Slush lands in the Bilbao for the first edition of the event with over 200 investors and over 150 startups
Bilbao will host the first edition of Slush in our region on February 20. The event will feature renowned figures such as Peter Vesterbacka (founder of Slush and Angry Birds) and Agur Jõgi (CTO of Pipedrive), in addition to a startup competition and an innovative reverse pitch, where investors present their theses to entrepreneurs.
Slush, the renowned global innovation gathering held annually in Helsinki, Finland, has chosen the ecosystem of Bizkaia and Bilbao as the host for the celebration of its first edition in the region.
Thanks to the support of the Basque Government, through its business development agency SPRI, the Provincial Council of Bizkaia, and the Bilbao City Council, Bilbao Slush'D will take place on February 20th at the Bilbao Exhibition Centre (BEC). Here, over 200 international investors including VCs, venture debt, corporate venture capital and business angels will meet with more than 150 startups and key players in international innovation, creating a bridge between Southern Europe and the Nordic-Baltic ecosystems.
Bilbao Slush'D is an extension of the global event Slush, designed to accelerate the growth of startups and connect local innovation ecosystems with the international community. In Euskadi, the event will adapt to the unique characteristics of the region, facilitating the connection between the Nordic-Baltic ecosystems and the entrepreneurial dynamism of a leading innovation hub in southern Europe, supported by entrepreneurship policies and the drive of its businesses and startups.
AN EVENT BACKED BY ECOSYSTEM LEADERS
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Bilbao Slush'D will feature a comprehensive program of panels with world-class experts, a startup competition, interactive workshops dedicated to scalability, sustainability, and global business models, and networking sessions that will boost strategic collaboration and the global transformation of the ecosystem.
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Among the most notable activities is the pitch competition, where startups can stand out and gain visibility through the EmprendeXXI Awards, awarded in collaboration with CaixaBank DayOne, ENISA and SPRI, as well as the innovative reverse pitch, where investors will share the investment thesis of their funds with participating startups.
The event, led by BayLoop Ventures and its founders Elena Popovici and David Cabezón, also has the institutional backing of the Bizkaia Business Confederation (CEBEK), BBK, and strategic partners such as ICEX, Endeavor, Google for Startups, Deloitte, Letslaw and Letsfinance.
In addition, the Embassy of Finland in Spain, Business Finland, Team Iberia, the Republic of Estonia (through its global entrepreneurship program, e-Residency), the Ministry of Industry and Tourism (through ENISA), and CaixaBank DayOne also collaborate, with the aim of strengthening the entrepreneurial and technological ecosystem.
INTERNATIONAL EXPERTS AND VISIONARIES OF THE ECOSYSTEM
At Bilbao Slush'D, speakers of the caliber of the founder of the event and creator of Angry Birds, Peter Vesterbacka; Softonic's CEO, Fiona Garvey; the co-founder and investor of Penneo and Sepior, Nicolaj Højer Nielsen; the ambassador of Finland in Spain, Sari Rautio; and as headliners, Agur Jõgi, CTO of Pipedrive, one of the 10 Estonian unicorns; Wouter Draijer, founder of SolarMente and Laura Kankaala, Director of Threat Intelligence at F-Secure Corporation, one of the world's leading experts in cybersecurity, will participate.
On a national and international level, Slushu2019D will have funds from the likes of JME Ventures, Notion Capital, Tenity, Plug and Play, Kfund, Adara Ventures, Comet VC, Lumo Labs, Cardumen Capital, Enzo Ventures, Perseo Ventures (Iberdrola), G+D Ventures, Acurio Ventures, Actus or Encomenda Capital Partners, who will be part of this edition under the North-to-North strategy. Additionally, activities inherent to its founding essence will be developed, such as the BBK Unicorn Night or its unmistakable Afterparty.
BBK UNICORN NIGHT: DRIVE OF CONNECTIONS FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
BBK Unicorn Night, an official event of Bilbao Slush'D, was originally created at the Hanken Business School in Finland and is now sponsored by BBK and supported by the Republic of Estonia in our region.
This pre-event, taking place on February 19th, will bring together visionary founders, investors, and leaders from the Nordic ecosystem and beyond. Its aim is to highlight the potential of Basque and Estonian startups, fostering cross-border synergies that promote sustainability and inclusion.
With a focus on sustainable growth, BBK Unicorn Night will feature presentations, roundtable discussions, and networking opportunities designed to inspire collaboration and innovation towards a better future.
Founders of Bilbao SLUSH'D: Merging Nordic Innovation with Local Entrepreneurship Spirit
"Bilbao Slush'D 2025 is not just an event, it is the meeting point where the Basque Country connects with the world. We merge Nordic innovation with local entrepreneurial spirit, building bridges between business cultures, catapulting startups towards global scalability, and positioning Euskadi as the epicenter of innovation, sustainability, and disruptive impact," assures Elena Popovici, co-director of Bilbao Slush'D 2025.
"This event proves that being small does not limit us, but rather allows us to be agile, bold, and disruptive. Here, we connect with the most visionary investors, founders, and venture capitalists, challenging the norms to create scalable innovation and build the future. From Euskadi to the unicorn factory of Europe and onto the world," says David Cabezón, co-director of Bilbao Slush'D 2025.