Sesame Summit 2026 – application open

All Good @ Arctic15

Have you ever found yourself attending a startup event that left you hungry, disoriented, and struggling to network effectively?

Look no further than Arctic15 (June 1-2, 2023) – the ultimate solution to these common frustrations! This extraordinary startup event redefined the standard by seamlessly blending delectable culinary offerings, impeccable organization, captivating speakers, and a meticulously chosen venue. By curating an impressive selection of nourishing snacks, implementing a user-friendly Dealroom app, securing the stylish and industrious setting of The Cable Factory in Helsinki, and prioritizing well-lit surroundings, Arctic15 elevated the startup event experience to unprecedented heights.

Arctic15 demonstrated a commitment to effortless organization by harnessing the power of the Dealroom app. This innovative technology played a pivotal role in streamlining event logistics and enhancing the overall experience for attendees. The Dealroom app served as a central hub, empowering participants to efficiently schedule meetings, manage contacts, and explore potential collaborations all within a single, user-friendly interface.

Attendees were impressed by the app’s intuitive design and functionality, which simplified the process of connecting with fellow participants and discovering new opportunities. The Dealroom app proved to be a valuable tool for maximizing networking potential, enabling attendees to effortlessly navigate the event and make meaningful connections. With its seamless integration into the Arctic15 experience, the app exemplified the event’s commitment to leveraging technology for effective event organization and fostering fruitful collaborations.

blank
The Dealroom app functioned flawlessly. The gong helped to stay on time.

The choice of venue for Arctic15, the Cable Factory (Kaapelitehdas) in Helsinki, played a pivotal role in enhancing the overall experience. As a transformed historic cable factory, this unique event space exuded a captivating and welcoming atmosphere, setting the stage for meaningful conversations and connections to flourish. Unlike vast and impersonal conference centers, Kaapelitehdas offered an intimate setting that fostered a sense of community and engagement. Navigating the event was made effortless, as attendees could easily navigate the venue without feeling overwhelmed or lost, allowing them to fully immerse themselves in the enriching Arctic15 experience.

blank
Kaapelitehdas covered yard with sculpture by Miina Äkkijyrkkä

Arctic15, renowned for its exceptional speaker lineup, brought together a remarkable ensemble of industry luminaries and visionary entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds. The event curated a captivating selection of thought leaders who generously shared their wealth of experiences and insights. Attendees were privileged to engage with seasoned industry veterans and pioneering startup founders, offering a unique opportunity to learn, gain valuable insights, and be inspired by those who have already left an indelible mark in the dynamic startup ecosystem.

blank

One notable example was Tessy Antony de Nassau (formerly Princess Tessy of Luxembourg) who graced the stage of Arctic15 this year. In 2016, Antony de Nassau co-founded Professors Without Borders, an NGO specializing in international educational efforts. She also works as founder and partner for Finding Butterflies Consulting, a consulting service focused on corporate social responsibility projects in education and female empowerment

The Startup Winner

On stage at Arctic15, a notable achievement was attained by Finnish startup Klu, which won the prestigious award of 200,000€. This recognition was well-deserved, given Klu’s groundbreaking contribution to the field of internal data management. By harnessing the power of AI, Klu is revolutionizing the way businesses organize and access their internal data through its AI-powered internal search engine. A distinct feature of Klu is its seamless integration with existing tools such as Slack, Google Drive, Figma, and more, allowing users to streamline their workflow and enhance productivity.

Highlighting their growth trajectory, Klu also secured a significant investment from global investor Antler in January 2023. While the exact amount of the investment remains undisclosed, this funding is a testament to the potential and promise that Klu holds. This injection of capital will undoubtedly fuel Klu’s continued innovation and expansion as they strive to shape the future of internal data management and drive efficiency for businesses worldwide.

blank
Announcing the winners of the pitching competition 2023

Arctic15’s commitment to assembling an impressive lineup of speakers underscored their dedication to providing an extraordinary learning experience for all who attended. The event exemplified the power of connecting with visionaries and industry trailblazers, enabling attendees to tap into the collective wisdom and inspiration that emanated from this distinguished group of speakers.

By fostering a vibrant environment that nurtured knowledge-sharing and collaboration, Arctic15 created a truly transformative experience for attendees. Whether it was learning about breakthrough strategies, hearing firsthand accounts of overcoming challenges, or exploring emerging trends, the event provided an immersive platform for participants to expand their horizons and gain insights that would shape their entrepreneurial journeys.

blank
Sponsors

you might also like

blank
Events 2 days ago

Last week, I spent three days at Bits and Pretzels in Munich — a startup-focused event with a distinctly Bavarian flavor. Think Oktoberfest meets startup conference, complete with dirndls, lederhosen, and more beer than you might expect. As someone building an AI-powered event platform, I went in with a specific mission: Observe how startups actually market themselves at events. Here’s what I discovered: GoodBytz: The power of good demos What they did: Robotics startup GoodBytz set up a booth where its robots prepared kaiserschmarrn (a traditional German dessert) all day long. Why it worked: Nothing beats seeing a product in action. While other booths had brochures and demos, GoodBytz’s robots were actually cooking. The smell, the movement and the end result stirred together an experience that people will remember and talk about. The lesson: If you have a physical product, show it in action. The old writing adage generalizes well: Show, don’t tell.  Let people see, hear and touch the product. WeRoad: The bathroom hack What they did: Posted “Missing Investor” flyers in bathroom stalls with QR codes pointing to their website. Why it worked: Pure genius. Every startup at the event was looking for investors, but the “Missing Investor” headline, while a bit on the nose, proved irresistible. Plus, bathroom stalls are one of the few places where people have 30 seconds to actually read something. The lesson: Think about where your target audience’s attention will remain undivided. Sometimes, the most effective marketing leverages the most unexpected places. Emqopter: Visual impact matters What they did: Designed a bright orange booth that displayed their drone prominently. Why it worked: In a sea of grey, white, beige and brown, Emqopter’s bright orange booth was impossible to overlook. The drone was real, too, and proved a real conversation starter. The lesson: Your booth is competing with hundreds of others. Make it visually distinctive and ensure your product is the hero. Quests: Community building using the product What they did: Created a busy, branded booth with accessories (toy car, traffic cones, a bulletin board) and used their anti-loneliness app to build communities among founders at the event. Why it worked: Quests used their product to solve a real problem right at the event, and the busy booth design generated energy and curiosity. The lesson: Use your product to solve a problem at the event — if it’s possible, of course. Demonstrate your value in real time. Dyno: Event-themed marketing What they did: Distributed branded electrolyte packs with the tagline “Your hangover ends. Your pension lasts – with Dyno.” Why it worked: Dyno aligned its messaging perfectly with the Oktoberfest theme. Every attendee was thinking about beer and hangovers, so Dyno’s goodies were quite relevant. The tagline was clever, memorable, and directly addressed a pain point most people at the event might have to deal with later. The lesson: Tailor your marketing to the event’s theme and culture. The more you tie your messaging and product to the context, the more memorable you become. So, what did I learn? Event marketing is about more than just showing up and setting up a booth; you have to understand your audience and create experiences that people will remember. Here’s what really struck me: most startups and even big companies don’t know how to leverage events properly. They book the booth, show up and hope for the best; maybe they bring some branded pens and a pop-up banner. Then they’ll go back home and wonder why they spent €5,000 in exchange for 50 business cards that never convert. The startups that stood out at Bits and Pretzels understand something fundamental: event ROI isn’t about booth size or location; it’s about strategy, creativity and planning. None of the startups above improvised on-site, or planned something the night before the event in their hotel rooms. They laid everything out 4-6 weeks before the event. A solid pre-event strategy is what separates successful event marketing from expensive booth rental.  But what matters most for early-stage startups is that you don’t need a massive budget to stand out. WeRoad’s bathroom stall hack probably cost €50 to print the flyers. A standard booth package at Bits and Pretzels would go for €3,000 to €5,500. The ROI difference is staggering when you compare the cost per meaningful conversation. That’s the difference between simply spending money and investing smartly. Building Sesamers has taught me that helping startups find the right events is only half the equation. The other half is helping them understand how to maximize ROI once they’re there. Good props aren’t a marketing expense; they’re opportunities to meet customers, investors and partners, and strike up engaging conversations.

blank
New Materials 3 days ago

Lios Group, the Irish startup behind SoundBounce, was a winner of JEC Composites Startup Booster 2018, and has been making significant strides since taking home the award.

blank
New Materials 1 week ago

Tree Composites aims to accelerate the energy transition with innovative composite joints.

Subscribe to
our Newsletter!

Stay at the forefront with our curated guide to the best upcoming Tech events.