SLUSH-ReCoTech 2016 in Helsinki: The most famous gathering for digital entrepreneurs

SLUSH, which takes place every fall in Helsinki, is fast becoming Europe’s leading startup event for digital entrepreneurs looking to network with construction companies and possibly securing funding.

This year event has seen 17,500 people from over 120 countries with 2,300 startups, 1,100 venture capitalists, and 600 journalists.

Also this year, SLUSH has organized the first ever real estate and construction technology (ReCoTech) as an official side-event. The event includes a breakfast seminar, a Speed Meet networking session and afternoon session with important speakers. ReCoTech allows tech startups to showcase their products to various sectors of the construction industry (new products and services, technology, operating models, etc...) It is a unique opportunity for established construction companies to get in touch with various sectors and seal a new partnership to bring digitalization into their business.

Among this year presentations is a recommendation for construction businesses not to underestimate digital corporations. Companies like IBM, Microsoft and Google have in fact their eyes on the industry. They see the 8 trillion-dollar construction industry that has not changed much in generations and are ready to step in. Construction may, in the future, be subordinated to digital companies who will manage their information from the cloud. Speakers at the ReCoTech urged construction companies to take the threat seriously. They are invited to integrate the digital built environment and smart building into their platform before their competitors.

This year has also seen an emphasis put on startup accelerators, a way to connect the most innovative startups with industry leaders to speed up their development.

France has been represented at SLUSH the first time in 2015 by FINALCAD and 9 other startups. The French startup FINALCAD and its motto "Change the way we build" has the ambition of transforming the construction industry practices through digital tools and technologies such as predictive analytics and digitized processes for prefab logistics. The company has a focus on Europe and Asia and had met with key actors from Scandinavia and Russia. On their project A4EA In Situ, CBC of Vinci Construction France has estimated a gain of twice their normal productivity with FINALCAD.