Fe/male Switch: Your Startup Facilitator & Incubator for Women

Top 20 Startup Competitions for Deep Tech Startups in 2025

Top 20 Startup Competitions for Deep Tech Startups in 2025

As the deep tech landscape matures, several startup competitions offer platforms for innovators to showcase their groundbreaking technologies. These competitions not only provide funding opportunities but also facilitate valuable networking connections. Here’s a detailed look at the Top 20 Startup Competitions for Deep Tech Startups in 2025, showcasing their unique offerings, locations, dates, and sources for more information.
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. Hello Tomorrow Global Challenge

Location: Paris, France
Date: March 13-14, 2025 (Global Summit); Investor Day: March 12, 2025.
Prizes: Grand Prize of €100,000, 2nd prize of €25,000, and a €25,000 pre-VC stage prize - all equity-free. Additionally, access to a global network and investor introductions.
Focus: Deep Tech addressing industrial, societal, or environmental challenges.
Source: Hello Tomorrow

2. TechChill Fifty Founders Battle

Location: Riga, Latvia
Date: February 7, 2025
Prizes: Up to €610,000 investment opportunity from various funds, along with media exposure and investor networking.
Eligibility: Startups that have not received more than €700,000 in equity investments.
Focus: Broad categories, including deep tech, from startups across Central and Western Europe, the Nordics, and the Baltics.
Source: Growth Mentor

3. EIT Digital Champions

Location: Europe
Date: Applications Open (as of Nov 20, 2024)
Prizes: Entry into the EIT Digital Growth Services Program, a 12-month program, and VIP networking with top venture capitalists.
Focus: Elevating the growth of European digital tech scaleups.
Source: EU Startups
Boost Your SEO by listing your startup and get a FREE backlink.

Create a profile in the F/MS Startup Game, add the link to your website and submit.

👉 List your startup now!

4. sTARTUp Day Pitching Competition

Location: Estonia
Date: January 2025 (Top 30 startups pitch); Application deadline is December 17, 2024.
Prizes: Over €660,000 in investments and services, including potentially €200,000 from EstBAN syndicate investment.
Focus: Various sectors, including deep tech, fintech, and alignment with UN SDGs.
Eligibility: Early-stage startups with a live product and traction.
Source: Startup Day

5. Deep Tech CEE Challenge

Location: Central and Eastern Europe
Deadline: September 18, 2024 (for the 2025 event)
Prizes: Up to €1,000,000 in equity funding for winners.
Focus: Deep tech startups in electronics, cleantech, and medical biotech.
Source: Female Switch

6. CES 2025 Startup Pitch Competitions

Location: Las Vegas, NV, USA
Date: January 2025
Prizes: Cash prizes and chances to connect with investors and industry leaders.
Focus: Varied technology sectors, with highlights in health tech and patient safety.
Source: CES & Growth Mentor

7. TNW Startup Competition

Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Date: May 2025
Prizes: Visibility opportunities and connections with industry leaders and investors.
Focus: Tech startups across various sectors.
Source: Growth Mentor

8. Deep Tech Momentum (DTM)

Location: Europe
Date: 2025 (specific dates to be confirmed)
Prizes: Access to workshops, matchmaking events, and a pitch competition.
Focus: Founders and companies in the deep tech space.
Source: Deep Tech Build
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!

9. Startup World Cup

Location: Global, with Grand Finale in San Francisco
Date: Regional competitions throughout 2024; check for 2025 dates.
Prizes: $1 million investment for the winner.
Focus: Startups across all domains and stages.
Source: Flyer One VC

10. SET Award

Location: Global
Date: Applications are open until October 29, 2024 (for the 2025 awards)
Prizes: Selection into the SET100 list of top startups in climate tech and sustainable energy innovation.
Focus: Climate tech and sustainable energy sectors.
Source: Startup Energy Transition

11. Latitude59

Location: Estonia
Date: May 21-23, 2025
Prizes: The L59 Pitch Competition awards €1M (as given in 2024).
Focus: Multiple technology sectors.
Source: Seedblink

12. Web Summit PITCH Lisbon

Location: Lisbon, Portugal
Date: November 2025 (typically)
Prizes: High visibility and opportunities to connect with global investors and media.
Focus: Various tech startups.
Source: Growth Mentor

13. Slush

Location: Helsinki, Finland
Date: November 2025 (typically)
Prizes: Opportunities for visibility, networking, and potential investments.
Focus: Tech startups across various fields.
Source: Growth Mentor
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!

14. South Summit Startup Competition

Location: Madrid, Spain
Date: June 2025 (typically)
Prizes: Visibility and investment opportunities for finalists.
Focus: Startups across various tech sectors.
Source: Growth Mentor

15. EU-Startups Summit

Location: Barcelona, Spain
Date: May 2025 (typically)
Prizes: Visibility and funding opportunities for startups.
Focus: European early-stage startups looking for global expansion.
Source: Impact Prosper

16. START Summit

Location: Switzerland
Date: March 2025 (typically)
Prizes: Visibility and networking with industry investors.
Focus: Technology-driven startups.
Source: Impact Prosper

17. Web Summit Vancouver

Location: Vancouver, Canada
Date: May 2025 (typically)
Prizes: Visibility and connections with industry leaders and investors.
Focus: Diverse technology sectors.
Source: Growth Mentor

18. TechCrunch Disrupt

Location: Typically in San Francisco, USA
Date: Fall 2025 (typically)
Prizes: Visibility and potential investment opportunities from investors.
Focus: Various technology sectors impacting the startup ecosystem.
Source: Growth Mentor

19. Green Alley Award

Location: Europe
Date: Applications open until Fall 2025.
Prizes: Cash prize and personalized mentoring for startups.
Focus: Startups focusing on the circular economy and sustainable solutions.
Source: Growth Mentor

20. Global Startup Awards

Location: Global
Date: Various Dates
Prizes: Recognition and access to a global network of innovators and investors.
Focus: Innovative startups from various sectors showcasing significant potential.
Source: Growth Mentor
This compilation highlights notable opportunities for deep tech startups in 2025, enabling them to gain visibility, funding, and valuable connections. Be sure to check the respective links for more information on eligibility and application deadlines.
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 is the Hello Tomorrow Global Challenge?
A: The Hello Tomorrow Global Challenge is a global competition for early-stage deep tech startups focusing on industrial, societal, or environmental challenges. Learn more about Hello Tomorrow Global Challenge.
Q: Which competition offers significant investment opportunities in the Baltics and Central Europe?
A: The TechChill Fifty Founders Battle offers up to €610,000 investment opportunity for startups from Central and Western Europe, the Nordics, and the Baltics. Discover TechChill Fifty Founders Battle.
Q: What type of startups does the EIT Digital Champions target?
A: The EIT Digital Champions competition targets European digital tech scaleups aiming to elevate their growth through access to growth services and networking. Learn more about EIT Digital Champions.
Q: What are the requirements for the sTARTUp Day Pitching Competition?
A: The sTARTUp Day Pitching Competition requires participants to have a live product, traction, and a committed team. Learn more about sTARTUp Day.
Q: Where can deep tech startups participate in a challenge for significant equity funding?
A: The Deep Tech CEE Challenge, focused on startups in Central and Eastern Europe, offers up to €1,000,000 in equity funding. Discover Deep Tech CEE Challenge.
Q: What does the CES 2025 Startup Pitch Competition involve?
A: The CES 2025 Startup Pitch Competition includes various competitions showcasing innovations in sectors like health tech with opportunities to connect with investors. Visit CES 2025.
Q: What makes the Latitude59 competition stand out?
A: The Latitude59 competition is notable for its intimate networking atmosphere, providing a balanced ratio of startups to investors. Explore Latitude59.
Q: What is unique about the Startup World Cup?
A: The Startup World Cup is a global competition featuring regional events culminating in a grand finale, where the winner receives a $1 million investment. Learn more about Startup World Cup.
Q: Which competition focuses primarily on climate tech?
A: The SET Award focuses on climate tech and sustainable energy innovation. Discover SET Award.
Q: What does the TechCrunch Disrupt competition offer startups?
A: The TechCrunch Disrupt provides high visibility and potential investment opportunities for various technology startups. Check TechCrunch Disrupt.

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.
2025-05-22 08:12 Top 20