The date is already set: September 3, 2024. The places also: the first Italian edition of Slush’D will be held in Bolzanohosted by WE Techpark And Bolzano Fair. The South Tyrolean capital is thus preparing to welcome Slush’D, an unprecedented event in the Italian panorama of innovation and entrepreneurship. Slush was born in 2008 in Finland, a country that has always been at the top in the world for investments in innovation, as an expression of a non-profit movement led by students to unite the business and academic worlds in an unconventional way. An event that has grown strongly over the years: from the 300 participants of the first edition, the Finnish platform has managed to expand to attract, in 2022, more than 20 thousand visitors, 5 thousand startups, 3 thousand investors and 300 accredited media.
Cristian Frigo
Bringing the brand to Italy for the first time is a team of young professionals who, after having trained in Italy and abroad, have come together with the shared objective of contributing positively to the entrepreneurial environment and innovation, both locally and nationally. The goal is to achieve 500 companies involved between innovative startups, investors, business managers, venture capital funds, accelerators, incubators and institutional representatives. Slush’D’s primary objective is to promote innovation and entrepreneurial ambition, creating a bridge between key players in the local, national and international ecosystem, with a particular focus on the DACH region (Germany, Austria, and Switzerland). The South Tyrolean capital will thus become the nerve center where ideas, projects and visions will compare, fueling the growth and development of new frontiers in the field of entrepreneurial innovation. The first Italian edition focuses on four: Climate & Greentech, Food & AgTech, Digital & Automation, Sport & Mountain Tech. Open the possibility of pre-registration on the website dedicated to the event: https://www.bolzanoslushd.com/
«We believe in the role of our country as an innovative ecosystem – he explains Cristian Frigo, Co-founder and CEO of Bolzano Slush’D –. We are equally convinced that bringing an event already so deeply rooted at an international level to Italy for the first time could represent an important opportunity for startups, investors and companies. The choice to do it in Bolzano, a central crossroads at European level, will also allow us to put Italian realities in contact with those of the entire DACH region, thus comparing perhaps different points of view, but with a minimum common denominator: the desire to innovate”.
«We at Slush HQ are thrilled to attend the first Slush’D event in Italy and to delve deeper into the regional startup ecosystem of Northern Italy – he comments Stella Korpikuusi, Expansion Lead at Slush HQ –. We have full confidence that the excellent Bolzano Slush’D team can deliver an experience to remember for founders and other ecosystem stakeholders, full of important learnings and connections.”
THE ORGANIZING TEAM
Organizing Slush’D is a group of young students and innovators who got to know Slush as volunteers, then fell in love with the project until they obtained the license to organize the first Italian edition. The team, twelve people but constantly expanding, is mainly made up of a mix of alumni from the Universities of Bolzano and Trento, a team of young professionals who, after having trained in Italy and abroad, have come together with the shared goal to contribute positively to the business environment and innovation, both locally and nationally. The founders are Cristian Frigo, Serena Galli and Stefano Ceravolo, three young Italian professionals who, after spending several years studying and working abroad, came together with the common aim of bringing value back to the country that raised them.
Communication partner of Slush’D is Blum, consultancy company that supports companies, research centers and organizations in the Italian innovative ecosystem through communication.
THE DAY’S PROGRAM
Slush’D includes a day full of activities with an intense programme, thanks also to the support of the Free University of Bolzano, which includes round tables, networking opportunities, presentations of startups and innovative companies, talent discovery and numerous activities dedicated to investors. The first part of the day will focus on NOI Techpark, a hub where work and research focus on technological innovation. The evening, however, will take place at Fiera Bolzano with a dinner dedicated to investors and an after-party, the closing party of the event. A unique opportunity to meet like-minded people who share a common goal: shaping the future.
(cover image: Samuli Pentii)
