Top 15 Startup Competitions for Deeptech Startups in 2025
As deeptech continues to rise in prominence, 2025 is set to be a pivotal year for startups in this field. Various competitions are offering unique opportunities for innovation, funding, and networking. Below is a comprehensive overview of the Top 15 Startup Competitions for Deeptech Startups in 2025, including essential details such as location, dates, cost, eligibility, prizes, and links for further information.
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1. Hello Tomorrow Global Summit
When: March 13-14, 2025
Where: Paris, France
Cost: Early bird tickets vary
Who Should Attend: Deeptech startups across various sectors.
Highlights: Featuring a pitch competition with a €100K grand prize for the most innovative projects in deeptech. The event attracts over 300 investors looking for groundbreaking solutions.
2. European Innovation Council (EIC)
When: Ongoing in 2025
Where: Europe
Cost: No application fee
Who Should Attend: Deeptech startups in digital technologies, clean tech, and biotech.
Highlights: EIC is allocating €1.4 billion in investments for deeptech startups, including a €300 million STEP Scale-up scheme for advanced funding.
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3. Tech of Tomorrow Startup Competition
When: Applications open: November 4, 2024; Deadline: January 31, 2025; Conference: March 19-20, 2025
Where: Poland
Cost: Free to apply
Who Should Attend: Early-stage startups with MVPs.
Highlights: Provides exposure to investors and experts, along with a free startup booth at the conference.
4. EIT Health Deep Tech Venture Builder Programme
When: 2025
Where: Europe
Cost: Free to join
Who Should Attend: Healthcare-focused deeptech innovators.
Highlights: A structured ten-month program offering up to €150k in grant funding to accelerate projects from research to market.
5. Deep Tech CEE Challenge
When: Application Deadline: September 18, 2024
Where: Central and Eastern Europe
Cost: Free to apply
Who Should Attend: Early-stage startups in deeptech.
Highlights: Successful applicants can win up to €1,000,000 in equity funding. Networking opportunities with investors and mentors are also available.
6. SXSW EDU Launch Startup Competition
When: Application Deadline: October 25, 2024; Event: March 2025
Where: Austin, TX, USA
Cost: TBD
Who Should Attend: Education-focused startups, including those with deeptech solutions.
Highlights: Prizes include a Launch Award and networking opportunities with industry experts.
7. University of Pennsylvania Startup Challenge
When: Application Deadline: January 26, 2025
Where: University of Pennsylvania, USA
Cost: Free to apply
Who Should Attend: University-affiliated startups.
Highlights: More than $150,000 in cash prizes and in-kind awards available for winners.
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8. EIPBN Startup Contest
When: Application Deadline: April 18, 2025
Where: U.S.
Cost: Free to enter
Who Should Attend: Technology and research-driven startups.
Highlights: Open to startups at any stage, promoting the transition of lab technology to scalable ventures.
9. SPIE Startup Challenge
When: Event Duration: February 2025
Where: San Francisco, CA, USA
Cost: TBD
Who Should Attend: Startups focused on optics and photonics technology.
Highlights: A platform to pitch innovations in healthcare and deep tech, with prizes for the most promising ideas.
10. DevSquad: Best of Startup Accelerators 2025
When: Applications accepted biannually
Where: Global
Cost: Application fees vary
Who Should Attend: Startups in various sectors, including deeptech.
Highlights: Accelerators like SkyDeck and Barclays provide resources for prototyping, scaling, and market entry.
11. Solar Impulse Efficient Solutions Label
When: Applications open year-round
Where: Global
Cost: Application fees vary
Who Should Attend: Startups focusing on sustainability and energy tech.
Highlights: Recognition for deeptech solutions that are economically viable and environmentally sustainable, along with access to a global network.
12. Ghostwriters Startup Accelerator Program
When: Ongoing
Where: Global
Cost: No cost for selected startups
Who Should Attend: Startups in deeptech, particularly in AI and AR.
Highlights: Provides mentorship, funding connections, and networking opportunities tailored to deeptech innovations.
13. Techstars Startup Weekend
When: Multiple locations throughout 2025
Where: Global
Cost: Attendee fees apply
Who Should Attend: Startups in early stages looking for mentorship.
Highlights: Focused on brainstorming, voting, and rapid innovation, ideal for tech and deeptech ideas.
14. MassChallenge Switzerland
When: Applications open annually
Where: Switzerland
Cost: Free to apply
Who Should Attend: Early-stage startups across various industries, including deeptech.
Highlights: Offers a 4-month accelerator program, mentorship opportunities, and a chance to win up to CHF 1,000,000 in equity-free cash prizes.
15. Startup Circus
When: Application Deadline: TBA 2025
Where: Asia-Pacific
Cost: Varies based on participation
Who Should Attend: Deeptech startups aiming for global expansion.
Highlights: Combination of pitch sessions, mentorship, and opportunities for cross-border networking among startups.
This list showcases the diversity of opportunities available for deeptech startups in 2025, helping innovators to navigate competitive landscapes and gain access to critical resources.
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FAQ
Q: What is the top competition for deep tech startups in 2025?
A: Hello Tomorrow Global Summit is considered one of the premier competitions for deep tech startups, featuring a grand prize of €100K. Learn more about Hello Tomorrow.
Q: Which competition offers significant funding opportunities for healthcare deep tech?
A: The EIT Health Deep Tech Venture Builder Programme provides up to €150k in grant funding to support deep tech innovators in healthcare. Discover more about EIT Health.
Q: Are there startup competitions specifically targeting European deep tech startups?
A: Yes, the Deep Tech CEE Challenge offers equity funding of up to €1,000,000 and focuses on early-stage startups from Central and Eastern Europe. Explore the Deep Tech CEE Challenge.
Q: What is the application deadline for the Tech of Tomorrow Startup Competition?
A: The application deadline for the Tech of Tomorrow Startup Competition is January 31, 2025. Find out more about Tech of Tomorrow.
Q: Where is the SXSW EDU Launch Startup Competition held?
A: The SXSW EDU Launch Startup Competition takes place in Austin, TX, USA. Learn more about SXSW EDU.
Q: What competition focuses on photonics and optical technology?
A: The SPIE Startup Challenge is dedicated to startups in the field of photonics technology. Check out the SPIE Startup Challenge.
Q: Can university-affiliated startups participate in any competitions?
A: Yes, the University of Pennsylvania Startup Challenge provides over $150,000 in prizes for university-affiliated ventures. Learn about the University of Pennsylvania Startup Challenge.
Q: What kind of startups can enter the EIPBN Startup Contest?
A: The EIPBN Startup Contest is open to startups at any stage of development, focusing on transitioning technology and ideas from the lab to market. Discover more about EIPBN Startup Contest.
Q: Is there a startup competition that emphasizes education?
A: Yes, the SXSW EDU Launch Startup Competition is focused on early-stage education startups with sustainable business models. Learn more about SXSW EDU.
Q: What support do accelerators provide for deep tech startups?
A: Accelerators like SkyDeck and Barclays Accelerator offer prototyping, scaling, and market-entry support for deep tech startups. Check out the best startup accelerators.
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. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond and launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks.
