Top 15 Startup Competitions for AI Startups in 2025
As artificial intelligence continues to reshape industries and drive innovation, various startup competitions emerge to support AI entrepreneurs. These contests not only provide financial rewards but also crucial networking opportunities and mentorship. Here’s a detailed overview of the Top 15 Startup Competitions for AI Startups in 2025.
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1. AI Startup Competition (hessian.AI)
Prize: Up to €5,000 (in-kind services)
Application Deadline: January 5, 2025
Industry Focus/Category: Early-stage AI startups
Eligibility Criteria: Startups two years old or younger, or individuals with AI business ideas
2. AI for Future (AI Festival)
Prize: Opportunities for networking, business matching, and exhibiting in Expo Area
Application Deadline: January 10, 2025
Industry Focus/Category: AI applications with a positive societal impact
Eligibility Criteria: Italian and international startups and companies developing innovative AI projects
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3. Imagine Cup (Microsoft)
Prize: $100,000 USD + mentorship with Satya Nadella
Application Deadline: TBA
Industry Focus/Category: Student startups using AI on the Microsoft Cloud
Eligibility Criteria: Student founders using AI technologies on the Microsoft Cloud
4. SXSW Pitch (SXSW)
Prize: Not specified, but access to investors
Application Deadline: November 3, 2024 (for the 2025 event)
Industry Focus/Category: Various, including AI, Voice & Robotics
Eligibility Criteria: Startups with innovative products or services
5. Startup World Cup
Prize: Varies based on regional winners; $1 million grand prize
Application Deadline: TBA
Industry Focus/Category: General tech startups with various categories
Eligibility Criteria: Early to growth-stage startups with global potential
6. TechCrunch Disrupt Startup Battlefield
Prize: Varies but significant investment and media exposure
Application Deadline: TBA
Industry Focus/Category: Broad range of tech startups
Eligibility Criteria: Early-stage tech companies with innovative ideas
7. Slush 100
Prize: €1 million in funding
Application Deadline: September 6, 2024 (for the 2025 event)
Industry Focus/Category: Early-stage tech startups
Eligibility Criteria: Startups founded in 2021 or later, less than €2M in funding
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8. Web Summit ALPHA
Prize: Access to investors and visibility
Application Deadline: TBA (November 2025)
Industry Focus/Category: Fast-growing tech startups
Eligibility Criteria: Fast-growing tech startups with less than €5 million in funding
9. EPiC Elevator Pitch Competition
Prize: Access to investors and corporate partners
Application Deadline: TBA
Industry Focus/Category: Global Startups looking to expand to Asia
Eligibility Criteria: Mid to late-stage global startups
10. Ai Everything GLOBAL Pitch Competition
Prize: Cash Prizes, equity-free
Application Deadline: February 5 and 6, 2025
Industry Focus/Category: AI Startups
Eligibility Criteria: Breakthrough startups in various AI categories
11. xTech Live Pitch Competition (CES)
Prize: $10,000 per winner (up to 10 winners)
Application Deadline: TBA
Industry Focus/Category: AI, IoT/Sensors, or Robotics
Eligibility Criteria: Small to medium businesses
12. Patient Safety Technology Challenge (CES)
Prize: $25,000 prize pool
Application Deadline: TBA
Industry Focus/Category: Patient Safety Technology
Eligibility Criteria: Tech-enabled patient safety solution
13. The AI Challenge (Agorize)
Prize: Opportunity to pitch to top CEOs, directors, and employees + rewards
Application Deadline: TBA
Industry Focus/Category: Client Experience, Machine Learning, AI applications
Eligibility Criteria: Startups with innovative AI solutions
14. AI Mathematical Olympiad (Kaggle)
Prize: $2,117,152 prize pool
Application Deadline: TBA
Industry Focus/Category: AI solutions for national-level math challenges
Eligibility Criteria: AI startups with innovative AI solutions
15. NSpire Startup Slam
Prize: Over $115,000 in cash and in-kind services
Application Deadline: January 10, 2025
Industry Focus/Category: General Startup
Eligibility Criteria: Louisiana-based startups
Note: Some dates and details may change, so it's best to regularly check the official competition websites for the latest information.
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FAQ
Q: What is the prize for the AI Startup Competition hosted by hessian.AI?
A: The AI Startup Competition offers up to €5,000 in in-kind services. Learn more about hessian.AI.
Q: When is the application deadline for the AI for Future competition?
A: The application deadline for the AI for Future competition is January 10, 2025. Discover AI for Future.
Q: What benefits do finalists receive in the Imagine Cup by Microsoft?
A: Finalists in the Imagine Cup can win $100,000 USD and receive mentorship from Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. Explore Imagine Cup.
Q: What type of startups does SXSW Pitch target?
A: SXSW Pitch welcomes startups with innovative products or services in various categories, including AI, Voice, and Robotics. Check out SXSW Pitch.
Q: What is the grand prize for the Startup World Cup?
A: The Startup World Cup offers a grand prize of $1 million, varying amounts for regional winners. Learn more about Startup World Cup.
Q: Which competition offers €1 million in funding for early-stage startups?
A: The Slush 100 competition offers €1 million in funding for early-stage startups. Discover Slush 100.
Q: What eligibility criteria is required for the Web Summit ALPHA competition?
A: The Web Summit ALPHA competition is open to fast-growing tech startups with less than €5 million in funding. Explore Web Summit ALPHA.
Q: How much is the prize pool for the Patient Safety Technology Challenge?
A: The Patient Safety Technology Challenge has a prize pool of $25,000. Learn about Patient Safety Technology Challenge.
Q: What is the prize for the AI Mathematical Olympiad competition hosted by Kaggle?
A: The AI Mathematical Olympiad offers a substantial prize pool of $2,117,152. Check out Kaggle competitions.
Q: What is the prize for the NSpire Startup Slam?
A: The NSpire Startup Slam offers over $115,000 in cash and in-kind services. Discover NSpire Startup Slam.
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.
