Venture Nordics
A unique and effective opportunity for International Fund Managers and LPs interested in setting up their operations in the Nordics or investing in the Finnish VC funds.
Venture Nordics Program
Applications are now closed. The next application round starts this autumn.
Venture Nordics is the ultimate value add program for international investors to efficiently explore Europe’s most innovative high-performing tech ecosystem at Slush.
About the program
What is the Venture Nordics Program?
Venture Nordics is the top European program for investors tailored for international venture capitalists (VCs) seeking to establish operations in Europe and the Nordics, as well as for international limited partners (LPs) interested in investing in Nordic funds.
Held in Helsinki, Finland over seven days, the program offers exclusive networking events, introductions to Finnish LPs and VCs, and opportunities to meet top-performing startups and scale-ups from Helsinki.
Participants also receive complimentary access to Arctic15 and Slush, the largest startup and investor conferences in the Nordics.
Register your interest for the Venture Nordics 2025 – Arctic15 edition
The application period for Venture Nordics 2024 – Slush edition is now closed. We invite you to join the waitlist, to be among the first to know when applications reopen.
The next program will take place in Helsinki from late May to early June 2025, with the application period opening in autumn 2024.
The Venture Nordics Program offers a select few the opportunity to get to know the region with the highest number of unicorns outside Silicon Valley per capita globally. Complete the form to stay in touch with us and be among the first to find out when the Venture Nordics 2025 – Arctic15 edition applications reopen.
About the program
Meet the Venture Nordics 2024 – Slush edition participants
The second edition sparked major interest from global investors, but only 10 were selected from top-tier firms like Global Brains, MUIP, SparkLabs, Secways, Ion Pacific and many more. The program will have 10 participants—7 international VCs and 3 LPs—managing approx. €8 billion AUM.
The next edition of the program will be held in Helsinki from November 15–21. Here’s a preview of the events planned for the 7-day program.
Venture Nordics Program 2024 – Slush edition
Arrival to Helsinki
Day 0 | Nov 14
Get ready to embark on an adventure that sets the stage for an immersive program.
Welcome to Helsinki
Day 1 | Nov 15
This day begins with a warm welcome at our Helsinki office, followed by a roundtable with some of the notorious LPs in Finland and a networking sessions with the local VCs.
Cottage weekend
Day 2–3 | Nov 16–17
Enjoy the ultimate Finnish experience, a weekend retreat to a cottage, complete with sauna, swimming in the ice-cold water, and good company.
Deep-tech deep-dive
Day 4 | Nov 18
Explore Finland’s innovative ecosystem by meeting Helsinki-based successful deep-tech scale-ups and organisations dedicated to this field.
Investor Day at Slush
Day 5 | Nov 19
Investor Day aims to connect investors through peer-to-peer roundtables, venture-focused stage programs, pre-booked meetings, and free-form networking. In the evening we’ll guide you to curated events in Helsinki, tailored to align with your goals.
Slush 2024
Day 6–7 | Nov 20–21
Enjoy complimentary access to Slush 2024, world’s largest venture capital gathering and end up the days with curated side-events by us.
*We reserve the right to adjust the program’s dates and content, always ensuring the core essence remains the same for an enriching experience.
“Given the venture ecosystem’s rapid development and strong foundations, it’s impressive how stakeholders’ positive drive attracts more attention and capital. Despite the lack of growth capital, the fund sizes here are ideal for scalability and returns, avoiding the performance drag of larger funds.”
Rahul Rajani
Partner, Manerama Capital
“The Venture Nordics program was absolutely wonderful. Each day was unique and valuable, making our time here both professionally productive and personally enjoyable. We couldn’t have asked for more.”
Vivek Dogra
Co-founder and General Partner, Defossilisation Development Fund
Still not convinced?
3 reasons to invest in Helsinki
22% IRR
VC funds are outperforming the European comparison with a 22% annual return of a TVPI of 2.9x and a DPI of 1.3 funds (inception 2009–2015)
TESI, 2023
€48B
Helsinki startups are worth €48B, up 2.9x since 2018.
Dealroom, 2023
2.7 unicorns / million citizens
The New Nordics are generating 2,7 Unicorns per million citizens, ratio that is the highest outside of silicon valley
A Guide to Nordic Innovation Europe’s Unicorn Factory, 2021
About the program
Meet the Venture Nordics alumni
The first edition had 9 participants – 7 international VCs and 2 international LPs – managing a total AUM of around 12 billion euros. Of the 9 participants, 6 stated that the program exceeded their expectations.
Assistance with travel documents.
Our dedicated team will guide you through the visa application process and assist with any travel documentation needed, ensuring a smooth and hassle-free journey to Finland.
Support in establishing operations or investing in Finnish funds.
Leverage our expert business advisors’ services and resources to set up your operations seamlessly in Finland or make informed investments in promising Finnish funds, benefiting from our deep local market knowledge.
A unique Finnish cottage getaway experience, including accommodation, food, drinks, and transport.
Immerse yourself in the serene beauty of Finland with a stay at a traditional cottage, complete with authentic Finnish cuisine, beverages, and convenient transportation arrangements for a holistic cultural experience.
Public transport passes and local SIM data during the program.
Navigate Helsinki with ease using complimentary public transport passes, and stay connected with a local SIM card providing ample data, ensuring you’re always just a call or click away from what you need.
Travel costs
Participants are responsible for their travel to Finland, allowing them the flexibility to choose their preferred airline and travel itinerary. Although we assist with the visa process, any fees associated with visas or other travel documents are the responsibility of the participants.
Accommodation costs in Finland
While we facilitate a great stay, the cost of hotels or other accommodations during your time in Finland is not covered by the program.
Living expenses
Everyday expenses such as meals, recreational activities, and personal expenses in Finland will need to be managed by the participants themselves
This is the selection process for the Venture Nordics 2024 Program – Slush edition, taking place between November 15 – 21.
Application period: till 18 August2024
Selection and interview period: 19 – 30 August 2024
Final confirmation with contracts signing: 31 August – 8 September 2024
Onsite program in Helsinki: 15 – 21 November, 2024
Helsinki Partners will choose 3 – 10 participants upon its sole discretion in 2024. The chosen participants are informed during August 2024, after which the chosen participants will be interviewed.
The purpose of the interview is to further evaluate the suitability of each participant and ensure that the participant is suitable for the goals and target group of the Venture Nordics program.
The Venture Nordics programme onsite part shall take place during 15 – 21 November 2024 in Helsinki, Finland.
There is no cost for the program.
The program is sponsored by the City of Helsinki. Participants cover their travel, living, and personal expenses.
Helsinki is an affordable and well-connected city. The local bus, tram, train, and metro system cover the whole city and the centre is very walkable. You can easily manage your life without a car. However, for day trips you can easily rent a car or use a car-share service.
You can find more information about life in Helsinki below:
At Helsinki Partners, we match people with opportunities. We are more than happy to support you in expanding your VC operations to Finland or in investing in a Finnish fund, even if you’re not selected for the program.
We provide free-of-charge, customised services to international VCs aiming for long-term growth or fund operations in the Nordics, particularly those eyeing expansion and establishment in Finland. Additionally, we assist international LPs interested in investing in Finland by providing relevant data from Finland and connecting them with the local VCs. Read more about this on LP & Funds services page.
Contact info
If you have any questions about the program or about setting up or investing in a fund in the Nordics– you can find the relevant contact details below. We’ll make sure to get back to you as soon as possible.
Panu Maulaheimo
Senior Advisor, Strategic Initiatives
LPs & Funds
panu.maulaheimo(at)helsinkipartners.com
+358 40 669 3888
Tian Yu
Senior Advisor, Strategic Initiatives
LPs & Funds
tian.yu(at)helsinkipartners.com
+358 45 225 8618
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