Issue 01 2017
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ISSUE 01 2017 SLUSH Partially melted snow or ice: ‘the snow on the ground was turning into brown slush’ An energetic gathering of world-conquering founders: ‘Despite the crazy weather, I made it to Slush and met my future Co-founder.’ PHOTO BY KAI KUUSISTO KAI BY PHOTO NOBODY IN THEIR RIGHT MIND WOULD COME TO HELSINKI IN NOVEMBER That’s where it all started. Slush grew from the and Shanghai join this movement with the same idea of cultural change: creating a grassroots mindset: for startup community by the community. movement to serve the next generation of founders Not all Slushes are alike though. And now I’m not and an environment that strongly supports talking about the weather. Each city and each entrepreneurship. We wanted to create something community adds its own local flavor to the global authentic and frantic. So Slush was born, amidst network. Be it the cherry blossoms of Japan or the the dark and slushy Nordics. rhythms of Jamaica, we always like to throw some Over the past seven years, Slush has grown spices into the mix of entrepreneurs and tech. from a 300-person gathering to become a global This magazine was created to fulfill the times of community organizing more than 40 events with anticipation as we are waiting for the next Slush +30,000 attendees all around the world from to fall. I hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoyed Singapore to South Africa. It’s truly humbling writing it. to see the next generation in cities like Tokyo Marianne CEO, Slush — 4 — — 5 — TABLE OF CONTENTS PHOTO BY JUSSI RATILAINEN JUSSI BY PHOTO 08Slush Globally 2016 Startups32 & Investors The46 Next Track in Music Hustling Near and Far Touring in Europe Behind the Energy of Slush The Founder Blossom in Japan WINDOW TO THE FUTURE. 12 34 48 — BBC Hustling Near and Far The Most Humid14 Slush Season in Singapore Column:38 Niklas Zennström 50This is Talkoot Hustling Near and Far The State of European Tech The Slush Flight Chasing16 Shanghai Knights 40 52 Hustling Near and Far Column: Ela Madej Partners Welcome18 to the North 42 54 22On stage at Slush Slush44 Global Impact Accelerator — 6 — — 7 — SLUSH GLOBALLY ICELAND NORWAY SWEDEN FINLAND IN 2016 DENMARK ENGLAND NETHERLANDS GERMANY USA SERBIA JAPAN TUNISIA LEBANON CHINA NEPAL PAKISTAN MEXICO BANGLADESH JAMAICA SENEGAL INDIA VIETNAM ETHIOPIA NIGERIA SRI LANKA KENYA TANZANIA SINGAPORE BRAZIL ZAMBIA MOZAMBIQUE SOUTH AFRICA — 8 — — 9 — PHOTO BY PETRI ANTTILA BY PHOTO IT’S MIND BLOWING, ABSOLUTELY MIND BLOWING. — Riccardo Zacconi, Founder & CEO of King — 10 — — 11 — HUSTLING NEAR AND FAR THE FOUNDER BLOSSOM IN JAPAN TOKYO 2016 4,000 ATTENDEES 100 INVESTORS 360 STARTUPS 200 JOURNALISTS PHOTOS BY PETRI ANTTILA BY PHOTOS Organized for the first time in 2015, over 3,000 entrepreneurs, investors, journalists, and youth from almost 40 countries came together in Tokyo. This marked a new chapter of sparking dialogues between startup communities across Asia and the world. Founding a startup is still a rare I FEEL THAT THE PEOPLE career choice in Japan, and Slush Tokyo wants to change that by building new role models, a community of support, and HERE WILL FURTHER maintaining a high level of ambition. CHANGE SOCIETY WITH In 2017, Slush Tokyo will be grander than ever, as over 5,000 visitors along with 500 OLDIE BUT GOLDIE ENTREPRENEURSHIP. startups, 200 investors, media and tech This is where it all started talent from around the world are expected to – Slush Tokyo was the first DID YOU KNOW? DID YOU — Akie Abe, attend during March 29–30, 2017. global event of Slush. First lady of Japan — 12 — — 13 — HUSTLING NEAR AND FAR IT HAS NEVER BEEN A BETTER THE MOST TIME TO BE AN ENTREPRENEUR. — Nikesh Arora, HUMID SLUSH Former President & COO at SoftBank Group Corp. SEASON IN SINGAPORE In 2016, Slush made its debut in Southeast Asia as the first ever Slush Singapore was organized in September. In only 101 days 200 volunteers built an event that gathered over 2,000 attendees from Southeast Asia and beyond. Today, Southeast Asia is attracting a huge amount of funding and top tech talent to its rapidly developing markets. Singapore is a perfect launchpad for connecting the Western tech scene and businesses with regional ones. The purpose of Slush Singapore is to encourage local founders, raise questions and show inspiring examples of SINGAPORE 2016 entrepreneurship. Slush wants to unite the next generation of game-changers and invite everyone 2,000 ATTENDEES in the local startup community to participate. 215 INVESTORS 150 STARTUPS 60 JOURNALISTS In 2017, Slush Singapore will grow and see exciting new verticals as the event returns on 19 September 2017 at Marina Bay Sands Expo, during the Singapore Week of Innovation and Technology. — 14 — — 15 — THIS IS THE PLACE WHERE THINGS HAPPEN. — Mengqiu Wang, Founder & CEO of Zero Zero Robotics HUSTLING NEAR AND FAR CHASING SHANGHAI 2016 5,000 ATTENDEES 360 INVESTORS SHANGHAI 270 STARTUPS KNIGHTS 120 JOURNALISTS Slush Shanghai was another launch in 2016. It was the second Slush event in China as we packed our bags and moved from Beijing to a new city. The country offers an intriguing setting for PHOTOS BY PETRI ANTTILA BY PHOTOS the event as the startup scene in the country is thriving. Moreover, it’s the place that giants such as Alibaba, Tencent, and Weibo call home. With over 5,000 attendees from 48 different countries, Slush Shanghai was the most international startup and technology event to date in China. This fall, the celebration of great minds reaches China again in October, heating the spirit up to its new potential. — 16 — — 17 — PHOTO BY JUSSI HELLSTEN JUSSI BY PHOTO HUSTLING NEAR AND FAR WELCOME TO THE NORTH Roughly nine years ago, Slush was born and raised in Helsinki by a group of entrepreneurs who realized that there was nothing that supported the local entrepreneurs in what they did. Slush started out as a 300-person IT’S CRAZY. event. The focus was on bringing the founders together and attracting venture capitalists to the region to help the next generation of world- IT’S BIG. conquering entrepreneurs succeed. Today, Slush in Helsinki is a two-day startup and investor event organized IT’S AWESOME. every November, accompanied by hundreds of side events. Described by many as “Burning Man meets TED”, the event has grown in just a few — Daniel Ek, short years to 17,500 attendees, bringing together the leading actors of the Founder of Spotify global tech scene to Helsinki for something very special. This year, for the 10th time, Slush opens its doors to a Nordic tech wonderland. HELSINKI 2016 PHOTO BY SAMULI PENTTI SAMULI BY PHOTO 17,500 ATTENDEES 1,140 INVESTORS 2,330 STARTUPS 610 JOURNALISTS PHOTO BY KAI KUUSISTO KAI BY PHOTO PHOTO BY JUSSI HELLSTEN JUSSI BY PHOTO HELLSTEN JUSSI BY PHOTO — 18 — — 19 — PHOTO BY KAI KUUSISTO KAI BY PHOTO I’VE SPOKEN ON A LOT OF STAGES. BUT NONE OF THEM HAVE EVER BEEN ON FIRE. WHOA. — Chris Sacca, Founder of Lowercase Capital — 20 — — 21 — CHRIS SACCA AKIKO NAKA Founder & Chairman of Lowercase Capital PHOTO BY JUSSI RATILAINEN JUSSI BY PHOTO Founder of Wantedly PHOTO BY SAMI HEISKANEN SAMI BY PHOTO PHOTO BY MERI BJORN BY PHOTO PHOTO BY SAMI HEISKANEN SAMI BY PHOTO JIAN WANG Chairman of technology steering committee, Alibaba Group DANAE RINGELMANN Co-founder of Indiegogo PHOTO BY KAI KUUSISTO KAI BY PHOTO ON STAGE KUUSISTO KAI BY PHOTO AT SLUSH ILKKA PAANANEN DANIEL EK NIKLAS ZENNSTRÖM CEO & Co-Founder of Supercell Founder of Spotify Co-Founder of Skype & Atomico ARIELLE ZUCKERBERG Partner at Kleiner Perkins — 22 — — 23 — PHOTO BY JUSSI RATILAINEN JUSSI BY PHOTO PHOTO BY KAI KUUSISTO KAI BY PHOTO CATERINA FAKE Co-founder of Flickr & Hunch STEVE JURVETSON Partner at DFJ PHOTO BY KAI KUUSISTO KAI BY PHOTO DI-ANN EISNOR Director of Growth at Waze PHOTO BY SAMULI PENTTI SAMULI BY PHOTO UMA VALETI CEO & Co-founder of Memphis Meats — 24 — — 25 — PHOTO BY KAI KUUSISTO KAI BY PHOTO PHOTO BY SAMI VÄLIKANGAS SAMI BY PHOTO SANGU DELLE Founder & CEO of Golden Palm Investments SEBASTIAN SIEMIATKOWSKI Co-founder of Klarna PHOTO BY MAIJA ASTIKAINEN MAIJA BY PHOTO PHOTO BY SAMI HEISKANEN SAMI BY PHOTO JULIET DE BAUBIGNY Partner at Kleiner Perkins MOOD ROWGHANI General Partner at Kleiner Perkins NAVEEN JAIN VÄLIKANGAS SAMI BY PHOTO PHOTO BY SAMI VÄLIKANGAS SAMI BY PHOTO Founder of Moon Express BEEZER CLARKSON Managing Director at Sapphire Ventures — 26 — — 27 — PHOTO BY PETRI ANTTILA BY PHOTO MIX OF FANTASTIC NETWORKING, SPEAKERS AND STARTUPS. — TechCrunch — 28 — — 29 — TAKING COMPANIES OJALA JOONAS BY PHOTO TO THE NEXT LEVEL Slush is built for entrepreneurs by entrepreneurs. The event is designed for industries and growing companies at all stages. Whether you are looking for investors, customers, media exposure or mentoring, Slush offers a unique opportunity to reach a global audience and engage with the tech community. INSTEAD OF TRAVELLING AROUND EUROPE AND THE U.S. MEETING INVESTORS, THEY ARE HERE. — Patrik Berglund, Co-founder & CEO of Xeneta — 30 — — 31 — PHOTO BY SAMULI PENTTI SAMULI BY PHOTO GLOBALLY HELLSTEN JUSSI BY PHOTO 3,110 1,815 STARTUPS INVESTORS FROM 85 COUNTRIES 49% VENTURE CAPITALISTS 35% ANGELS 11% CVC 5% M&A WORKING 6,314 OR 1,82 YEARS INVESTOR-STARTUP WORTH OF VC MEETINGS MEETINGS IN 5 DAYS 76% OF INVESTORS FOUND STARTUPS WORTH INVESTING IN. Facilitating meetings between investors and startups is THE SLUSH at the very core of Slush. In 2016 alone, there were 1.82 working years of VC meetings during the Slush global events.