Side Events
AI Is Powerful. IP Makes It Defensible!
Organizer: Osuuskunta A. Vipunen
How do AI and intellectual property create real competitive advantage for startups? This Polar Bear Pitching side event dives into AI-driven product development and practical IP basics & strategies that support funding, growth and global scalability.
In addition to expert talks, participants can join one-on-one commercialization and IP clinics.
Meet Before You Freeze: The Virtual Mingle
Organizer: Brainsmingle.com
BrainsMingle helps Polar Bear Pitching participants meet before they even touch the ice. Join a virtual networking session where you’ll have a series of short, one-on-one conversations with other participants. Each round is designed to help you connect naturally and without pressure.
Pitch Chaos – Tampere
Most founders practice in silence, but real business is chaotic. Pitch Chaos is a brutal test of focus where participants pitch while wearing heavy-duty noise-canceling headphones. The stakes are high: the top two winners will receive two startup tickets to attend Polar Bear Pitching in Oulu on February 26th. We will also cover train tickets and provide access to elite networking sessions.
Sauna Pitching
Organizer: Sisu Factory
Join us for an exclusive Sauna Pitching Experience – Sisu Factory is excited to meet you at our official Polar Bear Pitching Side Event in Helsinki! Polish your pitch before you head over to Polar Bear Pitching or simply improve your pitch for the many pitching opportunities ahead of you.
Polar Bear Express
Organizer: Business Vantaa & Sisu Factory
City of of Vantaa and Sisu Factory invite startup founders, investors and startup ecosystem builders to join a train trip from Helsinki to Oulu (stops at Tampere, Seinäjoki, Kokkola, Ylivieskä) for the Polar Bear Pitching event. We offer free train ticket and discount code to PBP for all the participants!
Experience the Avanto: Dive into the Ice Hole!
Organizer: International Winter Swimming Association
Ever wondered what it feels like for our competitors when they take the plunge? Start your Polar Bear Pitching adventure with an unforgettable personal experience! Join the International Winter Swimming Association for a refreshing dip in an ice hole before the main event kicks off.
Live in Finland, work remotely 🇫🇮
Organizer: Nerdsbay
Working remotely in Finland for an international employer or planning to?
Make sure you’re doing it legally and protecting your residence permit.
Join this practical webinar to learn how the Employer of Record (EOR) model helps you stay compliant with Finnish immigration, tax, and employment rules.
Creative North Uncovered: New Projects & Bold Approaches
Are you wondering what’s cooking in the creative industries, especially here in the North? Are there new initatives brewing that might benefit your organization? Are you looking for fresh approaches to startups in the creative field, perhaps?
Join us for an afternoon where we introduce a selection of projects aimed to develop the creative industry not only in Oulu but more broadly in the North of Finland as well as Sweden and Norway.
Northern Freeze – Health and Life Science event with an arctic twist
Organizer: BusinessOulu, Health and LifeSciences team
Step into the heart of winter innovation at Northern Freeze 2026, Oulu’s health and life science event bringing together innovative companies, forward-looking investors, and collaboration partners. Set against Finland’s icy north, Northern Freeze offers a unique platform that unites entrepreneurship, technology, and investment.
PreHeat Party & Alumni Get together
Organizer: Oulu Entrepreneurship Society
The ultimate warm-up gathering before the PBP Main Day. Hosted at the cozy and iconic Mallassauna, PreHeat Party brings together founders, innovators and the wider startup community for an evening of relaxed networking and genuine connections.
Born in the cold: Panel discussion
Organizer: Oulu Entrepreneurship Society
Join us for an insightful panel discussion exploring the current state of the Finnish startup ecosystem. Our distinguished panellists will share their perspectives on trends, opportunities and challenges shaping startups in Finland today.
Chilling with Fingersoft: A company visit
Organizer: Fingersoft
Come learn more about the origins and present-day operations of the mobile game company behind Hill Climb Racing! During this company visit, you will hear the origin story of Fingersoft, some milestones from along the years, as well as how the company operates these days and in the future.
Investment Readiness Workshop for Startups
Organizer: Brutally Honest
At Brutally Honest Group, we’ve supported thousands of founders worldwide over the past decade, building, investing, and scaling across Silicon Valley, the Middle East, and Europe. As active FIBAN and ESTBAN members, we’ve co-invested alongside leading investors and VCs including Tim Draper (Tesla, SpaceX, Coinbase), Justin Kan (Twitch Co-Founder, former YC Partner), and Justin Mateen. We bring this hands-on experience to our Polar Bear Pitching side event, where founders receive €500 worth of software credits and practical insights. We exclusively use this platform to evaluate startups seeking angel investment.
Turning Up the Heat: Deep Tech Forge – Startup & Innovation Talks
Organizers: IKAPO, Faculty of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering (University of Oulu)
Join us for Deep Tech Forge, an inspiring event where deep tech meets entrepreneurial spirit. In this afternoon session, three speakers will share their personal journeys from ideas to real-world projects and communities.
Join Frozen People music festival on 28.2.2026
Frozen people is a winter festival of electronic music and northern art organized on the real ice of the frozen Bothnia Bay at Nallikari beach. The festival’s music programme highlights local and international talent. The art content includes installations, light art, participatory programme numbers and performances.