EU-Startups Summit 2026 Pitch Surpasses €1 Million Prize

The EU-Startups Summit has announced a significant expansion of its annual pitch competition prize package, which now exceeds €1 million for the first time in the event's history. The 12th edition of the summit, scheduled for 7^th and 8^th May in Malta, represents a substantial increase from the packages offered in previous iterations, underlining the growing ambition of Europe’s premier startup gathering.

Fifteen early-stage startups will be selected from more than 1,600 expected applications to pitch on the main stage at the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta. Each finalist will have three minutes to present their business to a panel of experienced venture capital judges before a live audience of investors, corporates, media, and fellow founders.

The headline prize includes a €250,000 funding opportunity with Look AI Ventures, whose investment committee will fast-track the winner through a due diligence process. Additionalrewards include a 90 per cent discount on HubSpot's Pro Suite worth up to $25,000, alongside up to $150,000 in savings from HubSpot partners. The package features €10,000 in JetBrains development tool licences, €10,000 in Remote credits to support international hiring, and a €9,900 D-ID Video Maker Enterprise plan. The winner will also receive an exhibition table at the 2027 summit valued at €5,000 and a three-year membership to the EU-Startups CLUB.

Last year's competition was won by PryvX, whose founder Margit Arctaedius took the top prize from a field selected out of over 1,500 applicants. The 2025 edition offered a package valued at more than €750,000.

The Summit is expected to attract around 2,500 founders, investors, and industry professionals, with over 80 speakers and 8,000 matchmaking meetings facilitated through a dedicated networking app. Malta Enterprise, the country’s economic development agency, continues to support the event as part of its commitment to fostering a vibrant startup ecosystem.