Top 20 Startup Competitions for Deep Tech Startups in Europe in 2025
As Europe's deep tech ecosystem continues to flourish, several standout competitions are poised to showcase innovative startups and provide them with the support they need to thrive. Here’s a detailed overview of the Top 20 Startup Competitions for Deep Tech Startups in Europe in 2025, highlighting each event's purpose, prizes, and key details.
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. EU-Startups Summit Pitch Competition
When: April 24-25, 2025
Where: Valletta, Malta
Prize: Over €750,000 in prize packages including funding, credits for various tools, and accelerator access.
Eligibility: Pre-seed or seed-stage startups founded in the last three years with under €750,000 funding.
Additional Details: The competition includes opportunities with Look AI Ventures, Techstars, and Ventures.eu.
2. Deep Tech CEE Challenge (Deep Tech CEE Summit)
When: TBA (expected in Warsaw, Poland)
Prize: Up to €1,000,000 in equity funding.
Eligibility: Deep tech startups in fields like electronics, cleantech, and medical biotech from Central and Eastern Europe.
Categories: Multiple categories include Electronics & Advanced Computing and Sustainable Construction.
3. Hello Tomorrow Global Challenge
When: March 12-14, 2025
Where: Paris, France
Prize: €100K Grand Prize, €25K for 2nd place, and another €25K for pre-VC stage innovations (equity-free).
Eligibility: Startups addressing societal, environmental, or industrial challenges through advanced technology.
Additional Benefits: Opportunities for media coverage and access to an extensive investor network.
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. START Summiteer (START Summit)
When: March 2025
Where: TBD, Switzerland
Prize: CHF 10,000.
Eligibility: Startups founded in 2022 or later with less than CHF 500,000 in funding.
Additional Details: The deadline for applications is on February 21, 2025.
5. EIT Digital Champions Competition
When: September 25 - December 2, 2024 (for 2025 program)
Prize: Access to a 12-month EIT Digital Growth Services Program.
Eligibility: Fast-growing European scaleups with unique digital tech solutions.
Focus Areas: Includes AI, fintech, cybersecurity, and more.
6. The Next Web Conference (TNW)
When: June 19-20, 2025
Where: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Prize: Networking and exposure opportunities.
Eligibility: Accessibility for all startups, especially in AI & Deeptech sectors.
Highlights: Connects over 10,000 attendees with focuses on innovative trends in technology.
7. Slush 100
When: November 2025
Where: Helsinki, Finland
Prize: €1 million in funding.
Eligibility: Startups founded in 2021 or later with under €2 million in equity funding.
Deadline: Applications close on September 6, 2024.
8. Latitude59 Pitch Competition
When: TBA (typically in May)
Where: Tallinn, Estonia
Prize: €1 million in funding.
Eligibility: Early-stage startups with proven traction.
Highlights: Features prominent industry figures, enhancing visibility for participants.
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. Deep Tech Talent Training Prize (EIT)
When: TBA
Prize: Up to €60,000 per recipient.
Eligibility: Open to training providers, universities, and industry partners focusing on deep tech skills.
Categories: Includes Partner Training and Targeted Training options.
10. Deep Tech Venture Builder Programme Call (EIT Health)
When: TBA
Funding: Up to €150k in grants.
Eligibility: Research projects from organizations facilitating technological developments in healthcare.
Program Duration: 10 months.
11. TechCrunch Disrupt Europe
When: Autumn 2025
Where: TBD
Prize: Funding opportunities and global visibility for early-stage startups.
Eligibility: Startups at any stage, particularly those with groundbreaking innovations.
Description: A notable event that showcases new startups and facilitates networking.
12. Innovate UK: Innovation in Partnership
When: TBA
Where: Various locations in the UK
Prize: Similar funding and support opportunities for partnering startups.
Eligibility: UK-based startups innovating in various sectors.
Description: Focuses on fostering collaborative innovations through competitions.
13. VivaTech Start-Up Challenge
When: June 11-14, 2025
Where: Paris, France
Prize: Access to investment, mentorship, and networking events.
Eligibility: Startups offering innovative tech solutions across different industries.
Additional Details: Connects startups with established corporates for collaborations.
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. Pitch@Palace
When: TBA
Where: London, UK
Prize: Opportunities for networking and investment.
Eligibility: Global startups ready to scale their operations.
Description: Connects entrepreneurs with a network of investors, mentors, and partners.
15. StartUp Games
When: October 2025
Where: Berlin, Germany
Prize: Various funding and visibility opportunities.
Eligibility: Startups participating in a unique pitch format with audience engagement.
Description: An interactive competition that combines fun with startup pitching.
16. SWSX Europe
When: March 2025
Where: Paris, France
Prize: Access to mentorship and global exposure.
Eligibility: International deep tech startups.
Highlights: Brings together creative minds to share innovations and ideas.
17. Startup World Cup Europe Regionals
When: TBA
Where: TBA
Prize: Participation in the global finale for a grand prize of $1 million.
Eligibility: Tech startups from across Europe.
Description: A global competition to promote innovative ideas and entrepreneurship.
18. Slovak Startup Challenge
When: September 2025
Where: Bratislava, Slovakia
Prize: Various financial and mentorship opportunities.
Eligibility: Slovakian startups across various sectors.
Description: Supports local innovations and connects entrepreneurs with resources and networks.
19. F10 Incubator and Accelerator Program
When: March 2025
Where: Zurich, Switzerland
Prize: Access to funding and mentorship.
Eligibility: Startups in fintech, insurtech, and deep tech domains.
Description: Encourages entrepreneurship through accelerated growth opportunities.
20. Y Combinator Demo Day Europe
When: June 2025
Where: European City TBA
Prize: Investment from Y Combinator and partners.
Eligibility: Startups that have gone through Y Combinator's incubation.
Description: Provides a stage for budding startups to pitch to leading investors.
Disclaimer: The information provided above is based on currently available information. Dates, eligibility criteria, and prize details may change. Always refer to the official websites for the most up-to-date details.
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 prize for the EU-Startups Summit Pitch Competition?
A: The EU-Startups Summit Pitch Competition offers a prize package valued at over €750,000, including funding opportunities and various credits. Learn more about EU-Startups Summit.
Q: How much equity funding can startups win at the Deep Tech CEE Challenge?
A: Startups participating in the Deep Tech CEE Challenge can win up to €1,000,000 in equity funding. Discover more about Deep Tech CEE Summit.
Q: What are the eligibility criteria for the Hello Tomorrow Global Challenge?
A: Deep tech startups tackling societal, environmental, or industrial challenges can participate in the Hello Tomorrow Global Challenge. Learn about Hello Tomorrow Global Challenge.
Q: When is the application deadline for the START Summiteer competition?
A: The application deadline for the START Summiteer competition is February 21, 2025. Check out START Summiteer.
Q: What prize do winners of the EIT Digital Champions Competition receive?
A: Winners of the EIT Digital Champions Competition gain access to the 12-month EIT Digital Growth Services Program along with VIP networking opportunities. Explore EIT Digital Champions.
Q: What themes will be discussed at The Next Web Conference?
A: The Next Web Conference will focus on themes such as AI & Deeptech, Sustainable Societies, and Growth & Venture. Learn more about The Next Web Conference.
Q: How much funding is available through the Slush 100 competition?
A: The Slush 100 competition offers a significant prize of €1 million in funding. Find out more about Slush 100.
Q: What is the focus of the Latitude59 Pitch Competition?
A: The Latitude59 Pitch Competition is designed for early-stage startups with proven traction and scalable business models, providing a prize of €1 million in funding. Discover Latitude59.
Q: Who can apply for the Deep Tech Talent Training Prize?
A: The Deep Tech Talent Training Prize is open to training providers, employers, universities, and industry partners focusing on deep tech skills and training. Learn more about the Deep Tech Talent Training Prize.
Q: What funding can be accessed through the Deep Tech Venture Builder Programme Call?
A: The Deep Tech Venture Builder Programme Call provides up to €150k in grant funding for research projects focused on deep tech innovations in healthcare. Check out the Deep Tech Venture Builder Programme.
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.
