New Delhi: Indian startup founders will once again pitch their business ideas while standing in near-freezing water, as Polar Bear Pitching, a Finnish competition, returns to the national capital for its third India edition on November 20.
The event will be held at the Embassy of Finland in New Delhi. It is being organized by Business Finland, the Finnish government's innovation and trade promotion agency, in collaboration with the Hyderabad-based startup incubator T-Hub and the embassy. It will bring together early-stage startups, investors, business leaders and representatives of the Indian and Finnish innovation ecosystems. Startups can apply until November 5.
No stage, no podium
The format sets the contest apart from the usual pitch days. There is no stage, podium or slide-show setting. Founders step into a pool of icy water, modelled on the Finnish winter-swimming tradition known as avanto, and make their case under pressure. The organizers say the format tests a founder's clarity and composure as much as the strength of the business idea.
The experience ends with another Finnish custom. Participants head to a sauna to warm up and network after the pitches.
From Oulu to Delhi
Polar Bear Pitching began in Oulu, in northern Finland, and has grown into an international event with satellite editions in several countries. The Delhi edition is a satellite event of the main competition in Oulu, held under licence from BusinessOulu.
The India chapter made its debut at the Embassy of Finland on January 29, 2025. The judging panel that year included representatives of Business Finland, Infosys, Cyient and AWE Funds. Fuselage Innovations, led by Devan Chandrasekharan, won that edition. The second edition followed on January 20, 2026. Vicharak, a Gujarat-based deep-tech startup working on semiconductors and FPGA hardware, also won in Delhi and went on to finish third at the global event in Oulu.
The Finnish ambassador to India, Mikko Kivikoski, said: "Finland and India share a strong entrepreneurial spirit and an ambition to develop solutions that can make a global impact. Polar Bear Pitching is a wonderful example of how Finnish creativity and traditions can be brought together with India's dynamic startup ecosystem. We hope this unique experience will inspire entrepreneurs to think boldly, challenge themselves and build connections that lead to lasting cooperation between our countries."
A route to Finland
The winner of the India edition will earn a place at the international Polar Bear Pitching competition in Oulu in February 2027, where founders from several countries will compete. The prize gives the winning entrepreneur exposure to international investors, founders and potential business partners.
Officials on both sides see the event as part of a wider push to deepen startup links. Finland is known for its startup ecosystem, digital expertise and business environment, and offers Indian founders a way into European markets and new partnerships. India brings a fast-growing market, technological capability and a large pool of entrepreneurs. The two countries see scope for cooperation in artificial intelligence, digitalization, health technology, sustainability and mobility.
