Fe/male Switch
Donate Crypto
Fe/male Switch: Your Startup Facilitator & Incubator for Women
Top 10 Startup Events for Early-Stage Startups Globally in 2025
2025-04-16 16:27 Top 10

Top 10 Startup Events for Early-Stage Startups Globally in 2025

Top 10 Startup Events for Early-Stage Startups Globally in 2025

As the global startup ecosystem continues to evolve, 2025 is set to feature an array of exciting opportunities for early-stage startups to network, learn, and grow. From investor meetings to pitch competitions, these events promise to foster innovation and connect entrepreneurs with the right resources. Here is a carefully curated list of the Top 10 Startup Events for early-stage startups globally in 2025, complete with essential details, focus areas, and links to their official websites.
Write FREE SEO-optimized Blog Articles! Our Article Writer ensures your blog is loved by both Google and your readers, turning those clicks into customers.

👉 Write your article here

1. Startup Grind Global Conference

When: April 29-30, 2025
Where: Silicon Valley, Redwood City, USA
Focus: Connecting early-stage startups with investors and resources.
Highlights:
  • A significant attendance of 5,000+ individuals including startups, investors, and mentors.
  • Over 175 sessions and workshops available to attendees.
  • Opportunities for 1:1 meetings with top angel investors.
  • Exhibition space provided for startups to showcase their products.
  • Dedicated networking areas and social events to enhance connections.
  • Learn more about Startup Grind Global Conference

2. Slush

When: November 19-20, 2025
Where: Helsinki, Finland
Focus: Connecting startups with investors and media in a high-energy environment.
Highlights:
  • Attendance of more than 3,300 investors representing over $4 trillion in assets under management.
  • Programming focused on startups with multiple mentorship sessions available.
  • Startup booths for early-stage companies looking to gain visibility.
  • The Slush 100 startup competition offers an equity investment prize.
  • A Media Bank allowing startups to launch news announcements effectively.
  • Discover Slush
Boost Your SEO with 1,500+ Free Business Directories: increase your DA, get backlinks and traffic.

We've compiled an exclusive list of directories and websites where you can submit your business and start building high-quality backlinks to boost your website traffic and get your SEO snowball rolling.

👉 Submit your startup now!

3. 4YFN (Four Years From Now)

When: March 3-6, 2025
Where: Barcelona, Spain (part of Mobile World Congress)
Focus: Startup innovation, growth, and funding opportunities.
Highlights:
  • Thousands of founders and investors gathered from across the globe.
  • Primarily concentrated on growth, AI, and startup funding.
  • Its partnership with Mobile World Congress offers global exposure to attendees.
  • Provides extensive exhibition and networking opportunities.
  • A platform for startups to pitch their ideas to potential investors.
  • Explore 4YFN

4. EU-Startups Summit

When: April 24-25, 2025
Where: Valletta, Malta
Focus: Tech-based and tech-enabled startups with global ambitions in Europe.
Highlights:
  • Anticipated attendance of 2,500+ including founders, investors, and corporates.
  • Engaging fireside chats with internationally successful founders as speakers.
  • Insightful keynotes and workshops designed for learning and networking.
  • Competitive pitch opportunity with a €390,000 prize package.
  • Excellent networking chances with key European investors.
  • Learn more about EU-Startups Summit

5. Viva Technology

When: June 11-14, 2025
Where: Paris, France
Focus: Innovation by connecting startups with tech leaders, investors, and corporations.
Highlights:
  • Attracts 13,500+ startups and approximately 165,000 visitors.
  • Features various keynote speakers, workshops, and pitch sessions.
  • Extensive networking opportunities aimed at connecting startups with global players.
  • Emphasizes themes such as AI, deep tech, and societal future innovations.
  • An impressive global community of diverse participants.
  • Visit Viva Technology
Boost Your SEO by Getting Featured in Our Blogs and get a backlink.

We publish content about startups, education, tech, funding, etc. that ranks well not only in Google but also in Perplexity, ChatGPT, Grok and other AI tools.

👉 Get featured now!

6. LEAP

When: February 9-12, 2025
Where: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Focus: Global technology ecosystem, innovation, and emerging trends.
Highlights:
  • Expected attendance of 215,000+ and over 1,800 exhibitors.
  • More than 1,100 speakers addressing a wide range of topics from FinTech to sustainability.
  • Includes a startup pitch competition with a whopping $1 million prize.
  • Pre-conference startup bootcamp available for foundational learning.
  • Chances for personalized meetings with potential investors.
  • Learn more about LEAP

7. Tech.eu Summit

When: March 25-26, 2025
Where: London, UK
Focus: European tech industry discussions and networking opportunities.
Highlights:
  • Anticipates over 1,200 attendees comprising entrepreneurs, investors, and industry professionals.
  • Features discussions surrounding the tech industry with targeted networking sessions.
  • Organized by one of the leading tech media outlets in Europe.
  • Offers significant networking opportunities particularly with European VCs.
  • Insightful presentations and panels revolving around current industry trends.
  • Explore Tech.eu Summit

8. ViennaUP

When: May 8-16, 2025
Where: Vienna, Austria
Focus: Connecting startups, investors, and tech enthusiasts centered around innovation.
Highlights:
  • Includes a variety of conferences, workshops, and networking events over several days.
  • Attracts participants from across Europe for collaborative learning.
  • Strong opportunities for networking with investors and business leaders.
  • Showcases innovative ideas and cutting-edge solutions in the startup sphere.
  • Focuses on connecting a diverse range of stakeholders within the startup ecosystem.
  • Learn more about ViennaUP

9. TNW Conference

When: June 19-20, 2025
Where: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Focus: Connecting technology with current and future challenges, with a particular emphasis on European startups.
Highlights:
  • Attracts over 1,000 founders, investors, policymakers, marketers, and product builders.
  • Features a startup competition for growth-stage companies emphasizing innovation.
  • New "Corporate Innovator" tickets available for corporate leaders to connect with tech pioneers.
  • Themes encompass deep tech, AI, and climate tech to drive future initiatives.
  • Marks a flagship event coinciding with Amsterdam's 750th birthday celebrations.
  • Visit TNW Conference

10. SXSW Pitch

When: March 8-9, 2025
Where: Austin, Texas, USA
Focus: Showcasing innovative technology to a global audience of investors and industry leaders.
Highlights:
  • Features a live startup competition with categories such as AgTech & Food, Enterprise, and more.
  • Provides unique opportunities for startups to present their solutions to a global audience.
  • Attendees include early adopters and venture capitalists eager to discover new innovations.
  • Offers an exceptional platform for startups to gain visibility and traction.
  • Opportunities to meet with thought leaders and decision-makers from different sectors.
  • Learn more about SXSW Pitch
Join F/MS: Startup Facilitator & Incubator and unlock your startup dreams today! Get your first customers, register you company in the Netherlands and get startup visas for the team.

FAQ

Q: What event is great for connecting with investors in Silicon Valley?
A: The Startup Grind Global Conference offers direct opportunities to network with investors and mentors. Learn more about Startup Grind Global Conference.
Q: Which event is held in Helsinki and connects startups with media?
A: Slush is known for its dynamic networking environment, connecting startups with investors and media. Explore Slush.
Q: What event is associated with the Mobile World Congress?
A: 4YFN (Four Years From Now) takes place in Barcelona as part of the Mobile World Congress, focusing on startup innovation and funding. Discover 4YFN.
Q: Where can I find opportunities to meet successful founders in Europe?
A: The EU-Startups Summit features fireside chats with successful founders and offers networking with European investors. Learn more about EU-Startups Summit.
Q: What event in Paris focuses on AI and innovation?
A: Viva Technology is a hub for startups to connect with tech leaders and discusses trends in AI and innovation. Visit VivaTech.
Q: Which event in Saudi Arabia has a significant number of attendees?
A: LEAP attracts over 215,000 attendees, making it a large gathering for those in the tech ecosystem. Learn more about LEAP.
Q: Where can European tech professionals network and discuss industry trends?
A: The Tech.eu Summit gathers entrepreneurs, investors, and industry leaders in London for discussions on the European tech landscape. Explore Tech.eu Summit.
Q: What event in Vienna focuses on innovation and connects diverse stakeholders?
A: ViennaUP hosts multiple conferences and workshops, connecting startups with investors and tech enthusiasts. Learn more about ViennaUP.
Q: Where can early-stage startups present their ideas to a global audience?
A: SXSW Pitch in Austin offers a platform for startups to showcase their innovations to investors and industry leaders. Visit SXSW.
Q: Which event emphasizes deep tech, AI, and climate tech?
A: The TNW Conference in Amsterdam features discussions and competitions focused on deep tech and innovation. Explore TNW.

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.
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.