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Top 20 Startup Competitions in Europe in 2025

Top 20 Startup Competitions in Europe in 2025
Startup competitions are a fantastic way for early-stage companies to gain visibility, secure funding, and connect with investors.

In 2025, Europe is hosting a variety of competitions across different sectors, offering substantial prizes and networking opportunities.

Below is a detailed list of the top 20 startup competitions in Europe, including prize amounts, eligibility criteria, and application deadlines.

1. START Summiteer (START Summit)

  • Prize: CHF 10,000.
  • Eligibility: Startups founded in 2022 or later, with less than CHF 500,000 in funding.
  • Deadline: February 21, 2025.
  • Link: START Summiteer

2. EU-Startups Pitch Competition (EU-Startups Summit)

  • Prize: Prize package worth €390,000.
  • Eligibility: Pre-seed or seed-stage startups based in Europe, founded within the last three years, and with less than €750,000 in funding.
  • Deadline: January 31, 2025.
  • Link: EU-Startups Pitch Competition

3. S+T+ARTS Prize

  • Prize: €20,000 per category (Innovative Collaboration and Artistic Exploration).
  • Eligibility: Projects at the intersection of science, technology, and the arts.
  • Deadline: March 5, 2025.
  • Link: S+T+ARTS Prize

4. ABB Startup Challenge

  • Prize: $30,000 for collaboration and development.
  • Eligibility: Startups working on industrial automation, robotics, or smart cities.
  • Deadline: February 4, 2025.
  • Link: ABB Startup Challenge

5. Latitude59 Pitch Competition

  • Prize: €1 million in funding.
  • Eligibility: Early-stage startups with proven traction and scalable business models.
  • Deadline: TBA (January 2025).
  • Link: Latitude59

6. Slush 100

  • Prize: €1 million in funding.
  • Eligibility: Startups founded in 2021 or later with less than €2 million in equity funding.
  • Deadline: September 6, 2024 (for 2025 event).
  • Link: Slush 100

7. Web Summit ALPHA

  • Prize: Access to investor meetings and global visibility.
  • Eligibility: Fast-growing tech startups with less than €5 million in funding.
  • Deadline: TBA (November 2025).
  • Link: Web Summit ALPHA

8. Energy Tech Challengers

  • Prize: Recognition and funding opportunities.
  • Eligibility: Seed to Series B startups in climate tech.
  • Deadline: January 23, 2025.
  • Link: Energy Tech Challengers

9. Tech Tour Sustainability Events

  • Prize: Varies by event.
  • Eligibility: Startups in sustainability-related industries.
  • Deadline: Check specific event pages.
  • Link: Tech Tour

10. Impact Festival Pitch Competition

  • Prize: Awards and investor connections.
  • Eligibility: European Greentech startups with scale-up potential.
  • Deadline: September 15, 2024 (for 2025 event).
  • Link: Impact Festival

11. Deep Tech CEE Challenge

  • Prize: Up to €1,000,000 in equity funding.
  • Eligibility: Deep tech startups in electronics, cleantech, and medical biotech.
  • Deadline: September 18, 2024 (for 2025 event).
  • Link: Deep Tech CEE Challenge

12. CEE Startup Voucher

  • Prize: Up to €25,000.
  • Eligibility: Early-stage startups from Central and Eastern Europe.
  • Deadline: September 15, 2024 (for 2025 event).
  • Link: CEE Startup Voucher

13. Startup Fair Pitch Battle

  • Prize: Up to €150,000 in funding.
  • Eligibility: Early-stage global startups.
  • Deadline: September 9, 2024 (for 2025 event).
  • Link: Startup Fair

14. sTARTUp Day Pitch Competition

  • Prize: Up to €200,000 in funding.
  • Eligibility: Early-stage to scale-up startups looking to raise funds.
  • Deadline: TBA (January 2025).
  • Link: sTARTUp Day

15. Hello Tomorrow Global Challenge

  • Prize: €100,000.
  • Eligibility: Startup teams addressing industrial, societal, or environmental challenges.
  • Deadline: September 22, 2024 (for 2025 event).
  • Link: Hello Tomorrow
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16. Tech Chill Fifty Founders Battle

  • Prize: €350,000 in syndicate investment.
  • Eligibility: Early-stage startups from the Baltics, Nordics, and beyond.
  • Deadline: TBA (February 2025).
  • Link: Tech Chill

17. We Make Future (WMF) Startup Competition

  • Prize: Visibility and funding opportunities.
  • Eligibility: Innovative projects with positive environmental or social impact.
  • Deadline: TBA (June 2025).
  • Link: We Make Future

18. South Summit Madrid Pitch Competition

  • Prize: Awards and investor connections.
  • Eligibility: Startups from all industries.
  • Deadline: TBA (June 2025).
  • Link: South Summit

19. European Supply Chain Start-up & Scale-up Contest

20. Tech Open Air Startup Competition

  • Prize: Varies by event.
  • Eligibility: Startups in technology, music, art, and science.
  • Deadline: TBA (June 2025).
  • Link: Tech Open Air
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For more details on these competitions and other opportunities, visit the official websites linked above.

These events offer valuable resources to help startups grow and succeed in 2025.

Be sure to explore the links provided for more details and to start your application process today!