DeepTech Pitching Competition

From SpaceTech breakthroughs to quantum computing, these startups are tackling the world’s biggest challenges with visionary ideas. Get ready to witness the next generation of groundbreaking technologies!

The DeepTech Competition at START Summit 2025 will bring together 8 of Europe’s most promising DeepTech founders, each showcasing their cutting-edge solutions to compete in front of the world’s leading early-stage funds: Sequoia, Accel, General Catalyst, Index Ventures, NEA, and Benchmark.

Applications are closed.

Saas Pitching Competition

From productivity-boosting platforms to cutting-edge AI-powered tools, these SaaS startups are redefining the way businesses operate. Witness the rise of tomorrow’s most impactful software companies! The winning Startup will receive an MVP package worth CHF 10,000 from our partner Smart Online Development!

The SaaS Pitching Competition will bring together 8 of the most promising SaaS founders in Europe, pitching their visionary solutions to a panel of industry-leading investors and experts. With renowned funds such as Sequoia, Accel, Bessemer Venture Partners, Northzone and Lightspeed Ventures in the audience, this is the ultimate stage for the next generation of SaaS Unicorns.

Applications are closed.

The LatAm & Africa START Fellowship Pitch

Through Investment Committee Sessions, selected startups from Latin America and Africa are provided with the opportunity to secure a total amount of CHF 100’000 in equity-free funding through the START Fellowship Accelerator. Eight startups will be selected to present their pitches to the Investment Committee Jury.

The Investment Committee Jury, composed of seasoned investors, entrepreneurs and the Managing Director of START Fellowship, will evaluate the pitches and determine the allocation of funding. The total funding amount of up to CHF 100’000 will be distributed among several winner startups.

About START Fellowship

START Fellowship is a philanthropic incubator and accelerator program, empowering young founders from low- and middle-income countries to turn their ideas into reality. By fostering global connections and supporting diverse entrepreneurs, we aim to strengthen ecosystems, create positive community impact and promote a more equitable future worldwide.

EWOR Grand Pitch

At the EWOR Pitching Competition, 12 selected EWOR Fellows will pitch their startups in 3-minute presentations, competing for funding between €250K and €5M—from pre-seed to Series A. The startups cover key industries such as AI, GreenTech, DeepTech, SaaS, and LegalTech.

EWOR supports founders with:

• Up to €150,000 in initial funding
• Access to top-tier founders, peers, and investors
• Guidance to secure multi-million VC funding within 12 months

EWOR’s network includes founders behind SumUp, Adjust, ProGlove, and Felyx, with a collective portfolio of over €12 billion in value.

After the EWOR Grand Pitch, startups will have the chance to network with the EWOR team and may secure a fast track into their program.

AI Pitch Competition

The jury will be:

• Adrian Locher (Founder & GP, Merantix Capital)
• Dr. Dr. Ann-Lauriene Schumacher (Haag) (Entrepreneurship Manager, ETH AI Center

+ One special guest to be announced soon!

The contest will be on Thursday, March 20th 14:50pm at Pitching Stage.

Applications are open until the 8th of March.

Pitch in front of the jury of Switzerland's "Die Höhlen der Löwen"

• 3-minute pitch – Make your vision count.
• 10-minute Q&A – Face tough questions from Bettina Hein, Nicole Büttner, and Tom Zimmerman.