📅 26.2. Come and see the world’s coolest startup pitching competition for free 🐻‍❄️❄️

Polar Bear Pitching is not your typical startup event. In the Avanto Competition, selected startup founders show their determination to the whole world by stepping into an AVANTO (Finnish for “ice hole”) and pitching their startup live.

The Avanto Competition is an outdoor program broadcasted worldwide, and in 2026 it will be exclusively open for the public of Oulu in honor of our city being a European Capital of Culture.

26.2. | 17:00–20:00 – Avanto Pitching Competition (open to public for Oulu2026)
Location: Oulu Tori Market Square
Livestream starts at 18:00

Want the full Polar Bear Pitching experience?
All Polar Bear Pitching ticket holders get access to the VIP zone at the Avanto Competition and can enjoy saunas, food and warm drinks in the surrounding outdoor program.

If you are interested in the whole program (Warm-up Reception + Day Conference + Afterparty), we also have a 40 % discount code for StartupOulu subscribers: PBP26xOULUFAN

More info and tickets: www.polarbearpitching.com

📅 27.2. 14:00–16:00 Deep Tech Forge – How Ideas Are Shaped into Startups! (Tellus, Linnanmaa campus)
Turn ideas into action. Meet people. Get inspired.

Speakers:

1. Jaakko Suutala – Co-founder of IndoorAtlas & Associate Professor

2. Tatsuya Kondo – Takagi Building/Polar Bear Pitching Tokyo venue

3. Curtis Thomas – Student entrepreneur and founder of Trusted Cofounder

✅Light refreshments to keep you energized
✅This event is an official side event of Polar Bear Pitching and open to all❄️
✅Register here (Deadline: 24.2.2026 at 9:00 AM)

📅 22.–23.4. FRUSH 2026 Startup Competition (apply by 1.3.) EN/FI
Do you have an innovation that deserves the stage and an audience? This is your chance! FRUSH 2026 offers startups, students, and fresh ideas the opportunity to shine in the pitching competition. First place goes home with 4500€. Check out the competition and apply here.

📅 17.3. 13:00–14:00 Cofounder Corner (Business Corner) EN/FI
Cofounder Corner is a relaxed monthly meetup where people come together to share ideas and possibly find the perfect co-founder for future business ventures. You don’t need a business plan or even a fully formed startup idea to join. The next meetup will take place on January 27 from 13:00–14:00. Sign up here.

📅 26.3. 12:00–16:00 Minustako yrittäjä sote-alalle? (Startup Station)
Tässä asiantuntijavetoisessa tapahtumassa saat arvokasta tietoa, käytännön vinkkejä ja tärkeitä verkostoja oman yrityspolun käynnistämiseksi ja tueksi sote-alalla. Lue lisää ja ilmoittaudu täältä.

📅 17.–19.4. Startup Weekend Oulu – Learn how to build a startup from scratch and get 3 credits (Business Corner)
Build a startup over one weekend with a new team! Get support from experts and coaches, and present your new company to the panel of judges in Sunday’s finals. You can join with or without your own idea. The ticket covers the whole weekend’s program, meals and a learning experience like no other.

Blind ticket sales are open until 28.2. Get your ticket for only 19€ in https://www.startupweekendoulu.com/