Northern Light accelerator Demo Day – traction in action

Real traction, international founders, and the next wave of startups landing in Europe.

15 ambitious founders arrived in Finland this autumn with clear goals: to sharpen their focus, achieve product–market fit, and break into Europe. Over the past 3 months at Maria 01—one of Europe’s leading startup communities — they’ve got to know customers and built traction. Now they’re ready to share what they’ve achieved.

Local or international VCs and business angels—welcome to join us during Slush Week for the first-ever Northern Light Accelerator Demo Day, where we showcase:

• Validated customer pain points → founders proving real demand
• Early traction and pilots in Europe → not just pitches, but results
• Founder resilience in practice → why Finland offers a unique edge for building globally competitive startups

This is not a standard demo day. Each team will share traction stories that highlight how they’ve validated markets, landed early customers, and positioned themselves for growth.

Who’s in the room:

• 10 startups from 8 countries (North America, Africa, Asia, and Europe)
• Sectors spanning AI, Edtech, Construction and more
• An exclusive group of local and international investors and VCs

Learn more about the startups here.

Event Details

Date: 18 November 2025 (Slush Day 0)
Time: 13:00 – 15:00
Location: Maria 01, Building 1, 2nd Floor, Event Space
PS: No Slush pass needed to join!

Welcome & Opening

What makes Northern Light Accelerator unique (international focus + resilience + Finland as launchpad)

Founder Traction Stories

Format: short, sharp demos (not generic pitches)
10 startups share their traction: validated pain points, pilots, customer insights

Comments and Prize

Audience votes on the winner

Investor & Founder Networking

Opportunity to discuss deal flow, pilots, and partnerships directly
Meet the teams 1:1 over drinks

Can’t see the form? Click here to access it directly.