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?
VOLUNTEER APPLICATION
Looking for an experience of a lifetime? We humbly believe that this is your chance to get a first-class ticket behind the scenes for 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.
Slush 2023 volunteer applications will open later in the year.
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 2023 will take place physically on Nov 30–Dec 1, 2023, 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 number of volunteers this year?
In 2022 Slush Team had 45 Team Leads, 168 Group Leads, and 1339 volunteers.
In total, this results in around 1,500 volunteers.
What are the different volunteer roles at Slush?
Team Leads are the link between core team members and volunteers. They are not full-time team members, but the amount of autonomy and responsibilities they get could be compared to a full-time team member’s amount.
Group Leads are responsible for running the core operations during the event days. They are also recruiting and training the volunteers for various different tasks.
Volunteers will be the biggest helping hands during the event days. They will be responsible for helping and executing various different tasks, mostly during Slush week.
What is the process for recruiting volunteers?
Team Leads were recruited during the Spring. The Team Lead recruitment process is done through group interviews, which our core team conducts.
Group Leads will be recruited during September through short interviews conducted by the Team Leads.
Volunteers will be recruited by our Group Leads during September. Volunteer recruitment doesn’t require interviews.
Group Lead and Volunteer applications closed on Sep 8.
What are the workloads for the different volunteer positions?
Team Lead position approximate workload during the Fall: 20-25h/week.
Group Lead position maximum workload during the Fall: 10h/week.
Volunteer position approximate workload during the event week: 20h (depending on which team and what kind of tasks they have). Adding to the workload during the event days there will be different kinds of Volunteer activities such as Volunteer Day, Talkoot, Volunteer’s Afterparty, and Venue training.
Does Slush cover traveling and accommodation costs?
Unfortunately, Slush can’t offer traveling and accommodation costs for volunteers. During previous years some Group Leads and local volunteers have kindly offered their places to international volunteers. Although we can’t guarantee accommodation like this, since we can’t oblige anyone to offer a place to stay.
How should I proceed if I need a visa for traveling to Finland?
Slush can help the volunteers with their visa applications by providing them with an invitation letter. Contact [email protected] for this matter. Read more about Finland’s visa policies on the website of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland.
What are the important dates for volunteers?
The Slush Fall contains tons of fun events. In order to get the most out of your volunteer experience these are the important dates that would require your physical presence in Helsinki.
In 2022 the important dates were the following:
- 1.10. Talkoot 2
- 29.10. Volunteers Day
- 14.-20.11. Slush week
- 25.11. Volunteer Afterparty
What are the important dates for Group Leads?
This exciting position requires training sessions to prepare for the greater responsibilities, which means that Group Leads have a larger time commitment and additional attendance dates:
In 2022 the important dates were the following:
- 24.9. Talkoot 1
- 27.9. Leadership Experience #1
- 4.10. Where are we #1
- 25.10. Leadership Experience #2
- 1.11. Where are we #2
- 22.11. Leadership Experience #3
HOW DO I CONTACT THE SLUSH TEAM?
You can reach the team by email at [email protected].