In December 2025, a pivotal opportunity for Europe’s startup founders kicked off as applications opened for the 2026 EU-Startups Summit Pitch Competition. This annual event, one of the continent's most prominent platforms for early-stage innovation, invites groundbreaking seed and pre-seed startups to showcase their potential on a high-profile stage. Taking place May 7–8, 2026, in the picturesque setting of Malta, the summit offers an unparalleled experience for networking, learning, and pitching.
With over 2,500 anticipated participants, the event promises a vibrant gathering of founders, investors, corporates, and media representatives. As someone who has spent two decades building startups and mentoring entrepreneurs, I see events like this as crucial not just for the exposure they bring but for the vital connections that can turn an idea into a thriving venture.
What the Pitch Competition Offers
The stage is set for 15 of Europe’s most exciting early-stage startups to present their ideas to a jury of seasoned investors, media representatives, and an audience filled with potential collaborators. Each founder gets three minutes to deliver a pitch compelling enough to stand out. The selection process itself is rigorous, with startups chosen from over 1,500 applicants across Europe.
The rewards are significant. Beyond visibility and validation, past competitions have featured prize packages exceeding €750K, including perks like mentoring, services, and tools tailored for scaling a business. Winning here doesn’t just come with a trophy, it opens doors to funding and partnerships.
For startups eager to participate, submissions are due by February 8, 2026. Note that eligibility is limited to startups in Europe (including the UK, Norway, and Switzerland) that are at the seed or pre-seed stage, with less than €750K raised to date.
Why Malta?
You might wonder: Why Malta? Aside from its Mediterranean allure, Malta has strategically positioned itself as a startup hub in Southern Europe. Malta Enterprise, the national development agency, is playing an instrumental role by offering support and incentives for emerging businesses. The island provides a unique nexus where innovation, investment, and inspiration collide.
Furthermore, the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta, with its historic architecture and stunning views, adds a touch of gravitas to the experience. Picture pitching your startup with a backdrop of European history and cutting-edge ambition, a truly motivating environment.
Common Missteps and How To Avoid Them
Having seen countless pitches, I know what entrepreneurs should and shouldn't do to make an impression. Too often, founders falter when they neglect these essentials:
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Overcomplicating the Story: Investors don’t buy overly technical jargon or complexity. Boil down your proposition to its essence. Start with the problem, your solution, and why it matters.
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Weak Financial Understanding: When you’re in a pitch competition geared towards investors, you have to demonstrate solid financial awareness. Prepare to answer questions about cash flow, customer acquisition costs, and scalability chances.
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Ignoring Feedback: Many founders enter their pitch with tunnel vision, failing to listen carefully to feedback. Smart entrepreneurs adapt, refining their ideas even during Q&A sessions.
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Forgetting the "Why Us?": Beyond the technology or idea, investors often look for a compelling case as to why you and your team are uniquely positioned to succeed. Emphasize your strengths and relevant experience.
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Underestimating Engagement: Pitching isn’t just about presenting slides; it’s about creating an emotional connection with the audience. Practice storytelling techniques that anchor your business in real-world benefits.
How to Nail Your Application and Pitch
If this is your first pitch competition, here is a concise guide to prepare effectively:
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Polish Your Application: Applications must stand out on paper before you even reach the stage. Avoid generic responses; ensure every part of your submission reflects your startup's key strengths.
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Perfect the First 30 Seconds: Within moments of stepping on stage, you need to capture attention. Start with a hard-hitting fact or an engaging story about the problem your startup solves.
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Anticipate Investor Questions: Questions like “Who is your target audience?” or “What’s stopping others from copying this?” will arise. Address them proactively during your pitch.
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Practice with Immediacy in Mind: Remember, a three-minute pitch isn’t just condensed storytelling; it’s about delivering value clearly and succinctly. Trim non-essential details.
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Prepare Your Team: If applicable, ensure your co-founders or key team members are aligned on messaging. Investors often prefer to see a collective team effort, even if one person delivers the pitch.
Trends Shaping the Event
Several trends make this year’s summit notably different:
- Increasing Role of Local Government: With Malta Enterprise spearheading initiatives, there’s growing regional support across Europe for early-stage entrepreneurs.
- Focus on Green Solutions: Expect a surge of pitches from startups addressing sustainability, as these themes are increasingly prioritized by both investors and the public.
- Tech Takes the Lead: Whether it’s AI, robotics, or deeptech, the summit has typically attracted startups leveraging frontier technologies. I predict this edition will continue with this trajectory.
Final Thoughts
The 2026 EU-Startups Summit is more than a networking event or pitch stage, it’s a gateway for future innovators to leap into the heart of Europe’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. For founders, the energy of this event can fuel important decisions, shape opportunities, and even attract long-term mentors. On my own journey, I vividly remember how a single event connection transformed the trajectory of my startup.
Ready to apply? The official application form for the competition is open now, and with February 8, 2026, fast approaching, there’s no better time to get started. Remember, the steps you take today may define your place in Europe’s entrepreneurial future. Are you ready to pitch?
FAQ
1. What is the 2026 EU-Startups Summit, and when will it take place?
The 2026 EU-Startups Summit is an annual event focused on Europe's startup ecosystem, featuring pitch competitions, keynote speeches, networking, and exhibitions. It will take place from May 7–8, 2026, in Malta. Learn more about the EU-Startups Summit
2. What is the highlight of the EU-Startups Summit?
One of the main highlights is the Pitch Competition, where 15 selected seed and pre-seed startups will showcase their innovative ideas to an audience and jury of investors and media representatives. Discover details about the Pitch Competition
3. Who is eligible to apply for the Pitch Competition?
Startups based in Europe, including the UK, Norway, and Switzerland, that are at the seed or pre-seed stage and have raised less than €750K to date, are eligible to apply. Applications close on February 8, 2026. Apply for the Pitch Competition here
4. What assistance do participating startups receive at the event?
The competition provides visibility, invaluable networking opportunities, and a prize package worth over €750K, which includes mentoring, tools, and other resources to help startups scale effectively. Explore the benefits for participants
5. Why has the 2026 Summit been scheduled in Malta?
Malta was chosen for its strategic position as a Southern European startup hub. Organizations like Malta Enterprise offer incentives and support to emerging businesses, making it an ideal location. Learn more about Malta’s role as a startup destination
6. How are startups selected to pitch at the Summit?
Startups are selected after a rigorous review process from over 1,500 applications across Europe. The top 15 most innovative startups are chosen to pitch on stage. Find out more about the selection process
7. What are the common mistakes founders make during pitch competitions?
Common mistakes include overcomplicating the story, neglecting financial understanding, ignoring feedback, failing to highlight team uniqueness, and underestimating the importance of audience engagement. Check out tips for creating a powerful pitch
8. What are the latest trends expected at the 2026 EU-Startups Summit?
Key trends include increased local government support (e.g., Malta Enterprise), greater focus on sustainability, and prominence of startups leveraging frontier technologies like AI and robotics. Dive into the event trends
9. How many participants are expected at the event?
The 2026 EU-Startups Summit is expected to attract over 2,500 participants, including startup founders, corporates, investors, and media professionals from across Europe. More about attendee participation
10. What networking opportunities can attendees expect?
Attendees can participate in 8,000+ matchmaking meetings, networking sessions, rooftop parties, and engage through a dedicated networking app, offering unparalleled opportunities to connect with peers and investors. Explore networking opportunities at the 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. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
Violetta Bonenkamp's expertise in CAD sector, IP protection and blockchain
Violetta Bonenkamp is recognized as a multidisciplinary expert with significant achievements in the CAD sector, intellectual property (IP) protection, and blockchain technology.
CAD Sector:
- Violetta is the CEO and co-founder of CADChain, a deep tech startup focused on developing IP management software specifically for CAD (Computer-Aided Design) data. CADChain addresses the lack of industry standards for CAD data protection and sharing, using innovative technology to secure and manage design data.
- She has led the company since its inception in 2018, overseeing R&D, PR, and business development, and driving the creation of products for platforms such as Autodesk Inventor, Blender, and SolidWorks.
- Her leadership has been instrumental in scaling CADChain from a small team to a significant player in the deeptech space, with a diverse, international team.
IP Protection:
- Violetta has built deep expertise in intellectual property, combining academic training with practical startup experience. She has taken specialized courses in IP from institutions like WIPO and the EU IPO.
- She is known for sharing actionable strategies for startup IP protection, leveraging both legal and technological approaches, and has published guides and content on this topic for the entrepreneurial community.
- Her work at CADChain directly addresses the need for robust IP protection in the engineering and design industries, integrating cybersecurity and compliance measures to safeguard digital assets.
Blockchain:
- Violetta’s entry into the blockchain sector began with the founding of CADChain, which uses blockchain as a core technology for securing and managing CAD data.
- She holds several certifications in blockchain and has participated in major hackathons and policy forums, such as the OECD Global Blockchain Policy Forum.
- Her expertise extends to applying blockchain for IP management, ensuring data integrity, traceability, and secure sharing in the CAD industry.
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, launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks and is building MELA AI to help local restaurants in Malta get more visibility online.
For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the POV of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about the best hotels in Italy to work from.
About the Publication
Fe/male Switch is an innovative startup platform designed to empower women entrepreneurs through an immersive, game-like experience. Founded in 2020 during the pandemic "without any funding and without any code," this non-profit initiative has evolved into a comprehensive educational tool for aspiring female entrepreneurs.The platform was co-founded by Violetta Shishkina-Bonenkamp, who serves as CEO and one of the lead authors of the Startup News branch.
Mission and Purpose
Fe/male Switch Foundation was created to address the gender gap in the tech and entrepreneurship space. The platform aims to skill-up future female tech leaders and empower them to create resilient and innovative tech startups through what they call "gamepreneurship". By putting players in a virtual startup village where they must survive and thrive, the startup game allows women to test their entrepreneurial abilities without financial risk.
Key Features
The platform offers a unique blend of news, resources,learning, networking, and practical application within a supportive, female-focused environment:
- Skill Lab: Micro-modules covering essential startup skills
- Virtual Startup Building: Create or join startups and tackle real-world challenges
- AI Co-founder (PlayPal): Guides users through the startup process
- SANDBOX: A testing environment for idea validation before launch
- Wellness Integration: Virtual activities to balance work and self-care
- Marketplace: Buy or sell expert sessions and tutorials
Impact and Growth
Since its inception, Fe/male Switch has shown impressive growth:
- 5,000+ female entrepreneurs in the community
- 100+ startup tools built
- 5,000+ pieces of articles and news written
- 1,000 unique business ideas for women created
Partnerships
Fe/male Switch has formed strategic partnerships to enhance its offerings. In January 2022, it teamed up with global website builder Tilda to provide free access to website building tools and mentorship services for Fe/male Switch participants.
Recognition
Fe/male Switch has received media attention for its innovative approach to closing the gender gap in tech entrepreneurship. The platform has been featured in various publications highlighting its unique "play to learn and earn" model.