Startup conference Slush is expecting more than 10 000 attendees this year
Slush is the focal point for Eurasian startups and technology talent to meet with top-tier international investors, executives and media. Slush 2014 takes place on 18-19th November in Helsinki. Due to the growing popularity, Slush is moving to a new bigger venue.
The two-day event takes place every fall in wintery Finland amist one of the most dynamic tech ecosystems in the world. Seven years ago Slush started as a small local event. In past three years, Slush has grown from a local, 300-person event to one of most leading tech and startup events in the world. Last year Slush reached 7000 attendees, 1200 companies and 118 venture capital funds from 68 different countries. Attending companies, investors and media were set up in 1960 pre-set meetings, with the participating companies raising more than USD 160 million in funding in the six months following the event.
Slush is now being organised for the seventh time, and it is getting even bigger. This year the organisers of Slush are expecting more than 10 000 attendees, 2500 companies and 7000 meetings between the entrepreneurs and investors. Due to the growing popularity Slush is moving to a new bigger venue. This year's event will be held in Helsinki Exhibition and Convention Centre.
The past venue, Cable Factory in Helsinki, with its industrial and indie-like feeling is acclaimed to be part of the spirit of Slush. The main organiser of Slush, Miki Kuusi says that the organisers have been preparing the transfer to a bigger venue from year 2012. And the spirit of Slush will not go anywhere, he assures.
"The spirit of Slush is here to stay. The new venue allows us to organize an even better event. For example we are able to double the meetings between the startup companies and investors."
In addition to pitches, talks, business meetings and fund-raising Slush is also about meeting new people, partying and going to the sauna. Slush is a non-profit event organized by a community of first time entrepreneurs, students and professional music festival organizers.
Slush has been growing rapidly, but the organisers aim even higher. Kuusi says that his dream is that in 20 years Helsinki could be the home for innovation, startups and tech community in the same way as Cannes is the home of cinema and Milan is the home of fashion. In addition to tech people, he is hoping that politicians, researchers and business managers around the world would find their way to Helsinki.
"Once we get the CEOs of the biggest US and Asian companies to visit Helsinki regularly, we can say that we have reached our goal. We don't know if it will ever be possible, but that will be the goal we are aiming at."
Slush is being held on 18-19th November in Helsinki Exhibition and Convention Centre. The event is being organised for seventh time.
More information:
Slush(Link to another website.)
Twitter: @SlushHQ (Link to another website.)