How to network at Slush. How to get the most out of Slush as an early stage startup
I’ve attended Slush three times now, and I’ve learned a lot on how to get the most out of it as an early stage startup founder.
Slush is one of the most well-known startup conferences in the world. It’s held every year in Helsinki and brings together more than 13,000 founders, investors, operators, and tech talent from around the globe.
What makes Slush different is its pace. It is a high-intensity event where nearly everyone’s calendar is packed before the doors even open. If you are planning to wing it, you will get left behind. You’ll find it hard to casually bump into investors or decision-makers and just "get lucky" with your pitch since everyone who’s there to do business is always headed to the next meeting. From my experience, every conversation that leads to something meaningful has been scheduled and prepared in advance.
I’ve attended Slush both while offering software development services with SauceSoft and while selling our sales automation SaaS product, MailMoo.
In both cases, I’ve used the same playbook to secure 20 to 25 meetings during the event and generate meaningful opportunities from those conversations.
Here’s how I approach Slush and what I’d recommend to other early-stage founders who want to make real use of the event.
1. Start matchmaking early and aim for volume
The most important feature at Slush is the official matchmaking tool. This is where the real business happens.
If you want to meet people who matter to your company, you need to start using it two to three weeks before the event. Waiting until the final week will leave you empty handed. By then, the people you want to meet the most are already booked for both days.
Personally, I’ve been able to schedule between 20 and 25 meetings across the two days. That may sound like a lot, but it’s the only way to make the trip worthwhile. Slush isn’t just about being there. It’s about making every hour count.
I try to maximise the meeting invite counts every morning and I actively browse the networking app’s most recent sign ups to quickly book time with relevant attendees before their calendars fill up. The less meetings they have the more likely they’ll accept your invitation.
2. Always set your meetings in the official Meeting Area with the tables
When you book meetings, make sure to select the Meeting Area with the tables as the location. The 1-on-1 Point is too crowded and you can’t properly have a meeting there standing up, especially if you need to show your product from your laptop.
You only get 20 minutes per meeting. Make sure you use every one of them talking, not wandering around, especially if they’re scheduled back to back so you’re not in a too big of a hurry.
3. Prioritize your most important meetings for the first day
Day one is the best time for deep, focused conversations. People are fresher, more alert, and more open to new ideas.
By the second day, everyone starts to feel the fatigue and maybe a small hangover from the previous night’s afterparties. Meetings still happen, but the quality and focus drop.
That’s why I always put my most important and strategic meetings on day one, and leave the lighter ones for day two. Also do not book meetings for the 2nd day’s morning. Many people go out to party after the event and won’t be at the event center. You’ll have a fairly high chance of no shows and it will be difficult to reschedule if their calendar is already full.
4. Don’t rely on bumping into people
At Slush everyone is scheduled to the minute. If you try to casually talk to someone, there’s a good chance they’ll cut the conversation short because they’re late for the next thing.
This also applies to the afterparty. While you might meet interesting people there, most attendees are either tired or sticking to their own group. It’s going to be hard to close deals or book next steps over drinks.
If you’re short on meetings or not in one, here’s a tip on how to get into conversations with random people:
Go to the free coffee/water line every time you are not in a meeting. There’s usually a queue and you can start chatting to person next to you and they are not going to be able to leave since they are also waiting in line.
5. Plan the follow-up before the meeting ends
This is one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned.
If you want your meetings to turn into actual business, you need to clearly define what happens next before the meeting ends. It’s not enough to say “Let’s stay in touch” or “I’ll send something later.”
Because here’s the reality: everyone at Slush is having 15 or 20 meetings. If your conversation wasn’t the most valuable one of the day, they’re going to forget it by the time the event ends.
The best-case scenario is to book a follow-up call or meeting into the calendar before you leave the table. If they’re hesitant to book immediately, which is common because post-Slush weeks are busy for everyone, at least agree on when and how you’ll follow up. Be specific.
Something like: “Let’s touch base the week after Slush on Wednesday. I’ll send over an invite and some notes from this discussion.”
Always leave the meeting with a next step in writing. Otherwise, you’re relying on luck.
6. Don’t get distracted by the stage content
Slush puts on great stage shows and keynotes. They’re inspiring, well-produced, and worth watching if you have time.
But if you’re an early-stage founder with a product to sell or a service to pitch, the real return on investment comes from meetings.
Prioritize them. Protect them. Skip all talks talks if you have to. This is your time to connect with people who can move your company forward.
Final thoughts
Slush is intense. It’s fast-paced, packed with talent, and full of opportunity. But it only delivers results if you treat it like a business trip, not just an event.
The best outcomes don’t come from walking around or hoping to get lucky. They come from preparation, precision, and follow-through.
Build your schedule early. Meet people with purpose. And always have a next step.