Top 20 Startup Competitions for Early-Stage Startups in 2025
The startup world is buzzing with opportunities, and competing in pitch competitions is an excellent way for early-stage startups to gain exposure, funding, and valuable connections. In 2025, several prominent competitions will take place across the globe, catering to various industries and sectors. Here’s a comprehensive list of the Top 20 Startup Competitions for Early-Stage Startups in 2025, along with essential details and links to their official websites.
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. Startup World Cup 2025
When: May 1, 2025
Where: Silicon Valley, California, USA
Cost: Not available yet
Industry Focus: Healthcare, AI, robotics, transportation, financial technologies, IoT, augmented reality, and agriculture.
Prize: $1,000,000 in investment.
2. Web Summit Vancouver 2025
When: May 27-30, 2025
Where: Vancouver, Canada
Cost: Tickets range from C$415 to C$7,870; ALPHA program includes three tickets, mentorship, and PITCH eligibility.
Industry Focus: Technology
Prize: Access to investor meetings and global visibility.
3. TechCrunch Disrupt 2025
When: TBA
Where: Lisbon, Portugal
Cost: €950 (pre-register for an extra free ticket)
Industry Focus: Technology
Prize: $100k equity-free investment and exposure.
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. Slush 2025
When: November 19-20, 2025
Where: Helsinki, Finland
Cost: TBA, pre-register for early bird access.
Industry Focus: Technology
Prize: €1,000,000 investment.
5. South Summit Startup Competition 2025
When: Porto Alegre, Brazil (April 0-11, 2025), Madrid, Spain (June 4-6, 2025)
Cost: Not specified
Industry Focus: Various
Prize: Mentoring, exposure, and networking opportunities.
6. CES 2025 Startup Pitch Competitions
When: January 7-10, 2025
Where: Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Cost: Application fees vary; early bird tickets start at $4,100.
Industry Focus: Consumer tech, AI, robotics, IoT, patient safety, etc.
Prize: Up to $25,000 in prize money and partnership opportunities.
7. EIPBN 2025 Startup Contest
When: Application deadline April 18, 2025
Where: (Conference Location Varies)
Cost: Open to all attendees of EIPBN 2025
Industry Focus: Electron, ion, and photon beam technology, micro/nano-fabricated devices
Prize: Sponsored exhibitor package (booth and services).
8. EU-Startups Pitch Competition 2025
When: April 24-25, 2025
Where: (Part of EU-Startups Summit)
Cost: Not specified, but application required
Industry Focus: Various (European Startups)
Prize: €390,000 prize package, investor connections, and services.
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. SXSW Pitch 2025
When: March 8-9, 2025
Where: Austin, TX
Cost: $100 Early Bird entry fee, $220 Regular Entry fee
Industry Focus: AgTech & Food, Enterprise, Smart Data, FinTech, HealthTech, etc.
Prize: Exposure to investors and industry experts.
10. SET Award 2025
When: Not Specified
Where: Berlin, Germany (Finals)
Cost: Not specified
Industry Focus: Climate Tech & Sustainable Energy
Prize: Global visibility, access to investors and partners.
11. Pitch@Palace 2025
When: TBA
Where: London, UK
Cost: Not specified
Industry Focus: Various sectors including technology and innovation
Prize: Provides a platform for exposure and mentorship opportunities.
12. Startup40 2025
When: September 15, 2025
Where: New York, NY
Cost: $245 early bird registration
Industry Focus: Inclusive tech, health, and wellness
Prize: $100k investment and mentoring.
13. Global Startup Battle 2025
When: November 2025
Where: Various locations globally
Cost: Not specified
Industry Focus: Various
Prize: Access to mentorship, workshops, and potential funding opportunities.
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. Future of Fashion Pitch 2025
When: March 2025
Where: New York, NY
Cost: Not specified
Industry Focus: Fashion and technology innovation
Prize: $10,000 cash award and a mentorship program.
15. Innovate UK Smart Grants Competition 2025
When: Quarterly (specific dates TBA)
Where: UK
Cost: Not specified
Industry Focus: Technology and innovation across various sectors
Prize: Up to £2 million funding available.
16. Hatch Pitch 2025
When: March 2025
Where: San Francisco, CA
Cost: Not specified
Industry Focus: Technology and social innovation
Prize: Cash prizes and access to a mentoring network.
17. FoodTech Challenge 2025
When: November 2025
Where: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Cost: Not specified
Industry Focus: Food technology
Prize: Significant cash prizes and access to stakeholders in the industry.
18. Pitch for a Cause 2025
When: June 2025
Where: Online
Cost: Not specified
Industry Focus: Social entrepreneurship
Prize: Cash prizes and grants for innovative social ventures.
19. Women in Tech Startup Competition 2025
When: August 2025
Where: Chicago, IL
Cost: Not specified
Industry Focus: Women's innovation in technology
Prize: Grants and mentoring for female-led startups.
20. Dreamcatcher Startup Competition 2025
When: October 2025
Where: Los Angeles, CA
Cost: $100 application fee
Industry Focus: Arts and Entertainment technology
Prize: Funding and a chance to work with industry leaders.
These competitions represent some of the best opportunities for emerging startups to showcase their ideas, gain recognition, and secure funding needed to scale their ventures. Be sure to check the linked websites for the most current details, as dates and specifics can change.
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 are the top startup competitions for early-stage startups in 2025?
A: Some of the top competitions include Startup World Cup 2025, Web Summit Vancouver 2025, TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, Slush 2025, and South Summit Startup Competition 2025. Explore the full list.
Q: Where is the Startup World Cup 2025 held?
A: The Startup World Cup 2025 will take place in Silicon Valley, California, USA on May 1, 2025. Learn more about Startup World Cup.
Q: What is the prize for the TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 competition?
A: The winner of the TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 will receive a $100k equity-free investment along with exposure to potential investors. Check details on TechCrunch Disrupt.
Q: How much does it cost to participate in the CES 2025 Startup Pitch Competitions?
A: The CES 2025 Startup Pitch Competitions have application fees that vary, with early bird tickets starting at $4,100. Find out more about CES competitions.
Q: When does the EU-Startups Pitch Competition take place?
A: The EU-Startups Pitch Competition is scheduled for the EU-Startups Summit on April 24-25, 2025. Learn more about the summit.
Q: What is the industry focus of the SXSW Pitch 2025?
A: The SXSW Pitch 2025 competition covers a wide range of industries including AgTech, FinTech, HealthTech, and more, showcasing innovations across multiple sectors. Explore SXSW Pitch.
Q: What are the prizes awarded at the Slush 2025 competition?
A: At the Slush 2025, the prize includes a significant investment of €1,000,000. Discover more about Slush.
Q: What makes the EIPBN 2025 Startup Contest unique?
A: The EIPBN 2025 Startup Contest is unique as it's open to all attendees of the EIPBN 2025, focusing on electron, ion, and photon beam technology. Check the contest details.
Q: Is there a registration cost for the South Summit Startup Competition?
A: The registration cost for South Summit Startup Competition 2025 is not specified, but it provides opportunities for mentoring and networking. Discover South Summit.
Q: What additional benefits do participants gain from the Web Summit Vancouver 2025?
A: Participants in Web Summit Vancouver 2025 not only have the chance to pitch but also gain access to investor meetings and global visibility. Learn more about Web Summit.
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.
