Fifteen companies took the stage at SHINE! Showcase in Tampere on 1 October, presenting their businesses and ambitions to an international expert panel. But some of the most valuable moments happened in the discussions that followed: through sharp questions, practical advice and conversations between people from different industries and markets.
Organised by Creative Finland at Platform6 in Tampere, SHINE! brought together companies and entrepreneurs from across the creative industries with investors, business experts, mentors and international industry professionals.
The format was simple: three minutes to present a business, followed by questions and discussion with the expert panel. The pitches sparked lively conversations about business models, international markets, customers, investment and growth.
Fifteen companies, fifteen different businesses
The companies taking the stage represented a wide range of businesses across the creative industries, including games, audiovisual, music, design, immersive experiences and creative technology.
ASTR Studios · Avataria · Donkey Hotel · Fiilin Good Films · Foreshadow Tools · GlowInBass · LINJA · Playables.ai · Sealevä · Silver Legend · Soul Shard Studio · Syncskai / Nordic Bridge Music · Tiainen.xyz · Underhouse Productions · Viisi Film Production Company
Behind every three-minute presentation was a great deal of preparation, a business being built and ambitions for the future. The companies were willing not only to present their ideas, but also to discuss their challenges and what could help them move forward.
And the conversations offered something for everyone in the room. Questions and advice often went beyond the individual company, giving others in the audience new ideas and insights to take back to their own businesses.
Different markets, different perspectives
The SHINE! expert panel brought together investors, entrepreneurs and business experts with experience and connections spanning India, the Middle East, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Finland and the USA.
The diversity of the panel was one of the day's strengths. One recurring theme was the power of storytelling and how to communicate what makes a business or product compelling. Companies were also encouraged to make their pitch decks more visual, use demos and videos to bring their work to life, and bring physical samples when presenting product innovations. Other discussions focused on scalability, affordability and the importance of backing up business ambitions with concrete numbers.
The feedback was sometimes critical, but always constructive, encouraging and delivered with genuine respect for the people and businesses behind the pitches. The aim was not to select a winner, but to offer new perspectives, challenge assumptions and help companies take their next steps.
The room mattered as much as the stage
Networking was at the heart of SHINE!, and the conversations continued well beyond the pitch sessions. Founders met other founders, international guests discovered new companies, and introductions were made across industries and markets.
The atmosphere was warm, open and full of energy. People shared their experiences, offered connections and showed genuine interest in what others were building.
This was exactly what SHINE! set out to create: a meeting point where companies in the creative industries could connect with the people, expertise and networks that support international growth.
The pitch was the beginning of the conversation. What happens after it is what matters next.
SHINE! Showcase was organised in cooperation with the City of Tampere and Film Tampere, with support from the Ministry of Education and Culture.
A warm thank you to all the pitching companies for their preparation, openness and ambition, to our expert panel for their thoughtful questions and generous advice, and to everyone who contributed to the conversations and atmosphere throughout the day.
Thank you for trusting the room with your ideas and ambitions.
The event may be over, but we hope many of the conversations that started in Tampere are only just beginning.
Creative Businesses. Global Ambitions.
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