Sociability Visits Slush 2025!
Sociability
•
Jan 3, 2026
Last week, three members of the Sociability team travelled to Helsinki to attend Slush 2025, Europe's leading conference for technology startups. Since our first visit in 2022, when we competed for a €1 million investment and placed in the top three among 100 competitors, we've returned each year to gather new insights and connect with attendees.
Inside Slush 2025
The first day of the conference surprised us with bright, sunny weather - a welcome change from the heavy snow we'd had to contend with on previous trips! Thanks to Helsinki’s extensive tram network, the journey from our hotel to the conference venue was quiet and trouble-free. Entering the venue was an experience in itself - we were greeted by pyrotechnics, neon signage and elaborate stage designs, which set the tone for the day’s events.
Key Themes We Learned at Slush 2025
The talks covered a range of topics, from emerging technologies to advice from experienced founders. A few key themes stood out to us:
The importance of community
Many speakers emphasised the importance of staying connected to your users and community. As new technologies emerge, it’s easy to get distracted by new tools; however, it’s essential to remain focused on addressing real user needs.
Navigating a changing technical landscape
Founders shared their lessons learned from previous technological changes, emphasising the need to stay flexible and plan for the long term.
AI and the future
Speakers discussed how AI technologies are creating new opportunities and new challenges for startups. Speakers emphasised that despite the hype, it remains uncertain which of these technologies will have a lasting impact on our lives.
Exploring Helsinki
Outside of the conference, we took some time to explore Helsinki's city centre. After the first day of talks, we visited Esplanade Park, a popular urban green space with monuments to Finland's authors. During our visit, the park was decorated with festive lights, which created a beautiful winter atmosphere.
We also stopped by the Moomin shop, a treasure trove for fans of Tove Jansson's illustrated children’s books. After picking up gifts for friends, family, and ourselves, we headed to the Klaus K Hotel for dinner at Toscanini - an Italian restaurant serving delicious, authentic Tuscan dishes.
Final Thoughts From the Trip
Slush 2025 reminded us that despite technological progress, many of the barriers facing disabled people remain in place. So while technology continues to evolve, we're focusing on how it can help us create a more inclusive environment for our users.
If you've been to Slush or have thoughts on AI and accessibility, we'd love to hear from you! Share your thoughts with us on social media or via our contact form.
Last week, three members of the Sociability team travelled to Helsinki to attend Slush 2025, Europe's leading conference for technology startups. Since our first visit in 2022, when we competed for a €1 million investment and placed in the top three among 100 competitors, we've returned each year to gather new insights and connect with attendees.
Inside Slush 2025
The first day of the conference surprised us with bright, sunny weather - a welcome change from the heavy snow we'd had to contend with on previous trips! Thanks to Helsinki’s extensive tram network, the journey from our hotel to the conference venue was quiet and trouble-free. Entering the venue was an experience in itself - we were greeted by pyrotechnics, neon signage and elaborate stage designs, which set the tone for the day’s events.
Key Themes We Learned at Slush 2025
The talks covered a range of topics, from emerging technologies to advice from experienced founders. A few key themes stood out to us:
The importance of community
Many speakers emphasised the importance of staying connected to your users and community. As new technologies emerge, it’s easy to get distracted by new tools; however, it’s essential to remain focused on addressing real user needs.
Navigating a changing technical landscape
Founders shared their lessons learned from previous technological changes, emphasising the need to stay flexible and plan for the long term.
AI and the future
Speakers discussed how AI technologies are creating new opportunities and new challenges for startups. Speakers emphasised that despite the hype, it remains uncertain which of these technologies will have a lasting impact on our lives.
Exploring Helsinki
Outside of the conference, we took some time to explore Helsinki's city centre. After the first day of talks, we visited Esplanade Park, a popular urban green space with monuments to Finland's authors. During our visit, the park was decorated with festive lights, which created a beautiful winter atmosphere.
We also stopped by the Moomin shop, a treasure trove for fans of Tove Jansson's illustrated children’s books. After picking up gifts for friends, family, and ourselves, we headed to the Klaus K Hotel for dinner at Toscanini - an Italian restaurant serving delicious, authentic Tuscan dishes.
Final Thoughts From the Trip
Slush 2025 reminded us that despite technological progress, many of the barriers facing disabled people remain in place. So while technology continues to evolve, we're focusing on how it can help us create a more inclusive environment for our users.
If you've been to Slush or have thoughts on AI and accessibility, we'd love to hear from you! Share your thoughts with us on social media or via our contact form.
Last week, three members of the Sociability team travelled to Helsinki to attend Slush 2025, Europe's leading conference for technology startups. Since our first visit in 2022, when we competed for a €1 million investment and placed in the top three among 100 competitors, we've returned each year to gather new insights and connect with attendees.
Inside Slush 2025
The first day of the conference surprised us with bright, sunny weather - a welcome change from the heavy snow we'd had to contend with on previous trips! Thanks to Helsinki’s extensive tram network, the journey from our hotel to the conference venue was quiet and trouble-free. Entering the venue was an experience in itself - we were greeted by pyrotechnics, neon signage and elaborate stage designs, which set the tone for the day’s events.
Key Themes We Learned at Slush 2025
The talks covered a range of topics, from emerging technologies to advice from experienced founders. A few key themes stood out to us:
The importance of community
Many speakers emphasised the importance of staying connected to your users and community. As new technologies emerge, it’s easy to get distracted by new tools; however, it’s essential to remain focused on addressing real user needs.
Navigating a changing technical landscape
Founders shared their lessons learned from previous technological changes, emphasising the need to stay flexible and plan for the long term.
AI and the future
Speakers discussed how AI technologies are creating new opportunities and new challenges for startups. Speakers emphasised that despite the hype, it remains uncertain which of these technologies will have a lasting impact on our lives.
Exploring Helsinki
Outside of the conference, we took some time to explore Helsinki's city centre. After the first day of talks, we visited Esplanade Park, a popular urban green space with monuments to Finland's authors. During our visit, the park was decorated with festive lights, which created a beautiful winter atmosphere.
We also stopped by the Moomin shop, a treasure trove for fans of Tove Jansson's illustrated children’s books. After picking up gifts for friends, family, and ourselves, we headed to the Klaus K Hotel for dinner at Toscanini - an Italian restaurant serving delicious, authentic Tuscan dishes.
Final Thoughts From the Trip
Slush 2025 reminded us that despite technological progress, many of the barriers facing disabled people remain in place. So while technology continues to evolve, we're focusing on how it can help us create a more inclusive environment for our users.
If you've been to Slush or have thoughts on AI and accessibility, we'd love to hear from you! Share your thoughts with us on social media or via our contact form.
