Going back in time – Congrify at Slush 100 Finals
By Marco Conte (August 5, 2025)
This post comes with some time delay, to talk about one of the most exciting events in Congrify’s timeline, to share our experiences at Slush, and why we support this event as key promoters of the European tech ecosystem.
Slush is the must-attend event for the European startup tech ecosystem. But let’s be honest: who’s crazy enough to spend three days in Helsinki in late November, with -10°C and ice literally everywhere?
We are. And we are doing it all over again, every year.
Our Slush Experience in 2023
At Congrify, we’re big supporters of Slush. In 2023, we attended for the first time and went all in, applying to the Slush 100, the event’s iconic startup pitch competition.
Out of 1,200 startups from around the world, Congrify was selected as one of the three finalists, presenting on the main stage at one of the most prestigious startup events in Europe.
From a Personal Point of View
We landed in Helsinki on a freezing -12 °C Tuesday evening straight from Munich. By Wednesday morning, I woke up with a 39°C fever, feeling absolutely wrecked.
On Thursday morning, I called Marko, the head of the startup competition, and said. “I am sick. It would be really hard to stand in front of a crowd. Can I please pitch sitting down?”
So there I was, first on stage for the Slush 20 semifinals. Sitting in a chair. Fever blazing. 250 people in front of me and extremely dark.
That same afternoon, between meetings, I joined a small “Off the Record” session with Adyen’s CEO, Pieter van der Does.
I stepped out for five minutes, and suddenly got the news: Congrify made it to the finals.
Marko’s words?
“Apparently, payments and data infrastructure are quite a sexy topic now, according to the investors.”
We obviously agreed, but take a look at the video for your own confirmation.
A mixture of extreme excitement and panic started creeping in. I skipped most of the evening parties. Tweaked the pitch deck. More painkillers. Less sleep.
By Friday, I was still at 38.3°C-sweating, exhausted, but determined. The whole day led up to the final pitch at 5:45 PM.
Before me on that same stage: Sanna Marin, Finland’s former Prime Minister, and Nico Rosberg, F1 World Champion. (As an F1 fan, that alone was surreal.)
Then came the Slush 100 finals time, and our turn. We were the first, which has always had its pros and cons: you can deliver a pitch without waiting for the others, or you can be the one who gets technical difficulties.
5:45 PM – Pitch delivered to a crowd of 1,500 people; everything was smooth.
5:50 PM – Other pitches done. Faircado from Evolena delivered a great pitch, as all the finalists did and they deserved to win the final prize.
The day was not over, we wrapped it all up with the legendary Slush closing party with the Faircado’s team moving around with a giant check.
It was time to get back home, before having a one-day stop in Tallinn and reflecting on the days spent there.
The cold and snow did not leave us; this is what home in Munich looked like once back.
Our Slush Experience in 2024
We were back, with lot of enthusiasm. This time supported by a lot of friends, meeting familiar faces and doing business with the stakeholders that we have in our network. This is a topic for another blogpost.
Final Thoughts on Slush
Slush can be intense, personal, messy, cold, and absolutely unforgettable looking at what we have been part of.
If you’re building something bold and want to put it in front of the world, apply now for Slush 100. Maybe we’ll see you on that stage next.