Top 10 Startup Competitions for AI Startups Globally in 2025
As artificial intelligence continues to permeate various sectors, startup competitions globally are recognizing the potential of AI ventures. These competitions not only provide funding opportunities but also mentorship and exposure that can propel startups to success. Here’s a curated list of the Top 10 Startup Competitions for AI Startups in 2025, emphasizing their focus areas, prizes, benefits, and more.
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1. DMCCxAGCC: Global AI Challenge Sustainability Edition
Focus: AI solutions centered on sustainability and positive impact in the GCC region, in alignment with UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Prize: $100,000 USD in prizes.
Benefits: Offers hands-on mentoring, sparring sessions with founders and experts, visibility, media coverage, and investor connections.
Location: Dubai, UAE
Organized by: AGCC in partnership with DMCC (Dubai Multi Commodities Centre).
2. Hessian.AI Startup Competition
Focus: Targets early-stage AI startups based in Germany or those focusing on the German market.
Prize: A total of €10,000 in non-cash benefits (in-kind services).
Benefits: Access to the AI Entrepreneurship Academy, expert workshops, coaching, and technological assistance, with opportunities to join the Ignition incubator program.
Timeline: February to April 2025.
Location: Hesse, Germany
3. Meta AI Startup Program (Europe)
Focus: European AI startups leveraging open-source foundation models, aiming to expedite time-to-market.
Prize: No cash prize; instead, participants gain access to Meta’s AI tools, Hugging Face resources, and Scaleway's cloud infrastructure.
Benefits: Mentorship, technical guidance, collaboration opportunities, business support, and increased market visibility.
Format: Hybrid (primarily in Paris).
Duration: 6 months.
4. AWS Generative AI Accelerator
Focus: Open to global startups utilizing generative AI.
Prize: Up to $1 million in AWS credits and other resources.
Benefits: A 10-week program featuring expert guidance from AWS, NVIDIA, plus technical mentorship and networking opportunities with investors.
Partners: NVIDIA, Meta, Mistral AI.
Timeline: Applications typically open mid-year, with the program starting in the fall.
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5. AI for Good Contest for Start-ups (United Nations)
Focus: Solutions leveraging AI to tackle climate change, food security, and sustainable water management challenges.
Prize: Business matchmaking, mentoring opportunities, and a chance to present at COP28 or other UN events.
Benefits: Provides a platform for innovative AI solutions promoting UN Sustainable Development Goals and collaborative opportunities with UN organizations.
Organized by: IAEA, ITU, FAO, UNESCO, and the World Bank.
Location: Global, with pitching opportunities at international conferences.
6. JUMPSTARTER (Hong Kong)
Focus: Tech-driven startups and scaleups dedicated to positive global change and sustainable development, including AI ventures.
Prize: A share of up to US$5 million in investments, alongside global recognition and media exposure.
Benefits: Opportunities to pitch to elite investors, access to the Alibaba ecosystem, and sponsored travel to the Grand Finale, along with mentorship opportunities.
Location: Hong Kong
Theme: JUMPSTARTER for One Earth.
7. TGV Global Competition for AI Startups & Scaleups
Focus: Specifically designed for AI startups and scaleups.
Prize: Cash prizes and investor recognition.
Benefits: Provides global recognition, visibility to international investors, and valuable feedback from AI industry leaders.
Judges: A panel of over 100 investors.
Location: Finals held in San Mateo, California (with possible regional competitions).
8. AI Innovation Grand Challenge
Focus: An open-source AI competition aimed at addressing climate action.
Prize: Specific prizes are not mentioned, but it serves as a collaborative platform for impact-driven solutions.
Benefits: Indicators aligning with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals and chances for recognition by the United Nations.
Organized by: Enterprise Neurosystem in partnership with the United Nations/UNFCCC Technology Executive Committee (TEC).
Location: Global.
9. Ai Everything Global Pitch Competition
Focus: Breakthrough AI startups with innovative solutions across various categories.
Prize: Equity-free cash prizes and major awards.
Benefits: Chance to pitch on a global stage, gain exposure to a large audience of AI experts, and network with potential investors.
Categories: Six different categories for startups.
Location: UAE
Date: February 4-6, 2025
10. Startup World Cup
Focus: Startups from various sectors, including AI.
Prize: $1,000,000 in investment.
Benefits: Attendees can expect global visibility, networking with industry leaders, and potential funding opportunities.
Format: Features regional events leading to a Grand Finale.
Location: Grand Finale in Silicon Valley.
Timeline: May 1, 2025
FAQ
Q: Which startup competition focuses on sustainability in the GCC region?
A: The DMCCxAGCC: Global AI Challenge Sustainability Edition offers a focus on AI solutions addressing sustainability challenges. Learn more about DMCCxAGCC
Q: What are the benefits of participating in the Hessian.AI Startup Competition?
A: Participants can access an AI Entrepreneurship Academy, expert workshops, coaching, and support for funding applications. Discover Hessian.AI
Q: Is there a program in Europe for startups using open-source AI models?
A: Yes, the Meta AI Startup Program supports European startups using open-source foundation models. Learn more about Meta AI Startup Program
Q: What is the prize information for the AWS Generative AI Accelerator?
A: The program offers up to $1 million in AWS credits and other resources for startups utilizing generative AI. Check out AWS Generative AI Accelerator
Q: How do the AI For Good Contest and AI startup competitions connect?
A: The AI for Good Contest focuses on AI solutions for climate change and food security, promoting collaborations with various UN organizations. Find out more about AI for Good Contest
Q: What does JUMPSTARTER offer for participating startups?
A: JUMPSTARTER offers a chance to share up to $5 million in investments, global recognition, and exposure to top investors. Learn more about JUMPSTARTER
Q: Where is the TGV Global Competition held?
A: The TGV Global Competition for AI Startups & Scaleups has its finals in San Mateo, California, focusing on AI entrepreneurs. Discover TGV Global Competition
Q: What is unique about the AI Innovation Grand Challenge?
A: The AI Innovation Grand Challenge is an open-source competition that aligns with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. Explore AI Innovation Grand Challenge
Q: When does the Ai Everything Global Pitch Competition take place?
A: The Ai Everything Global Pitch Competition is set for February 4-6, 2025, highlighting breakthrough AI startups. Learn more about Ai Everything Global Pitch Competition
Q: What is the significance of the Startup World Cup?
A: The Startup World Cup offers a $1 million investment prize and engages startups from multiple sectors, including AI. Discover Startup World Cup
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.
