The recent incident involving a "Nazi salute" reported at the Backed VC-hosted Slush afterparty serves as a poignant reminder of the challenges that come with organizing and cultivating a safe, inclusive, and professional environment for events in the startup and venture capital ecosystem. With a deep understanding of the entrepreneurial space and the sociocultural dynamics within tech, I offer a unique perspective as a serial entrepreneur from Europe immersed in this environment for over two decades.
The tech ecosystem has long championed values of innovation, openness, and inclusivity, but incidents like these underscore fundamental gaps in systemic enforcement and societal accountability. As uncomfortable as the topic may be, it's vital to understand what happened, how we collectively respond to such incidents, and what steps can be taken to prevent recurrence. This article dissects the incident, its ramifications, and actionable steps for entrepreneurs and event organizers to foster safer, more inclusive spaces.
Analyzing the Incident at the Slush Afterparty
Despite the best intentions of the organizing venture capital firm, Backed VC, the Slush afterparty in Helsinki became the stage for behavior starkly at odds with what our ecosystem celebrates. Three unknown individuals reportedly entered the gathering, and one man performed a Nazi salute, while another gleefully filmed the act. This incident was compounded by alleged displays of hate symbols, such as swastikas. While Backed VC issued a prompt response condemning such acts and distancing itself from the perpetrators, the incident raises concerns about safeguarding protocols for inclusive professional spaces.
Key Findings and Industry Ramifications
- Lack of Vetting at Open Events: Security at high-profile events must include measures to minimize entry of those unrelated or unfamiliar with community expectations.
- Erosion of Trust: The fallout from incidents like these extends beyond damage to the organizer’s reputation. It affects the shared belief that startup ecosystems are safe spaces for innovation and collaboration.
- Systems Overlooked: Even with thorough preparation, including explicit participant conduct guidelines and professional security services, unpredictable human behaviors sometimes bypass preventive measures.
How Incidents Like This Erode Inclusion in the Startup Ecosystem
As a serial entrepreneur and creator of initiatives like Fe/male Switch, I’ve observed that the strength of any startup ecosystem lies in its ability to attract diverse talents. Discrimination, racism, or display of symbols tied to hate speech corrodes this ecosystem from within. Such acts not only make individuals feel unsafe but also risk excluding underrepresented voices that are critical to innovation in often male-dominated spaces like deeptech and venture capital.
Statistics consistently reveal how systemic bias discourages participation. A study commissioned by Atomico in 2023 uncovered that only 2% of European VC funding went to female-founded ventures, and fewer than 30% of founders at funded startups identified as racially composed minorities. Incidents like what was reportedly witnessed at Slush reinforce the systemic inequities stifling progress.
A Guide: How to Host Inclusive and Safe Tech Events
Drawing on years of running initiatives centered on inclusivity, here’s my guide to fostering fair and safe professional gatherings:
1. Pre-Event Checks
- Circulate clear codes of conduct before the event.
- Incorporate language that directly addresses hate symbols or any discriminatory behavior as non-negotiable "zero-tolerance" issues.
- Provide anonymous reporting mechanisms and outline escalation procedures.
2. Thorough Guest Vetting
- Require attendees to register with valid credentials ahead of time. Use platforms with strong identity verification frameworks to maintain oversight.
3. Enhance Security and Training
- Train security and staff explicitly on recognizing and addressing incidents tied to hate speech or hate symbols like the Nazi salute. Ensure event security is equipped to swiftly remove disruptors.
- Deploy professionals skilled in crowd management and de-escalation techniques.
4. On-the-Ground Awareness
- Station “safe ambassadors” throughout the venue. These are personnel trained to keep spiraling situations in check while delivering cultural competency across demographics.
5. Post-Incident Actions
- Be transparent and swift in addressing incidents like these when they occur. Public acknowledgment shouldn’t shy away from solidarity with affected demographics and should prioritize authenticity.
Avoiding Common Mistakes as Event Organizers in the VC Ecosystem
Mistakes surrounding environment creation during events often arise from oversight rather than intentional harm. Here are some of the chief pitfalls organizers inadvertently make:
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Mistake 1: Relying on Passive Anti-Harassment Policies
Implementing a policy without active mechanisms, such as visible reminders or on-site checks, allows bad actors to exploit loopholes. -
Mistake 2: Lack of Diversity in Organizing Teams
Decisions about safety and cultural sensitivity shouldn’t be centralized among homogenous stakeholders. Encourage broad representation. -
Mistake 3: Treating Events as Separate from Ecosystem Accountability
When firms pretend that harmful actions are isolated or unrelated to the sector, it reflects poorly on their stewardship. Accountability ripples beyond the event itself into brand associations across the ecosystem.
The Entrepreneurial Takeaway: How Can Founders Help Build Safer Spaces?
As entrepreneurs, we’re not mere observers of these incidents, we’re actors in shaping how startup cultures evolve. By embedding values of respect, inclusion, and active allyship into your company culture, you become part of the solution. Here are immediate steps founders and executives can engage in:
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Commit Resources to DEI Initiatives
Adopt frameworks like Backed VC’s public response to Slush and contextualize them in ongoing diversity, equity, and inclusion work. -
Engage in Community-Level Advocacy
Push conferences and VC partners to include safeguards that promote belonging. Be vocal if current procedures fall short. -
Lead By Example
Models matter. Leaders actively engaging underrepresented communities through hiring diversity or partnered initiatives create broader systemic change.
Conclusion: Turning Discomfort Into Determined Action
The Slush afterparty incident deserves both outrage and reflection. It is more than a singular event; it's a call for systemic change. Whether you’re a founder, event organizer, or investor, acknowledging your role in these challenges helps expand the foundations for inclusive, innovative ecosystems.
Remember, the qualities that make the startup world thrive, collaboration, resilience, and creativity, depend on environments where everyone feels safe and respected to contribute.
If you'd like to explore broader startup environments and resources designed with diversity at heart, such as gamified incubators for rising entrepreneurs, visit Fe/male Switch. It's time to invest not just in ideas but in values that unlock their full impact.
By addressing these topics openly and proactively, we can rebuild trust, align shared values, and ensure the tech ecosystem remains a force for progress.
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
Violetta Bonenkamp's expertise in CAD sector, IP protection and blockchain
Violetta Bonenkamp is recognized as a multidisciplinary expert with significant achievements in the CAD sector, intellectual property (IP) protection, and blockchain technology.
CAD Sector:
- Violetta is the CEO and co-founder of CADChain, a deep tech startup focused on developing IP management software specifically for CAD (Computer-Aided Design) data. CADChain addresses the lack of industry standards for CAD data protection and sharing, using innovative technology to secure and manage design data.
- She has led the company since its inception in 2018, overseeing R&D, PR, and business development, and driving the creation of products for platforms such as Autodesk Inventor, Blender, and SolidWorks.
- Her leadership has been instrumental in scaling CADChain from a small team to a significant player in the deeptech space, with a diverse, international team.
IP Protection:
- Violetta has built deep expertise in intellectual property, combining academic training with practical startup experience. She has taken specialized courses in IP from institutions like WIPO and the EU IPO.
- She is known for sharing actionable strategies for startup IP protection, leveraging both legal and technological approaches, and has published guides and content on this topic for the entrepreneurial community.
- Her work at CADChain directly addresses the need for robust IP protection in the engineering and design industries, integrating cybersecurity and compliance measures to safeguard digital assets.
Blockchain:
- Violetta’s entry into the blockchain sector began with the founding of CADChain, which uses blockchain as a core technology for securing and managing CAD data.
- She holds several certifications in blockchain and has participated in major hackathons and policy forums, such as the OECD Global Blockchain Policy Forum.
- Her expertise extends to applying blockchain for IP management, ensuring data integrity, traceability, and secure sharing in the CAD industry.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond, launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks and is building MELA AI to help local restaurants in Malta get more visibility online.
For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the POV of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about the best hotels in Italy to work from.
About the Publication
Fe/male Switch is an innovative startup platform designed to empower women entrepreneurs through an immersive, game-like experience. Founded in 2020 during the pandemic "without any funding and without any code," this non-profit initiative has evolved into a comprehensive educational tool for aspiring female entrepreneurs.The platform was co-founded by Violetta Shishkina-Bonenkamp, who serves as CEO and one of the lead authors of the Startup News branch.
Mission and Purpose
Fe/male Switch Foundation was created to address the gender gap in the tech and entrepreneurship space. The platform aims to skill-up future female tech leaders and empower them to create resilient and innovative tech startups through what they call "gamepreneurship". By putting players in a virtual startup village where they must survive and thrive, the startup game allows women to test their entrepreneurial abilities without financial risk.
Key Features
The platform offers a unique blend of news, resources,learning, networking, and practical application within a supportive, female-focused environment:
- Skill Lab: Micro-modules covering essential startup skills
- Virtual Startup Building: Create or join startups and tackle real-world challenges
- AI Co-founder (PlayPal): Guides users through the startup process
- SANDBOX: A testing environment for idea validation before launch
- Wellness Integration: Virtual activities to balance work and self-care
- Marketplace: Buy or sell expert sessions and tutorials
Impact and Growth
Since its inception, Fe/male Switch has shown impressive growth:
- 5,000+ female entrepreneurs in the community
- 100+ startup tools built
- 5,000+ pieces of articles and news written
- 1,000 unique business ideas for women created
Partnerships
Fe/male Switch has formed strategic partnerships to enhance its offerings. In January 2022, it teamed up with global website builder Tilda to provide free access to website building tools and mentorship services for Fe/male Switch participants.
Recognition
Fe/male Switch has received media attention for its innovative approach to closing the gender gap in tech entrepreneurship. The platform has been featured in various publications highlighting its unique "play to learn and earn" model.