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May 20, 2025 - 08:30

Arctic 15 2025 Comes Back "on Steroids": New Deal Tank, Exit Summit, and a Bold Push for Women Founders

by ROP

Forget business as usual, Arctic15 2025 is returning to Helsinki this June 4 and 5, with its most ambitious edition yet.

The deal-driven startup event, long known for intimate matchmaking and tangible outcomes, is scaling up its impact with a suite of new features designed to supercharge founder success, especially for female entrepreneurs and early-stage innovators.

In an exclusive video interview with Entreprenerd Media, Arctic15 Executive Chairman Jan Ameri gave us a first look at what’s coming in this year’s edition—and why it matters. You can watch or listen to the full conversation now on Entreprenerd Media’s social media channels and podcast feed.

"This year Arctic15 is coming back on steroids," says Ameri. "More formats, more funding opportunities, more inclusion—and the same sharp focus on results."

New Additions to Fuel the Ecosystem

Deal Tank: In a major evolution from its traditional pitch competition, Arctic15 is launching Deal Tank, a live-investment arena where founders pitch in front of VCs and receive on-the-spot soft commitments—a fast track to funding.
Exit Summit: New for 2025, this track targets growth-stage founders planning their next big move—whether it’s an acquisition, IPO, or sustainable scale. A key complement to the existing LP Summit, which focuses on venture capital fundraising.
Pre-Company Spin-Offs: Arctic15 strengthens its ties with academia by welcoming teams from Aalto, Tampere, and other Finnish universities—even before they officially launch. It’s a bold move to support deep tech and research-driven entrepreneurship at its roots.

A Real Commitment to Women Founders

While many conferences talk about gender equity, Arctic15 is doing something about it. In 2025, the event handpicked 15 female founders from across the Nordics and Baltics to receive full access, networking, and visibility.

"I’ve seen the data: companies with female founders outperform—but they still get only a fraction of the funding," says Ameri. "This imbalance can’t be ignored. We want to change that, one founder at a time."

These women, working in fields from mental health and AI to food innovation and femtech, are at the center of a growing effort to rebalance startup funding and representation in the European tech scene.

Results Over Hype

Arctic15 doesn’t pretend to be the flashiest tech event in Europe—its value is in its effectiveness. With a curated matchmaking platform and average of 6+ meetings per person per day, it’s a place where conversations lead to contracts.

From speed dating with VCs to deep-dive workshops and a founder-friendly atmosphere, Arctic15 creates a space where startups don’t just pitch—they build real business relationships.

"It’s big enough to matter, but small enough to connect," Ameri sums up. "You won’t get lost in the crowd like at Slush. Here, people remember your name."

Helsinki Is Home

While Arctic15 has hosted editions in Stockholm and Estonia, Helsinki remains its flagship. The event is deeply rooted in Finland’s startup ecosystem and acts as a bridge to both Nordic and Baltic innovation communities.

Whether you’re a startup founder, investor, university spin-off, or policy shaper—Arctic15 2025 is the place to get things done.

Tickets and details: www.arctic15.com
Dates: June 4-5, 2025
Location: Helsinki, Finland
Don’t miss: Deal Tank, LP Summit, Exit Summit, Women Founder Showcase, University Spin-Off Demos