Slush 2023, a founder-focused startup event held in Helsinki, Finland, on November 30-December 1, kicked off with a chance for early-stage founders to practice their pitches in an actual elevator. Eighty participants were chosen to deliver their elevator pitches to top venture capitalists on the day before the conference began. Supported by KONE and held at company headquarters, this opportunity gave founders a chance to warm up and get a head start on investor networking — a core element of Slush.
KONE lowered the speed of two office elevators so that the trip from the lobby to the top floor took exactly 60 s. Participants were challenged to deliver a 1-min pitch, and investors provided concise feedback as the elevator descended. If the entrepreneurs couldn’t nail their pitch within this timeframe, they were given another opportunity to go up and down. Seven investors from firms including Index Ventures, Left Land Capital, Seedcamp and Atomico took part in the elevator pitching practice event. Coffee and snacks were served in the KONE HQ lobby, creating a pleasant environment for networking.
Slush is a nonprofit with a mission “to create and support entrepreneurs that are changing the world” by connecting founders, investors and startup operators through events, online communities and educational content. The organization’s biggest annual event, the Slush conference, first began in 2008. This year it took place at the Helsinki Expo and Convention Center, drawing 5,000 startups, 3,000 investors and 300 journalists.
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