Are you joining Leuven MindGate at Slush 2024?
Every year Slush brings together the world's tech elite to Helsinki in Finland. And that's why the Leuven Innovation Region cannot miss out on this event!
Therefore, from Nov. 18 to 21, Leuven MindGate is going on a mission to Finland. During that week, Slush 2024, the largest event for startups in the world, will also be held. And you can join us!
Slush is renowned for bringing together a vast network of entrepreneurs, investors, and industry leaders from across the globe. The event is expected to attract around 15,000 participants, including 5,500 startups and 3,300 investors.
But that's not all... We will also have high-level interactions with representatives from Flanders Investment & Trade, the sustainable and innovative city of Espoo, Aalto University, and many more, tailor-made to the needs of the Leuven Innovation Region.
We will provide a complete program from A to Z, and you will let yourself be swept up in the unique start-up and entrepreneurial atmosphere in wintry Helsinki!
Preliminary program - 90% scheduled
Monday 18/11 - TRAVEL DAY
- AM - Traveling from Brussels Airport to Helsinki
- PM - Arrival and settling in at the Radisson RED hotel in Helsinki
- EVE - Dinner with the Leuven Innovation Region group
Tuesday 19/11 - ESPOO DAY
- AM - Visit to Espoo, with a split program based on the group's interests and concerns
- Entrepreneurial Track > Enter Espoo helps companies, investors, visitors, and travel professionals to access business opportunities and exciting adventures in Espoo's innovation region. Sounds familiar, doesn't it? We will learn from Espoo's experiences on how to guide companies in their entrepreneurial journey. We will also share our best practices as a European Capital of Innovation in a truly 'Leuven & Beyond' way.
- Policy Track > Exchange of experiences between professionals and policy-makers from Leuven and Espoo. Both cities are facing the same challenges, especially on themes like 'war for talent' and 'climate'. Interactions and exchanges of ideas will be focused on these two themes, learning from each other with a specific approach.
- Academic Track > Visit to the Aalto University, ranked #113 in QS World University Rankings 2025. The focus will lie on how both Leuven and Aalto/Espoo transform their academic ideas into workable startups and entrepreneurial succes stories. What is the role of the Tech Transfer Offices in both regions and how can we learn from each other to generate even more succes stories?
- LUNCH - Belgian-Finnish lunch with entrepreneurs, scientists and policy-makers from both regions
- PM - 'Slush Tour' walk around the city of Espoo OR free time to work/relax
- PM - Visit to the NOKIA Espoo Executive Experience Center to engage with the Nokia executive team and explore the full range of Nokia solutions for communications service providers, enterprises, partners, and governments. (in negotation)
- EVE - Dinner and transfer to hotel
Wednesday 20/11 - SLUSH DAY 1
- AM - Departure to Slush and experiencing the Slush Opening Ceremony
- ALL DAY - You can walk around Slush and experience the different booths, international renowned speakers and interactive sessions.
- EVE - Belgian Dinner (for selected guests only, the selection is made by FIT) and Belgian Beer Night (for everyone)
Transfer to hotel.
Thursday 21/11 - SLUSH DAY 2 & TRAVEL DAY
- AM - Departure to Slush or free time to work
- ALL DAY - You can walk around Slush and experience the different booths, international renowned speakers and interactive sessions.
- EVE - Gather at Slush for departure to Helsinki Airport
- 20:50 - Flight to Brussels International Airport
- 22:30 - Arrival in Brussels
We are looking for 5 startups who want to join us on this trip!
Are you a startup from the Leuven Innovation Region that ticks off these boxes?
- Involved in health, hightech or creativity
- Based in the Leuven Innovation Region
- You have not yet raised a Series A funding round
- You are willing to explore funding opportunities at the biggest startup event in the world
- You want to be connected with Leuven MindGate's finest selection of entrepreneurs, policy makers and academic decision-makers
Then this STARTUP DEAL is for you!
- € 1.050 all inclusive deal, especially for startups! We want to give you a financial incentive to not miss out on this opportunity.
- Including:
- Flights from Brussels to Helsinki and back, economy class, Finnair
- 3 nights at the Radisson RED Hotel in Helsinki
- 2-day Entrance Ticket to Slush 2024, worth €395 pp.
- Transfer by metro in the city of Helsinki and Espoo
- Meals and dinners, included in the program (meals at the airport and in your free time are not included)
- Visits to Espoo, NOKIA, et cetera and countless interactions with startups, entrepreneurs and policy decision makers in one of the most innovative countries in the world
- Flights from Brussels to Helsinki and back, economy class, Finnair
ATTENTION! We only allow companies that fit with the DNA of the whole program. A selection between the applicants will be made by Leuven MindGate, Flanders Investment & Trade and Slush themselves. Because Slush has strict rules whether you can apply for a startup ticket or not.
So the first selection of the applicants will be done by Leuven MindGate: your application to join us should reach us before September 1st via jan@leuvenmindgate.be .
We are looking for 5 bigshot companies who want to join us on this trip!
Are you a bigshot from the Leuven Innovation Region that ticks off these boxes?
- Involved in health, hightech or creativity
- Based in the Leuven Innovation Region
- You are not a startup anymore, which means you have the means to pay extra to make sure our startups can join at a discounted price
- You are willing to explore funding and networking opportunities at the biggest startup event in the world
- You want to be connected with Leuven MindGate's finest selection of entrepreneurs, policy makers and academic decision-makers
Then this BIGSHOT DEAL is for you!
- € 3.425 all inclusive deal! Thanks to the Leuven MindGate connections with the Espoo and Helsinki ecosystem, we have managed a discount deal on Slush tickets - that's why prices are low!
- Including:
- Flights from Brussels to Helsinki and back, economy class, Finnair
- 3 nights at the Radisson RED Hotel in Helsinki
- 2-day Entrance Ticket to Slush 2024, worth €1.095 pp. for non-startups
- Transfer by metro in the city of Helsinki and Espoo
- Meals and dinners, included in the program (meals at the airport and in your free time are not included)
- Visits to Espoo, NOKIA, et cetera and countless interactions with startups, entrepreneurs and policy decision makers in one of the most innovative countries in the world
- Flights from Brussels to Helsinki and back, economy class, Finnair
ATTENTION! We only allow companies that fit with the DNA of the whole program. A selection between the applicants will be made by Leuven MindGate, Flanders Investment & Trade and Slush themselves.
So the first selection of the applicants will be done by Leuven MindGate: your application to join us should reach us before September 1st via jan@leuvenmindgate.be .
Related Events
Exclusive networking luncheon with His Excellency FEI Shengchao, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China in Belgium.
BrightMinds Netwerkevent ft. Jan Verlinden (Ritchie) and Danny Lein (Twipe)
Leuven MindGate's Mega MashUp
How can we help?
The Leuven MindGate team is at your disposal for any questions about the Leuven Innovation Region. Do you want to invest, work or study in the region? We can help you find your way.
We also facilitate collaboration and innovation between companies, knowledge institutes and government within the Leuven Innovation Region, and we are happy to guide any of these stakeholders towards innovation.