Volunteer
at slush
Looking for a leadership experience for the books? Want to take your first step on your path to becoming a startup founder, operator, or VC? We're now accepting applications for Group Leads and Volunteers until Sep 7.
Apply as Group Lead or VolunteerVOLUNTEER APPLICATION OPEN TIL SEP 7
Looking for an experience of a lifetime? We humbly believe that this is your chance to get a first-class ticket behind the scenes of the world’s leading startup event.
Volunteer your way into the unique startup ecosystem and contribute to our so-called Slush Magic. Broaden your professional network, learn new skills, get inspired by the world’s brightest founders, meet new friends, and join the unique Slush community.
Apply as Group Lead or Volunteer
WHY VOLUNTEER?
It’s no secret that the world’s leading startup event takes a big team to build. Slush would not exist without our volunteers, who make the magic happen year after year. There will be over 30 teams available to apply to – including stages, media, sustainability, afterparty, etc. These teams consist of Team Leads, Group Leads, and Volunteers.
Volunteers at Slush have a front row seat to how the world’s leading startup event is built from the inside, interacting with people from across the world and getting a bunch of new skills at the same time.
Group Leads lead small groups of volunteers, which they get to personally recruit and train for their roles before leading them during the event.
Team Leads recruit Group Leads and work together with Slush’s full-time team to ensure all our teams and their volunteers are aligned, get the job done, and feel fulfilled while doing it.
Who knows, if you apply you might end up looking as happy as these people on the left. They look pretty excited to be at Slush, right?
2022 Teams
INVESTORS
The Investor Team makes sure that international investors (such as leading Venture Capital funds, Private-Equity funds and Angel Investors) have a great Slush experience. Responsibilities include
- organizing investor events (e.g., Investor Day and running the Meeting Area)
- welcoming investors to Helsinki
- providing customer service
You’ll have the chance to network with globally renowned investors, gain valuable VC and investing knowledge, and experience the world’s leading start-up event from the inside.
STARTUPS
The Startup Team has the exciting responsibility of organizing the concepts directed towards our largest core visitor group – the startups and founders. This includes Founders Day, Slush 100, Nordic Showcase, and Startup Booths to mention a few. We communicate directly with the leading startups of Europe, so there isn’t a better place to get connected and learn from the best.
TICKETS
The Tickets Team is the first touchpoint to Slush for many of our attendees and thus plays a vital role in creating a positive customer experience. Main responsibilities include ensuring a smooth tickets process which includes
- creating and managing tickets
- invoicing and reporting
- answering emails and customer support
- supporting and overseeing the Badge Claim operations from a ticketing point of view
In exchange for all this, you get some essential finance experience.
SOAKED
Soaked by Slush is a shamelessly founder-focused startup media that delivers timeless company-building lessons, hands-on operational advice, and intriguing stories from the startup ecosystem to the people who build and operate high-growth companies. Soaked team responsibilities include
- content planning and creation
- conducting interviews
- creating social media posts
PEOPLE
The People Team takes care of the whole team organizing the event and makes sure everything is running smoothly. The tasks include
- making the Volunteer Handbook, which is a gather of all volunteer-related material and info
- handling practical arrangements to support the Slush team and organize team events during the fall
PROGRAM
The Program Team is responsible for bringing world-renowned speakers to Helsinki, such as the Founders and CEOs of companies like Calm and Tinder. They are in charge of
- speaker relations
- stage content
- speaker operations
- key side events catered towards the speakers
- overseeing practical arrangements and scheduling for all the program sessions
- offering top-notch customer service for the speakers and their delegates
PARTNERSHIPS
The Partnership Team takes care of partnerships and the overall partner customer experience. Responsibilities also include
- overseeing the successful execution of Slush Side Events
- Workshop Chambers
- Partner Day
- being in charge of the Slush Partner buddies – concierges you’ve never seen before!
MARKETING & COMMS
The Marketing & Comms Team makes sure Slush is seen and heard by all the relevant people. Responsibilities include
- content creation for our own media touchpoints (slush.org, social media, newsletter, etc.)
- organizing live streaming
- customer service
PHOTOGRAPHY
Photography will make sure to capture all the best moments of Slush during the main event as well as other side events that happen during the Slush week. In addition, the Photography Team Lead gets to direct and participate in other photography projects before the event (e.g. last year we had a Tier collaboration and merch shoot).
PR
PR team takes care of the Media side of Slush, which entails looking after
- relationships with journalists
- helps with setting up interviews
- drafts and distributes press releases
- handling practicalities from Media Area production and Press conferences in Messukeskus as well as production of Media Day
PRODUCTION
The Production Team’s main goal is to produce a technically and visually high-caliber event (take a look at some pictures for a feel of what we’ve accomplished before). On top of hands-on event production, this includes
- organizing event services that exceed our attendees’ expectations
- planning and overseeing the Badge Claim (registration)
- Event Help operations
- Construction operations
- logistics
- customer service and collaboration with different production partners
VOLUNTEER STORIES
HEY! IT’S AINO HERE FROM SLUSH.
My journey started back in 2014 when I first volunteered at Slush and got hooked by the extraordinary community and the spirit within it. In the end, I ended up volunteering for four years in a row. In 2020, I joined the team full-time, and today, I am the COO.
I think there are as many different kinds of roles as there are volunteers. I have found myself helping speakers find the right stage, hosting roundtables, and selecting 400 top-tier startups to showcase their products at the heart of the Slush venue. These experiences showed me the true value of Slush and the power that +1000 volunteers can have in creating real progress and shaping the entrepreneurial tomorrow just in two days.
I think that volunteering at Slush is an exceptional experience as Slush would not be anything without its volunteers. As a volunteer, you will get a front-row seat to the edge of technology, see first-hand as true progress is made, and become part of a close-knit community of Slushers. Apply now, you won’t regret it.
HELLO EVERYONE, IT’S AMIN!
I volunteered at Slush for the first time in 2019, as a Group Lead. The experience was amazing, and I decided to apply again in 2020, but this time as a Team Lead. Unfortunately, COVID-19 messed up the plans, but luckily a new opportunity opened in 2021. I was selected to lead the Event help team.
There were nearly 70 volunteers on my team, and we were practically a Slush ad-hoc team that supported all other teams and operations. Being a Team Lead taught me important things, such as how to organize and lead a big team effectively, and how to help develop your team’s skills so they can reach their full potential. It also taught me how to act in stressful situations, such as when a speaker loses their voice, and you are asked for help. #truestory
In addition to gaining important leadership skills, being a Team Lead offers much more. As a team lead, you are part of Slush’s core team, and you get to see up close how the world’s finest event is put together. You get to see and experience things you wouldn’t get anywhere else. You get to meet amazing people and build long-term friendships. And of course, you get to have a lot of fun!
HOWDY! HENRI HERE FROM SLUSH.
Before joining Slush in 2021 as a Team Lead, I was unsure what I wanted to do. I knew that I wanted to dip my toes into the startup scene, but my part in it was still unclear to me. Slush seemed like the best place in all of Europe to figure that out. A promise of endless optimism, a group of curious and open-minded people with a strong desire to build something meaningful – that’s what I thought of Slush. I couldn’t have been more right.
As an Analyst Team Lead, I matched the investors coming to Slush with startups and other investors. Working with investors and startups taught me a lot about how the world of venture and startups works – I learned what I liked about it and what I didn’t. No matter the role you take volunteering at Slush, you’ll be guaranteed to meet exceptional people, build and experience world-class event, and learn from tomorrow’s future shapers. The world’s leading startup event is built by volunteers, led by volunteers.
The one thing in common among the volunteers is the endless optimism. It doesn’t matter what you do or where you are in life; if you can and want to think big, volunteering at Slush can be a life-changing experience. From my time volunteering at Slush I value the most the people I met, experiencing the culture of the Slush community, and the feeling of moving the needle for entrepreneurs. And of course, having fun – it’s a lot of things, but most importantly, it’s a lot of fun!
FAQ
WHAT IS SLUSH ABOUT?
Slush is a student-driven, not-for-profit movement with the mission to create and help the next generation of groundbreaking entrepreneurs, originally founded to change attitudes toward entrepreneurship. The Slush 2022 event features two days full of stage programs, in addition to several side events, talks at networking sessions, roundtable discussions, and facilitated workshops. Our speaker line-up includes successful founders, top-notch investors, and other startup and tech influencers.
WHEN DOES SLUSH TAKE PLACE?
Slush 2022 will take place physically on November 17–18, 2022 at Helsinki Expo and Convention Center (Messukeskus).
WHERE IS SLUSH ORGANIZED?
Slush is organized in the Helsinki Expo and Convention Center. Address: Messuaukio 1, 00520 Helsinki Helsinki Expo and Convention Center is located just a few kilometers from the Helsinki city center – you’ll be able to arrive at the venue within 15 minutes from all around the city.
WHAT IS THE ROLE OF TEAM LEADS?
Team Lead is a dedicated volunteer willing to take on responsibility for creating Slush 2022 throughout the Fall from August to the start of December. Team Leads are in charge of executing the core operations at Slush, serving international startups, investors, partners, and media. Team Leads are in a position of trust and volunteering their time for the benefit of Slush, the startup ecosystem, and their personal growth.
As a Team Lead you will have ownership of a specific project or function during Slush preparations and the event. Additionally, most Team Leads will recruit, train and manage a team of volunteers to participate in said project/function.
WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR RECRUITING TEAM LEADS AND OTHER VOLUNTEERS?
The application period for Team Leads ends on May 15 We will contact all applicants during the next few weeks. For selected candidates, there will be two interviews:
- A short interview with the People Team. Takes place during weeks 21 & 22
- A short interview with the team you would work at Slush. Takes place during week 24
Onboarding starts on week 32. Team Leads will then interview and choose Group Leads before Sep 11.
HOW MUCH TIME DOES TL POSITION REQUIRE?
A few hours per week over the course of fall, close to 15h per week during the event week and few weeks leading up to that. The estimated workload depends on your specific role and is discussed together with your team.
ARE THERE OTHER WAYS TO VOLUNTEER AT SLUSH?
Yes! In addition to Team Leads, we also have Group Leads and Volunteers. Team Leads are leading the Group Leads who are respectively, in charge of the Volunteers. As of now, we are looking for Team Leads to join the team. We will start recruiting other volunteers later on.
HOW LONG DOES THE TEAM LEAD POSITION LAST?
Team Leads are working with the Slush team from September until December 2022.
HOW DO I CONTACT THE SLUSH TEAM?
You can reach the team by email at [email protected]