Pitching from the slopes of a ski resort? It turns out it is possible.
Thanks to the FUFE program, I was selected to take part in the Tahko ski lift pitching competition in Finland. Together with participants from several YUFE partner universities, including the University of Antwerp, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, the University of Eastern Finland, the University of Cyprus, and the University of Bremen, this was an intense and memorable experience.
Our Finnish hosts welcomed us warmly, and the programme started with a visit to the campuses of the University of Eastern Finland in Kuopio. From there, we travelled on to Tahko, where the pitching competition took place.
I arrived without clear expectations, still impressed by the cold, snowy Finnish landscape and the sudden change of scenery. Tahko itself is a compact ski and holiday village, which immediately set a refreshing and slightly surreal tone for what followed. The two-day ski lift pitch event was remarkably well organised. The first day focused on indoor pitches in front of a jury, followed by a dinner, the announcement of the winners, and a lively evening event. I did not expect to be selected and chose to prioritise socialising over practising my pitch, a decision I slightly regretted when standing on the slopes at 9 a.m. the next morning.
While the first day took place indoors, the second day was where the concept truly stood out. Pitches were delivered on an actual ski lift. During a single ride, you had to convince a jury member or potential investor of your idea. I pitched our project project on the use of metagenomics in the food chain. This brought me into the final five, which felt extraordinary given the number of participants. The final round featured several highly polished and well-prepared pitches, many stronger than my own.
Beyond the social aspect and the opportunity to meet inspiring people, I genuinely enjoyed the pitching itself. This experience played an important role in pushing me towards a more entrepreneurial mindset. The Tahko ski lift pitching competition taught me not to be intimidated by pitching and to simply go for it. Pitching in front of a large audience, then on a ski lift while being recorded, and finally on a stage on a snowy slope is not stressful in retrospect. It is genuinely fun.
