VDS has just launched the call for its international startup competition. This contest aims to identify the world’s most disruptive startups that are developing innovative solutions to make a positive impact that transforms society and to connect them with the more than 700 investors expected at VDS2024, who collectively manage assets worth more than €30 billion, according to EY.
The seventh edition of this annual event will feature collaboration with TNW – part of the Financial Times group – organizer of one of Europe’s leading technology festivals, in the development of the VDS Startup Competition. This collaboration will provide additional opportunities for innovative companies across Europe to share their ideas. Furthermore, Plug and Play, the innovation platform that connects corporates with the world’s best technologies through acceleration programs focused on Silicon Valley, will enhance the global attraction of startups.
An international jury, selected by TNW, will be responsible for choosing the 10 finalists of the VDS Startup Competition. These finalists will have the opportunity to present their project on the main stage of the international technology event, which will take place on October 23 and 24 at the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia. These startups will pitch to more than 12,000 attendees from over 100 countries that VDS2024 aims to bring together, and from them, the winning startup of the competition will be selected.
The international competition is open, until June 29, to startups from around the world, with the only requirement being to have at least one MVP (Minimum Viable Product) and to develop an innovative solution that embraces the technological evolution the world is currently undergoing.
Startup Valencia, the organizing entity of VDS, expects to exceed the number of applications received in 2023, when more than 600 proposals from 48 different countries were submitted. During this past edition, 50 startups were selected in the first phase, 70% of which were based outside Spain and mostly worked with artificial intelligence.
In the 2023 edition, the finalists of the second phase were Autoscriber (Netherlands), Beynex (Turkey), Bridgewise (Israel), Cafler (Spain), Ender Turing (Estonia), Legitify (Ireland), Quantic Brains (Spain), Spendbase (Ukraine), Welii (France), and Zim Connections (England), with Ender Turing winning in the Seed category and Cafler in the Growth category.
We encourage you to apply to the VDS2024 international startup competition by clicking here.
