It’s the Slush week in Helsinki, yay! Lots of startup hype and lasers, but also events where science and research take the stage. Here are our top 7 picks to find science at Slush and around it.
Wednesday Nov 20th
Slush 100 Pitching Competition
9:00-20:00
Surrender yourself to pitching! Slush 100 is a pitching competition for startups, and as you can guess by the name, it’s about 100 early-stage startups pitching to get funding. First round of Slush 100 will be held at Kamppi Shopping Centre, and only 15 startups will make it to the semifinals at Slush. And there will be science too! The winner of Research Pitching Competition 2018 Sandra Jernström can’t obviously get enough of pitching, because this year she is participating Slush 100 with her startup Flexpenser. Sandra’s show time is 17.15, be there!
Where? Kamppi Shopping Centre, Urho Kekkosen katu 1
Research Pitching Goes to Church
18:00-20:00
Research belongs everywhere, including the church! This premiere event of Research Pitching Competition by Slush & Skolar brings the brilliant eight finalists of the competition to Kallio Church, where they pitch their wild research ideas for the first time in public – and only in 3 minutes. This is a chance to learn new things about science in a very unique setting, and get a sneak peak of the research pitches competing for a €100K Skolar Award. Free entry!
Where? The Borough // Kallio Church, Itäinen papinkatu 2
Thursday Nov 21st
Investing in deeptech: why and how?
10:25-10:55
Deeptech refers to companies that are based on scientific discoveries. The startups of tomorrow are being built in labs, and that’s why investors also want to invest in companies with a strong scientific background. In this discussion Maryanna Saenko, Co-founder of Future Ventures and Sofia Hmich, Founder of Future Positive Capital, share their approaches to navigating the inherent complexity of deeptech investing with Gené Teare of Crunchbase.
Where? Founder Stage at Slush
Bioscience: A fireside with Xavier Duportet
15:10-15:35
Xavier Duportet is a co-founder and CEO of Eligo Bioscience and a pioneer in the biotech industry. Eligo Bioscience is a spin-off from MIT and the Rockefeller University, where they have developed a system that involves genetic edition techniques and nanotechnology. Duportet is also a president of Hello Tomorrow, a global organisation dedicated to leveraging deep technologies to solve world challenges.
Where? Quantum Stage at Slush
Showcase studio
All day
Showcase studio is a space for selected startups to present their products, focusing on the journey behind the development. And as we know, behind many great innovations lies research! Check out for example this Life Science session, which promises to change how you see biological sciences.
Where? Showcase Studio at Slush
Friday Nov 22nd
Slush Y Science
9:00-12:00
This event brings together the curious scientific community, startups and investors in the field of life science. You’ll hear thrilling keynotes and witness a pitching competition of pre and early-stage startups competing for a €30K prize. Slush Y Science is an official side event of Slush, so it’s happening next to the main Slush area at the Messukeskus Siipi congress centre. Entry is free but requires reserving your spot to the event on their website.
Where? Messukeskus Siipi congress centre
Final of Research Pitching Competition by Slush & Skolar
13:00-14.30
The main science and research session at Slush! Postdoc researchers from different fields of science compete for a whopping €100K Skolar Award to fund their research. You’ll hear eight ambitious research ideas pitched, comments from the jury of academic superstars and finally the announcing of the winner. And while the jury is making the final decision of the winner, you can enjoy an interesting panel discussion of how media could understand deeptech and science better. You don’t want to miss this!
Where? Quantum Stage at Slush