Slush 2024: Making the most out of the world's leading startup event

Slush, one of the world's premier tech and startup events, returns to Helsinki from 21-22 November 2024, promising two action-packed days dedicated to scaling great ideas and fostering deep connections. From its humble beginnings as a small gathering in 2008, Slush has evolved into a global force, convening tens of thousands of startup founders, investors, and tech luminaries. This year’s agenda offers a fresh take on the entrepreneurial ecosystem, with themes that challenge conventional wisdom and embrace the power of tech-driven innovation.

While Slush is a nirvana for startups and investors, for those in the marketing and communications world it represents a daunting task. Spokespeople to look out for, speeches to write, press releases to distribute, flash drives that seem to stop working the minute you arrive, the list goes on and on. A major event like Slush is a tricky balancing act for marketing teams trying to impress executives. Luckily for you, we've put together a check list to help navigate Slush 2024. 

Why Slush Stands Out:

Slush isn't just a tech conference. It’s a pulsating hub where ambition meets collaboration and moonshot thinking becomes tangible action. While many tech events aim for scale, Slush excels at depth. In Helsinki, networking means more than exchanging business cards; it's about fostering genuine connections and productive dialogue. Participants can expect curated matchmaking sessions, unvarnished founder stories, and immersive talks that cut straight to the heart of the industry's challenges and opportunities.

Key Highlights for 2024:

• Founder-Investor Day: An exclusive precursor to the main event, this intimate setting allows founders to meet their potential investors, fostering meaningful discussions and trust. More than just a pitch fest, it’s where real deals are seeded.
• Stage Sessions with Industry Pioneers: Expect provocative discussions led by top founders, serial entrepreneurs, and tech disruptors. This year’s speakers will include visionaries reshaping areas like generative AI, climate tech, and sustainable digitalisation, from Meta executives to NVIDIA founders. 
• Deep Dive Workshops and Masterclasses: Participants can get hands-on with tailored sessions offering tactical knowledge, from mastering early-stage fundraising to building high-performing remote teams.
• Pitching Competition: Slush’s renowned pitching competition, drawing hundreds of the brightest startups, will once again showcase transformative ideas and offer exposure to top-tier investors. With significant funding at stake, it’s a high-stakes platform for breakthrough innovation.

Networking with Purpose:

Beyond keynotes and panels, Slush remains a champion of high-impact networking. Attendees are given access to private roundtables, curated mixers, and unique meeting formats like ‘Speed-Dating for Founders’. The conference’s proprietary matchmaking software ensures relevant, high-value connections are made, accelerating the path from initial contact to deal-making.

Slush Goes Beyond the Main Stage:

One of Slush's unique features is its ability to blend formal events with informal, community-driven gatherings. From sauna sessions to after-parties, these moments foster camaraderie and serendipity, leading to unexpected collaborations and new ideas. This 'human touch' remains integral to Slush’s DNA and sets it apart in a landscape dominated by rigid, corporate-style conferences.

How Marketers can Get the Most Out of Slush 2024:

Preparation is key.

With thousands of attendees, a packed agenda, and countless meetings, make sure to:

• Journalist phone numbers must be in your phone before you arrive on the day.
• Distribute your content before or after the event as during will be ignored. 
• Always bring a map...always. 
• Bring square equipment (especially flash or hard drives) and check they're working the night before.
• Pre-book meetings and study attendee lists to prioritise effective conversations. 
• Participate in workshops and deep-dive sessions tailored to marketers. 
• Be ready for serendipitous encounters—some of the best connections happen over coffee or at the edges of formal events.

Slush isn’t just a place to witness innovation—it’s where you can become part of it and highlight your company narrative in line with it. Just make sure you're ready to roll with the punches and prepare, prepare, prepare.