Apply now for your chance to join the finals of our big Pitch Competition at this year’s EU-Startups Summit

On May 7-8, Malta will once again transform into the heart of European innovation as it hosts the 2026 edition of the EU-Startups Summit. Bringing together around 2,500 founders, startup enthusiasts, investors, and corporates, this year’s edition is set to be one of the most ambitious and engaging in the event’s history.

Alongside two stages, strong networking opportunities, and a buzzing exhibition hall, the EU-Startups Summit will also be the place where the finals of our big annual Pitch Competition take place. Fifteen of Europe’s most promising seed and pre-seed startups will be selected out of more than 1,600 applications to pitch on the main stage in front of a high-profile investor jury, and in front of our large audience. Applications are now open!

The Prize Package

The stakes are high! Valued at over €622k! Packed with funding opportunities and credits for great tools and services to supercharge your startup’s growth, this prize could truly transform your entrepreneurial journey. Let’s see what is in it:

• €250k Funding Opportunity with Look AI Ventures. The winner will get fast-tracked and invited to pitch directly in front of Look AI Ventures‘ investment committee, and after the due diligence process, there will be a funding opportunity of up to €250k.
• $220k Funding Opportunity with Techstars. The winner will be fast-tracked for a priority interview to join Techstars. This ensures that the startups’ business plan will be reviewed by the Techstars investment team and the most relevant program managing director. Following a positive due diligence process, the startup will have the opportunity to join a Techstars accelerator programme, including a $220k investment.
• Up to €100k in Cloud Credits from IONOS to support your startups’ hosting and scaling needs with a trusted European cloud provider.
• $24k in credits from Cyscale. The winning startup will receive cloud security credits to monitor and secure its cloud environment, helping to detect misconfigurations, vulnerabilities, and potential threats.
• $12k in credits from LUA AI to build an AI agent that helps automate tasks and interactions.
• Gain €12k in value at Make, including €6k in credits(Make Teams, 3.6m credits) and €6k in consultation services, to build no-code automated workflows using Make’s visual automation platform.
• Up to $12k in credits from Notion (6 months free Business Plan with unlimited AI), access to Notion Perks (exclusive discounts on other software) and to Notion Champions Community.
• €10k in JetBrains licenses for essential development and team tools, including award-winning tools such as IntelliJ IDEA, PyCharm, and JetBrains AI, trusted by 50,000+ startups worldwide
• €9,900 D-ID Video Maker Enterprise plan, 5-user package with one year of free use.
• $8k in Remote credits to support international hiring and help teams access global talent.
• €5k in value for an exhibition table at the EU-Startups Summit 2027, including 3 event tickets, and a 3-year CLUB membership

Who can apply?

• Startups in pre-seed or seed stage
• Less than 3 years old, with no or less than €750K venture capital raised
• Based in Europe (EU or UK, Norway, Switzerland, etc.)

How to Participate

You can apply via this link. After that, we will carefully sift through all of the applications and hand-pick the finalists who will join us on the main stage at this year’s EU-Startups Summit on May 7-8 in Malta, where they will pitch for 3 minutes in front of our jury and a huge audience of investors, media, and startup enthusiasts.

OUR EVENT SPONSORS

Malta Enterprise is Malta’s economic development agency, facilitating economic growth, investment, and innovation by offering a range of support services for local and foreign enterprises setting up a productive presence in Malta. As a key player in Malta’s economic landscape, it contributes to the nation’s prosperity by attracting investments, supporting businesses, and driving innovation, thereby reinforcing Malta’s position as an attractive destination for entrepreneurs and investors alike. Malta Enterprise actively cultivates a vibrant startup ecosystem, playing a pivotal role in fostering a conducive environment for startups and offering tailored support and incentives to empower emerging businesses.

M. Demajo Group is a leading business player in Malta, with a successful history spanning 115 years. The Group’s growth and diversification have resulted in a wide coverage of business sectors through a commitment to long-term results. M. Demajo Group’s workforce is 500 strong, and their various activities have been developed through organic growth, acquisitions, partnerships, and startups. Its strong financial situation and ethical standards, its business reputation, and its renowned track record as a business partner are all key factors in its continued expansion.

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