Slush 2024 Journey Song

Reflecting on Slush 2024: A Day of Innovation, Collaboration, and Impact 

On November 20th, Özlem and I found ourselves immersed in the electrifying atmosphere of Slush—our third visit to this extraordinary event. Known as the world’s leading startup festival, Slush isn’t just a conference; it’s a meticulously curated ecosystem designed to connect innovators, investors, and entrepreneurs.

From the moment we stepped in, the energy was palpable. Slush kicked off with a spectacular dance, sound, and light show, setting the tone for a fast-paced day. The space itself, laid out as a futuristic maze of meeting zones, stages, and startup booths, felt like stepping into a utopia of ideas. The app, central to the experience, enabled participants to schedule 30-minute meetings, navigate the space, and connect seamlessly with others.

This is the journey song of the experience, for the full list of funds and startups we met see here.  For our journey song about House of Impact see here.

A Day in 25-Minute Slots

As the opening show ended, Özlem and I launched into separate tracks of meetings. My first was with Siena Secondary Fund, which shared an intriguing approach to secondary markets. This meeting was particularly eye-opening, as it sparked ideas on how their model could be adapted to the impact investment ecosystem—bridging catalytic investors and late-stage impact investors.

We regrouped at a session titled “Driving the Automotive Industry to Net Zero Emissions” by Soft Car. This innovative company doesn’t sell cars but licenses users to assemble their own vehicles—a fascinating business model reminiscent of a startup we met last year. Using the Slush app, I connected both startups, believing they could benefit from a conversation.

Building Relationships and Expanding Perspectives

Mid-morning, we had coffee with a partner from SystemIQ Capital, a firm we had come to learn about through one of our portfolio companies. With a shared interest in systemic thinking, the conversation was both inspiring and insightful. We invited them to join us at the House of Impact, laying the groundwork for future collaboration.

Afterward, we met several startups, including Greenzy, a house composting startup similar to Mill but focused on the European market, and Pionix, a standout portfolio company of Mobility Fund, in which we’re investors. These meetings provided valuable insights and follow-ups for the coming weeks.

Reflecting Over Plant-Based Burgers

One of the most anticipated moments of my Slush experience was a plant based lunch at Friends & Burgers. Özlem and I used this time to reflect on the morning’s learnings and fine-tune our afternoon strategy. On our way to lunch, we were thrilled to see a packed Impact Stage, a new addition that underscores the growing importance of impact within the startup ecosystem.

Supporting Homegrown Innovation

After lunch, we visited the Turkish delegation booths, meeting with founders to offer support and encouragement. We also connected with Turkish startups Palgea and 3PMetrics, whose journeys we’ve been following closely.

Spontaneity and Serendipity

One highlight was a spontaneous meeting with a startup introduced through a mutual friend. The startup had developed a product in a space we’ve been exploring for years, and it looks promising for future collaboration. Moments like this remind us why Slush is so special—opportunities seem to find you when you least expect them.

Speed Dating with Funds

Later, we joined the LP-GP speed dating sessions, meeting with funds like Marvelous, TA Ventures, Repeat Ventures, and others. It was fascinating to see how many funds now differentiate themselves through community-building rather than technology, a shift from the focus three years ago.

As impact investors, we used this platform to emphasize the importance of integrating impact into investment strategies, inviting several funds to explore collaboration at the House of Impact.

Wrapping Up

By the end of the day, Özlem and I had completed 18 meetings, declining three times as many requests due to time constraints. As we stepped outside into the icy slush that gives the event its name, we began responding to follow-up messages on the app, LinkedIn, and WhatsApp, setting the stage for the next wave of meetings and collaborations.

Slush 2024 was a whirlwind of inspiration, connections, and learnings—a testament to the power of collaboration and the boundless potential of innovation. We left with a sense of purpose and excitement, ready to turn these conversations into action.