurs who have “made the journey” and share their stories and experiences, if you as a startup is looking for investors by booking 1-2-1 meetings in the huge meeting area, or maybe you want to get an overview of the latest happenings in the world in Tech, Life Science or something even more niche – “everyone” is there and everyone shares. Here, startups are really in focus – and when visitors from all over the world, regardless of religion, nationality and ethnicity, gather to share their experiences and challenges to help each other, that’s powerful. Really powerful.
Combinations of software and hardware as a central theme
Metamorphos was this year’s theme at Slush. And I understand why. Combinations of software (preferably AI-based) and hardware shone brightly. For example, the Norwegian robotics company 1X Technologies (www.1x.tech) who showed their latest Humanoid – Neo, which is now ready for launch. One of the first areas to be addressed for Neo in the market is elderly care. If you’ve said hello to Neo, you’ll understand why. Neo has already been tested in American homes with a fantastic response and will probably change the way we look at what will be important to focus on, both as a human being and as a supervisor (for our humanoids).
If you merge an AI-controlled electric snowmobile with an off-road motorcycle, then you get Donut – A machine that can get around pretty much anywhere on land. Donutlab (www.donutlab.com) takes a completely new approach by combining new technological innovations with electrified mobility. If you look closely – you’ll notice that donut bikes don’t have a hub in their wheels, which explains their name.
The occasional need to get some sleep at an airport or railway station has been addressed by the company GoSleep (www.gosleep.fi) with their sleeping cabins. GoSleep’s booths were used extensively during the fair. Nice to doze off a bit between all the meetings and impressions.
Lab-grown leather: The fashion of the future?
The fact that the fashion industry is now also starting to receive demands from younger generations on their life cycle assessment (LCA) of leather products is evident in the great interest the French company Faircraft (www.faircraft.bio) has for its lab-grown leather. Their showcase bag both felt, smelled, and had the same characteristics as a genuine Luis Vuitton. Real leather – yes, but not from an animal. It felt both strange and positive.
For those who do not want to buy new, the e-commerce company Vinted (www.vinted.se) could not be missed. Vinted is a digital marketplace where users can buy and sell used clothes, shoes, and accessories. The company’s founder Milda Mitkutė from Lithuania talked in a very inspiring way about how the company has grown from selling a few leftover clothes from her own wardrobe, to then growing to include over 75 million customers globally, with a current valuation of SEK 58 billion.
With abundant ingenuity, the fact that startups play an important role in the transformation towards a greener planet becomes obvious when you visit Slush. When I presented Sting Bioeconomy’s operations and our fantastic companies at several meetings with investors, I was met with great interest and genuine curiosity. Several spontaneous pats on the back and comments such as “You’re indeed an important player, supporting impact startups through their challenging early stages, endaevoring towards success.” made the visit extra pleasant.
Slush leads the way for the startup world
Our network has been expanded with new friends from Silicon Valley, Tokyo, and Berlin among others. Without Slush’s unique appeal to both startups, entrepreneurs and investors worldwide, it would’t have been possible to expand its network in such an efficient and inspiring way. Helsinki does not offer the nicest weather, but it is clearly the best arena in Europe (probably the world) for match-making, benchmarking and business intelligence for everyone who works in the dynamic startup world.
I’ll certainly be back at Slush 2025.
