From Zwolle to Slush: An Ecosystem at Work
Every November, so also next week, Helsinki becomes the meeting point of European tech: more than 12.000 attendees, 5.800 startups and 3.300 investors in one place: Slush. Supported by GT4T, a Dutch delegation of startups from the ZWINC community in Zwolle, the Netherlands, will join this year’s event on 18 and 19 November. They go to Helsinki to raise funding and connect with (potential) investors, partners and customers.
Slush operates as a launchpad for talent, giving young people their first step into the startup world, whether they go on to become founders, operators, or VCs. Every year they organize the world’s leading startup event, bringing together a curated crowd of European startups, world-class investors, and tech journalists. So this is exactly the right place to be for young tech startups joining ZWINC.
ZWINC stands for Zwolle Incubator, founded by GT4T partner Windesheim University of Applied Sciences, the Province of Overijssel, and the Municipality of Zwolle. They help startups in manufacturing and IT to launch, build, and grow. Last year, they also joined the Slush event in Helsinki and this was very successful. With support from the GT4T project, several entrepreneurs had the opportunity to present themselves to investors and companies from across Europe.
Startups do not grow solely because of a great idea. They grow through access to knowledge, talent, capital, and connected networks. That is exactly where ZWINC’s strength lies. And that is where GT4T makes a difference: by connecting startups with knowledge institutions, experts, and international networks. What you see at Slush is not a coincidence, but the result of a system that works.
As Anno Visser of Formal Molding who joined last year’s event puts it:
“For me, this was a completely new and highly impressive experience. I am proud to have been part of the delegation representing the Netherlands. I had many interesting conversations, made valuable new connections, and it has given me a much clearer sense of direction for where I want to take my startup.” With this experience in mind, another delegation will soon be heading to Helsinki for new opportunities