EXPLORE FINLAND / 2026
A focused market-access journey connecting technology startups with Finland’s innovation, investment, and corporate ecosystem along with SLUSH 2026
MARKET ACCESS ROUTE
MF / 26
SLUSH
HELSINKI
TAMPERE
DATES: 16 - 21 NOV
LAST DATE TO APPLY: 07 OCT 2026
06
DAYS OF ACCESS
02
CITIES ON THE MAP
30+
CURATED CONNECTIONS
THE PREMISE
Explore Finland is a compact, high-context journey for founders ready to move beyond surface-level introductions.
You’ll meet the people, places, and operating logic that turn curiosity into a credible next step.
THE AGENDA
What to expect
A deliberate mix of context, access, and honest conversations — built to make your next move sharper.
DAY 01 & 02 /
HELSINKI IMMERSION
Access Helsinki
Curated meetings with founders, investors, operators, and ecosystem builders who understand the terrain.
DAY 03 & 04 /
SLUSH PARTICIPATION
Slush Event
Trade the pitch deck for a grounded view of the culture, capital, and collaboration patterns behind the headlines.
DAY 05 /
TAMPERE IMMERSION
Access Tampere
Engage with Startup Tampere in a new city to understand how Finland could be beyond Helsinki and Slush.
DAY 06 /
CULTURAL EXPERIENCE
Culture Day
Trade the pitch deck for a grounded view of the culture, capital, and collaboration patterns.
Why this week
Because context compounds. The right week can compress months of wandering into a few meaningful moves.
01 / SIGNAL
Signal over noise.
A smaller ecosystem can make the meaningful patterns easier to see.
02 / TRUST
Trust moves faster.
The culture rewards clarity, preparation, and a direct answer to ‘why here?’
03 / TIMING
The timing is now.
Finland’s innovation and investment networks are open to new, thoughtful participants.
06
WEEKS OF FOCUS
ONE FINLAND-SHAPED
NEXT MOVE
Who it’s for
For founders who want to enter with intent — not just arrive with a calendar.
01 / FOUNDERS
Building something with range.
You have a product, a point of view, and a reason Finland might matter now.
02 / OPERATORS
Looking for the signal.
You know your category. You want a sharper read on where the real energy is gathering.
03 / CONNECTORS
Ready to make it mutual.
You value thoughtful introductions, generous context, and a long-term view of partnership.
04 / TEAMS
Moving from interest to action.
You’re prepared to follow up, experiment, and keep the relationship alive after the trip.
A passive study tour. This is for people willing to bring a real question, sit with complexity, and do the follow-through.
Why Finland
A high-trust, high-ambition environment where thoughtful founders can get unusually close to the signal.
01
Trust is infrastructure.
Straight answers, strong institutions, and a culture that values substance.
02
Talent travels well.
A globally minded, technically deep talent base with a collaborative edge.
03
Climate is a catalyst.
The next generation of solutions is being built in a place that takes the future seriously.
04
Small enough to focus.
The ecosystem is compact by design, making meaningful relationships possible in a short span of time.
06 / MAKE THE MOVE
Ready to explore Finland?
Bring the question you can’t answer from a distance. We’ll help you get closer to the people and context that can.
Applications open for the 2026 edition · Stockholm → Helsinki · Limited cohort
