Startup Challenge 2026 (€10K)

About

A competition offering startups the chance to pitch their innovative solutions to a panel of investors and industry leaders, while competing for a €10,000 cash prize and gaining international visibility. Participants will have the opportunity to network with key decision-makers and explore potential partnerships, all while showcasing their products that address pressing global challenges.

Benefits

• 🎤Pitch Opportunity
  An opportunity to pitch before investors, corporate executives, and innovation leaders
• 🌐Networking Access
  Access to curated networking sessions with decision-makers across the global startup ecosystem
• 🌍International Visibility
  International visibility through The Gap in Between 2026 event
• 🤝Partnership Opportunities
  Opportunities to build strategic partnerships and explore funding discussions
• 💰Grand Prize
  A chance to win the competition’s €10,000 grand prize.

Eligibility Criteria

• Must be legally incorporated businesses
• Must have a validated minimum viable product (MVP) or an existing product with market traction
• Must operate at the early or growth stage
• Must demonstrate technical and commercial viability with a clear value proposition
• Must have a committed founding team with the expertise required to execute and scale the business
• Must build solutions in one of the programme’s focus areas, including Climate Tech and Energy, Smart Cities and Mobility, AgriTech and Food Systems, Health and Wellbeing, or Social and Economic Systems
• Must demonstrate measurable social or environmental impact through customer adoption, pilot projects, partnerships, or other forms of market validation.

Participation Commitments

• Applications close on Tuesday, July 21, 2026
• Shortlisted startups will advance through the selection process before pitching at The Gap in Between 2026 in Valencia.

Target Region

Global

Target Sector

All sectors