The coolest pitching event in the world, Polar Bear Pitching, is held again on the 12th and 13th of March in Oulu, Finland. In this event startups can pitch as long as they wish. There is no time limit but only one condition: startups must pitch from an ice hole, carved in the frozen Baltic sea.
“The PBP gave me friends, insane media coverage for Laava Tech, also ever-lasting recognition by the startup community. But more than that, it helped me to believe in myself. After I’ve pitched from the icy cold water for my startup I knew that I will do anything to make Laava Tech a success. During the PBP I got international validation for Laava Tech”, says Tatsiana Zaretskaya, founder of Artisun (now Laava Tech) and winner of Polar Bear Pitching 2018.
The semi-finals of Polar Bear Pitching will be held on the 12th of March in Oulu along with some arctic matchmaking, mentoring and parties. On the 13th, there will be a conference with top-notch speakers on the following themes: creativity, leadership of tomorrow and technology. Everything culminates in the adrenaline-pumping finals in front of Oulu market square in the evening.
The winner goes home with €10,000, but the greater prize is still the amount of attention this event and participating startups get among investors and media. Every year Polar Bear Pitching attract more international VC’s and investors, which closely watch the startups and have discussions afterwards. They like the uniqueness and the warm spirit of the event.
Polar Bear Pitching is the embodiment of sisu, the Finnish perseverance and northern attitude of not giving up no matter how tough it gets. Pitching your idea in a frozen sea really shows the investors that you are ready to do everything to make the startup thrive. This is the ultimate stage for every startup to show who has the guts, the attitude, the sisu.
Find out more information about Polar Bear Pitching and apply till the 14th of February 2019!
