SHIFT Business Festival turns 10: A milestone year marked by record crowds and stronger community ties
This was an edition where people connected, enjoyed music, and took part in dozens of activities and the best part? The next one is already on the calendar: Turku Science Park on May 28, 2026.
SHIFT Business Festival 2025 kicked off with the launch of a circular economy-based vodka by Turku Distillery — the first of its kind in Northern Europe. Afterward, Carita Varjonen, CEO of SHIFT, welcomed all attendees to this milestone edition.
Under a light drizzle, Minna Arve, Mayor of the City of Turku, highlighted the city’s growth and the key role SHIFT has played over the past ten years as a connector between people and businesses. "We don’t just talk about change, we make it happen. We had a vision, we had the will, and we had the ability to execute it," Arve said the audience.
She also invited everyone to enjoy the 10th edition of SHIFT Business Festival.
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"NOW, FOREVER, TURKU"
"Älä katso taakse, emme ole menossa sinne..." — roughly translated as "Don’t look back, we’re not going that way..." — was one of the slogans displayed on the Turku stage at SHIFT Business Festival. There, several speakers shared their insights on the future of the city, its urban growth, and more.
Turku is not only known for being Finland’s original capital but also for its potential — driven in large part by the region’s universities, which foster research and innovation.
At noon, the talks paused briefly to make room for music, featuring the Kalevauva duo, who brought smiles to the crowd at the Turku exhibition area with a song highlighting the city’s main tourist and historical attractions.
SO MUCH TO SEE, SO LITTLE TIME
At SHIFT Business Festival, everything happens at once, so it’s best to plan your day ahead to avoid missing key moments — from 1:1 meetings (which can be scheduled via the SHIFT app), to discussion panels, workshops, and more.
In the Turku UAS Showroom, a panel titled "Women in Tech", the panel discussion brings together several women leaders collaborating with Turku University of Applied Sciences, who will share their experiences, success stories, and surprising paths into the tech industry.
The panelists include Elina Kontio (Head of Education and Research, Data Engineering and AI Technologies Competence Area), Päivi Mattila (Lead Specialist, Head of the Cyber and Hybrid Resilience Research Group), and Roosa Merilehto (Deputy Student CEO of the FIRMA, Bachelor's student in Business Information Technology) from Turku University of Applied Sciences, as well as Katariina Tiura, Operations Lead at Solita.
THE UNINVITED GUEST: THE WEATHER
Unlike last year, the weather wasn’t exactly a supporting partner for outdoor activities. However, it didn’t dampen the spirit of the crowd, who remained fully engaged at the Rajulava main stage.
There, speakers such as Henrik Dettmann — one of the most accomplished coaches in Finnish basketball history — delivered impactful messages. Mikko Leppilampi challenged the audience to reflect on the meaning of success and the value of failure, while Linda Liukas explored how we can live in harmony with both current and future technologies.
Carita Varjonen, SHIFT CEO also commented on the weather and how it didn’t dampen the spirits of the attendees. "I can say that if last May we had warm weather and sunshine, and today we don’t have the sun but rain instead, it doesn’t matter. People are really happy. The atmosphere is amazing and there’s a lovely vibe brought by all the visitors, who together create this event. So together—visitors and partners—we’re building this community, and that makes me really happy. And that is the key to success".
A RECORD-BREAKING EDITION
The 2025 edition of SHIFT Business Festival will not only be remembered for marking its 10-year anniversary, but also for setting a new attendance record with over 2,600 participants.
SHIFT CEO Carita Varjonen confirmed the figures to Entreprenerd. "We’re feeling really good. We have more visitors than before—around 2,600 attendees. We have more partners than ever before, about 120. We have three stages, lots of clinics, lots of content—content we haven’t had in the past. There are many side events and open offices. We’ve managed to grow this event around the main program as well. So, there’s programming both the day before and the day after. Our partner network has developed nicely, and we’re starting to operate year-round, which means we can build and strengthen our community".
"And finally, I want to say that I believe every company deserves to be seen—and this is how it happens", she reflected.
This was an edition where people connected, enjoyed music, and took part in dozens of activities — and the best part? The next one is already on the calendar.
SHIFT Business Festival 2026 will take place once again at Turku Science Park on May 28, 2026.
