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Oleksandra Bernatska from Skyworker: The war gave us a push to do things we had been afraid to do before

Oleksandra Bernatska is Co-founder & Chief Product Officer at Skyworker, one of the fastest-growing recruitment startups in Europe. Founded in Ukraine in 2021, Skyworker is a tech recruiting marketplace that helps companies and talents meet in a "swipe left" /...
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Will van den Tweel from Those Vegan Cowboys on the path to animal free dairy products

Those Vegan Cowboys is a Belgian company on a mission to make the best cheese without the use of animals in the...
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Nishil Parekh and Flora Somogyi on the launching and scaling journey at Lightyear

Lightyear is an investment platform targeting European retail investors. Founded in 2020 by Martin Sokk and Mihkel Aamer, both part of the TransferWise...
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Juudit Gross: a career change to IT must start with interest and desire to work there

The career change from sea surveyor to IT developer was a logical step for Juudit (30), but at the same time a well-thought-out...
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How to stay on top of your security game as a startup?

How to operate in the modern cloud environment while being compliant and diligent from day one? The following checklist compiled by our...
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Anna Burgués from EIT Urban Mobility on liveable cities, impact investing and a stronger Baltic startup ecosystem

Anna Burgués, part of the startup investment team at EIT Urban Mobility, shares how the organization is on a mission to create...
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sTARTUp Pitching 2022 winner LightCode Photonics changes the way robots see us

LightCode Photonics picked up a €200k EstBAN-led syndicate investment from the sTARTUp Pitching 2022 competition. The University of Tartu spin-off, founded in...
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The winners of sTARTUp Pitching 2022 have been announced!

A record number of 380 applicants from 47 countries started this year’s sTARTUp Pitching competition. After a fierce competition, the winners have...
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The TOP 5 startups of sTARTUp Pitching 2022 are…!

Today, sTARTUp Day attendees could meet the most promising early-stage startups in the region, as the TOP 40 teams of sTARTUp Pitching...
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sTARTUp Day 2022 survival guide aka 10 things you NEED to know to have the time of your life

sTARTUp Day is almost here. We have compiled this short list of practical information to help you have the best festival experience....
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Jõhvi coding school: An ode to Estonian scrappiness and unity

The biggest cloud hanging over the Estonian tech sector – a shortage of ICT professionals – is being tackled at kood/Jõhvi in...
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Three mistakes to avoid as a startup when raising capital

Our partner TGS Baltic sheds light on three common mistakes they have seen startups commit in the fundraising process. 
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Five things our Banking-as-a-Service Platform has taught us about launching products

Monese launched in 2015 with the ambition to offer financial services to those without perfect credit scores or proof of address. To...
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Rebecka Löthman Rydå from Inventure VC: Think big and show your ambition

Rebecka Löthman Rydå is an Investment Director at Inventure VC, one of the most experienced venture funds in the Nordics. Rebecka has...
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Woohoo – We f*cked Up! – Beast Rent's expansion

There's no better way to learn than by listening to the stories of fast-growing startups. Here’s a fabulous first-hand account of our...
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Online selling guru Krystel Assi: e-Residency changed my life

sTARTUp Day seminar host shares 'hacks' on putting your e-commerce business on the fast track. 
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What do teens and your future employees really want? Wise shares 3 key takeaways from the latest survey

Wise has been keeping a close eye on the youth for years now and has asked Kantar Emor to survey teens aged...
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Announcing the TOP 40 of sTARTUp Pitching 2022!

We are excited to publish the list of TOP 40 startups of sTARTUp Pitching. This year, we had an astounding number of...
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Aleks Koha from Promoty on futurism and turning your interests into a startup

Aleks Koha is the CEO and co-founder of Promoty, a platform that connects influencer marketing with social media analytics. Having experience in...
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Antonius 2022 Showcases Sustainable Everyday Fashion and Forward-Looking Digital Fashion

For the first time in sTARTUp Day history, we have a fashion show on our side events program! Antonius fashion show, part...
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Let's Meet Heidi Kakko and Martin Goroško – EstBAN Syndicate Lead Investors at sTARTUp Pitching

One of the teams at sTARTUp Pitching 2022 will collect up to €200k early stage funding for their startup from an Estonian...
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Catching Up with Cihat Kahraman from VSight One Year After Winning sTARTUp Pitching 2021

Cihat Kahraman is the Co-founder and CEO at VSight, a Remote Service and Collaboration platform with Augmented Reality, and the winner of...
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5 main reasons why early-stage startups fail to get funding

According to a U.S. Bank study, a whopping 82% of businesses that failed cited cash flow problems as a factor in their...
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Gleb Maltsev on The Art and Science of Pitching in Times of Uncertainty

Gleb Maltsev is a data-driven pitch coach whose training sessions have proved eye-opening for many founders. Each year, he listens to around...
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We have unveiled the full sTARTUp Day 2022 program

The cat is out of the bag – while additions will be made all the way to August, we have unveiled the...
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Birds and butterflies: let’s talk about biodiversity

We need to have a chat about birds and bees. Well, not the kind you had with your parents when you were...
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A sTARTUp-minded city

The city of Tartu, the birthplace and location of sTARTUp Day, has found a special place in the hearts of many startups....
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Lauri Reuter: From scientist to launching the first foodtech VC fund in the Nordics and Baltics

Lauri Reuter is a scientist turned investor and partner at Nordic Foodtech VC. The fund invests in deep foodtech companies based in the...
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Marcel Poelker from Taledo: “I'm a firm believer in humans behind the job.”

Marcel Poelker is the founder and CTO of Taledo, a Berlin-founded innovative recruiting platform that combines a human-centric approach to hiring with...
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What's wrong with him!? 5 ways leaders are slowing their business growth

Rather than focus on the faults of your team members, start the change with yourself and lead by example. You will find...
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Head of Program Artur Kamberg on this year's program highlights, freelance life and Tartu vs Tallinn

You may know Artur Kamberg as a radio voice, podcast and event host but did you know he is also the Head...
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The University of Tartu spin-off company UP Catalyst makes the battery industry greener

It is estimated that by 2030 around half of the new cars sold are electric. The shift to electric vehicles requires a...
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10+1 tested tips how to attract more visitors to your demo booth

This year’s sTARTUp Day will have the biggest demo area in the history of the festival. How to make your booth attract...
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A Guide to Burnout and Focus for High Growth Teams

Most founders and team leaders are familiar with the distractions that prevent us from achieving our goals. E-mails, texts, calls — all...
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Kalev Kärpuk from Adact: Founders should learn more from the mistakes of others

Kalev Kärpuk is the CEO and founder of Adact, a young gamification marketing startup that allows companies to create engaging gamification campaigns...
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Designer Liis Tiisvelt from iLLIMOR loves making sustainable apparel for startups

Liis Tiisvelt is a designer and founder of the clothing brand iLLIMOR, which is characterized by sustainability – all clothes are produced...
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Christoph Klink from Antler: Creating the right conditions for building great teams

Christoph Klink is Partner at Antler, a global early-stage VC firm founded in Singapore in 2017. He is co-leading Antler's operations in...
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sTARTUp Day joins forces with Fractory

The Tartu-founded cloud manufacturing company Fractory joins as one of the co-organizers of sTARTUp Day.
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Avely Marjapuu and Toomas Häide from Naine.fit: Success starts with baby steps, both in business and fitness

Avely Marjapuu and Toomas Häide are founders of Naine.fit, an online fitness platform offering women a variety of training programs, healthy recipes...
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Marcel Gasser: "It's impossible to get to know who you truly are without meditation."

Marcel Gasser is an entrepreneurial nomad, business angel and mentor who helps entrepreneurs and investors in becoming fully aligned with their purpose,...
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Our most popular reads in 2021

Here are the TOP 10 most popular interviews published on sTARTUp Day blog this year - full of interesting insights from investors,...
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10 startup terms from 2021 everyone should know

Part of the holiday routine is looking back and compiling various lists. So here is one from the sTARTUp Day team ‒ of...
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Meet our podcast hosts Marleen Aasa and Otto Oliver Olgo

It’s time to get to know Marleen Aasa and Otto Oliver Olgo, consultants at Miltton New Nordics and the hosts of Season...
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sTARTUp Day 2022 will return as an epic summer festival

While we hoped to meet everyone already in January, we have to wait a bit longer this year. In light of the...
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Time to join sTARTUp Day 2022 pitching contest with a prize pool of over €350k

We are calling all startups to apply for the sTARTUp Pitching competition. This is your chance to shine on the stage in...
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Volunteering at sTARTUp Day ‒ high energy, awesome people and new skills

What does it feel like to be part of the team organizing sTARTUp Day and experience the creative chaos behind the scenes?...
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We’re ready, are you? The 6th sTARTUp Day season has officially kicked off!

While the emotions from sTARTUp Day 2021 are still high in the air, it’s time to kick off the next festival season....
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Tickets from €139

Tickets

Find your perfect ticket type! All ticket types grant access to all three festival days on 29-31 January 2025. 

Venue access
Ϟ Day 0: Side Events on January 29
Ϟ Day 1 on January 30
Ϟ Day 2 on January 31
Matchmaking
This is where the magic happens. Through our matchmaking app, you can schedule 20-minute meetings with participants and meet them at our matchmaking area. General access to the matchmaking app will be available at the beginning of the festival week.
Stage program
There will be three stages at sTARTUp Day 2025 – Starlight Stage, Insight Stage, and Pitching Stage – with speakers and presenters who cover a variety of topics for every taste.
Demo Area access
This is the Mecca of Entrepreneurship! Explore the latest innovations and discover new products, services, friends, opportunities and perhaps, your new career challenge.
sTARTUp Night
The legendary sTARTUp Night wraps up the first conference day on January 30. The afterparty is bringing together the coolest festival visitors, good music, and lots of surprises!
Seminars
Practical seminars to sharpen & level up your skills.
Side events
Vibrant side events take place all over Tartu before and during the official festival.
Early access to matchmaking app
With early access, you’ll gain access to our matchmaking app two weeks earlier than most people. Use the opportunity to get a head start and request meetings with the hottest participants before all their slots are full.
VIP Reception
Celebrate the beginning of sTARTUp Day in style! The VIP Reception brings together speakers, investors & executives for an unforgettable night.
VIP Lounge access
Escape to your lounge where you can kick back and relax, get some work done, or prep for the next meeting.
Investor Day
Investor Day on January 29 is an exclusive investors' meetup to share experiences, learn from each other, and create meaningful contacts. Structured in a way you'd feel both elevated by and busy with new ideas while leaving enough room for networking.
Executive Day
Executive Day on January 29 is about taking the time to listen, talk, and network with other leaders. This is the place to bounce your thoughts and learn about challenges and solutions across different industries.
List of attending investors
Startups will see the participating investors' list (investor's name + investment fund's name) which enables them to request meetings with the right investors through our matchmaking app.
List of attending startups
There are over 300 unique startups at sTARTUp Day, which can be quite overwhelming at times. We'll send you a database of all of the participating startups so you can browse through them all and select the ones you want to meet beforehand.
Personalised startup matches
With the help of our good friends from Dealum, we will find the most relevant startup matches based on each investor’s profile. This means that investors will get a list of hand-selected startups that meet their requirements, making it even easier to meet the right startup.
Visibility at sTARTUp Day website
All validated startups and the biggest VC funds will be featured on the sTARTUp Day website.

Visitor

149 €
BUY NOW
Venue access
Ϟ Day 0: Side Events on January 29
Ϟ Day 1 on January 30
Ϟ Day 2 on January 31
Matchmaking
This is where the magic happens. Through our matchmaking app, you can schedule 20-minute meetings with participants and meet them at our matchmaking area. General access to the matchmaking app will be available at the beginning of the festival week.
Stage program
There will be three stages at sTARTUp Day 2025 – Starlight Stage, Insight Stage, and Pitching Stage – with speakers and presenters who cover a variety of topics for every taste.
Demo Area access
This is the Mecca of Entrepreneurship! Explore the latest innovations and discover new products, services, friends, opportunities and perhaps, your new career challenge.
sTARTUp Night
The legendary sTARTUp Night wraps up the first conference day on January 30. The afterparty is bringing together the coolest festival visitors, good music, and lots of surprises!
Seminars
Practical seminars to sharpen & level up your skills.
Side events
Vibrant side events take place all over Tartu before and during the official festival.
Early access to matchmaking app
With early access, you’ll gain access to our matchmaking app two weeks earlier than most people. Use the opportunity to get a head start and request meetings with the hottest participants before all their slots are full.
VIP Reception
Celebrate the beginning of sTARTUp Day in style! The VIP Reception brings together speakers, investors & executives for an unforgettable night.
VIP Lounge access
Escape to your lounge where you can kick back and relax, get some work done, or prep for the next meeting.
Investor Day
Investor Day on January 29 is an exclusive investors' meetup to share experiences, learn from each other, and create meaningful contacts. Structured in a way you'd feel both elevated by and busy with new ideas while leaving enough room for networking.
Executive Day
Executive Day on January 29 is about taking the time to listen, talk, and network with other leaders. This is the place to bounce your thoughts and learn about challenges and solutions across different industries.
List of attending investors
Startups will see the participating investors' list (investor's name + investment fund's name) which enables them to request meetings with the right investors through our matchmaking app.
List of attending startups
There are over 300 unique startups at sTARTUp Day, which can be quite overwhelming at times. We'll send you a database of all of the participating startups so you can browse through them all and select the ones you want to meet beforehand.
Personalised startup matches
With the help of our good friends from Dealum, we will find the most relevant startup matches based on each investor’s profile. This means that investors will get a list of hand-selected startups that meet their requirements, making it even easier to meet the right startup.
Visibility at sTARTUp Day website
All validated startups and the biggest VC funds will be featured on the sTARTUp Day website.

Startup

139 €
BUY NOW
Venue access
Ϟ Day 0: Side Events on January 29
Ϟ Day 1 on January 30
Ϟ Day 2 on January 31
Matchmaking
This is where the magic happens. Through our matchmaking app, you can schedule 20-minute meetings with participants and meet them at our matchmaking area. General access to the matchmaking app will be available at the beginning of the festival week.
Stage program
There will be three stages at sTARTUp Day 2025 – Starlight Stage, Insight Stage, and Pitching Stage – with speakers and presenters who cover a variety of topics for every taste.
Demo Area access
This is the Mecca of Entrepreneurship! Explore the latest innovations and discover new products, services, friends, opportunities and perhaps, your new career challenge.
sTARTUp Night
The legendary sTARTUp Night wraps up the first conference day on January 30. The afterparty is bringing together the coolest festival visitors, good music, and lots of surprises!
Seminars
Practical seminars to sharpen & level up your skills.
Side events
Vibrant side events take place all over Tartu before and during the official festival.
Early access to matchmaking app
With early access, you’ll gain access to our matchmaking app two weeks earlier than most people. Use the opportunity to get a head start and request meetings with the hottest participants before all their slots are full.
VIP Reception
Celebrate the beginning of sTARTUp Day in style! The VIP Reception brings together speakers, investors & executives for an unforgettable night.
VIP Lounge access
Escape to your lounge where you can kick back and relax, get some work done, or prep for the next meeting.
Investor Day
Investor Day on January 29 is an exclusive investors' meetup to share experiences, learn from each other, and create meaningful contacts. Structured in a way you'd feel both elevated by and busy with new ideas while leaving enough room for networking.
Executive Day
Executive Day on January 29 is about taking the time to listen, talk, and network with other leaders. This is the place to bounce your thoughts and learn about challenges and solutions across different industries.
List of attending investors
Startups will see the participating investors' list (investor's name + investment fund's name) which enables them to request meetings with the right investors through our matchmaking app.
List of attending startups
There are over 300 unique startups at sTARTUp Day, which can be quite overwhelming at times. We'll send you a database of all of the participating startups so you can browse through them all and select the ones you want to meet beforehand.
Personalised startup matches
With the help of our good friends from Dealum, we will find the most relevant startup matches based on each investor’s profile. This means that investors will get a list of hand-selected startups that meet their requirements, making it even easier to meet the right startup.
Visibility at sTARTUp Day website
All validated startups and the biggest VC funds will be featured on the sTARTUp Day website.

Investor

209 €
BUY NOW
Venue access
Ϟ Day 0: Side Events on January 29
Ϟ Day 1 on January 30
Ϟ Day 2 on January 31
Matchmaking
This is where the magic happens. Through our matchmaking app, you can schedule 20-minute meetings with participants and meet them at our matchmaking area. General access to the matchmaking app will be available at the beginning of the festival week.
Stage program
There will be three stages at sTARTUp Day 2025 – Starlight Stage, Insight Stage, and Pitching Stage – with speakers and presenters who cover a variety of topics for every taste.
Demo Area access
This is the Mecca of Entrepreneurship! Explore the latest innovations and discover new products, services, friends, opportunities and perhaps, your new career challenge.
sTARTUp Night
The legendary sTARTUp Night wraps up the first conference day on January 30. The afterparty is bringing together the coolest festival visitors, good music, and lots of surprises!
Seminars
Practical seminars to sharpen & level up your skills.
Side events
Vibrant side events take place all over Tartu before and during the official festival.
Early access to matchmaking app
With early access, you’ll gain access to our matchmaking app two weeks earlier than most people. Use the opportunity to get a head start and request meetings with the hottest participants before all their slots are full.
VIP Reception
Celebrate the beginning of sTARTUp Day in style! The VIP Reception brings together speakers, investors & executives for an unforgettable night.
VIP Lounge access
Escape to your lounge where you can kick back and relax, get some work done, or prep for the next meeting.
Investor Day
Investor Day on January 29 is an exclusive investors' meetup to share experiences, learn from each other, and create meaningful contacts. Structured in a way you'd feel both elevated by and busy with new ideas while leaving enough room for networking.
Executive Day
Executive Day on January 29 is about taking the time to listen, talk, and network with other leaders. This is the place to bounce your thoughts and learn about challenges and solutions across different industries.
List of attending investors
Startups will see the participating investors' list (investor's name + investment fund's name) which enables them to request meetings with the right investors through our matchmaking app.
List of attending startups
There are over 300 unique startups at sTARTUp Day, which can be quite overwhelming at times. We'll send you a database of all of the participating startups so you can browse through them all and select the ones you want to meet beforehand.
Personalised startup matches
With the help of our good friends from Dealum, we will find the most relevant startup matches based on each investor’s profile. This means that investors will get a list of hand-selected startups that meet their requirements, making it even easier to meet the right startup.
Visibility at sTARTUp Day website
All validated startups and the biggest VC funds will be featured on the sTARTUp Day website.

Executive

209 €
BUY NOW
Venue access
Ϟ Day 0: Side Events on January 29
Ϟ Day 1 on January 30
Ϟ Day 2 on January 31
Matchmaking
This is where the magic happens. Through our matchmaking app, you can schedule 20-minute meetings with participants and meet them at our matchmaking area. General access to the matchmaking app will be available at the beginning of the festival week.
Stage program
There will be three stages at sTARTUp Day 2025 – Starlight Stage, Insight Stage, and Pitching Stage – with speakers and presenters who cover a variety of topics for every taste.
Demo Area access
This is the Mecca of Entrepreneurship! Explore the latest innovations and discover new products, services, friends, opportunities and perhaps, your new career challenge.
sTARTUp Night
The legendary sTARTUp Night wraps up the first conference day on January 30. The afterparty is bringing together the coolest festival visitors, good music, and lots of surprises!
Seminars
Practical seminars to sharpen & level up your skills.
Side events
Vibrant side events take place all over Tartu before and during the official festival.
Early access to matchmaking app
With early access, you’ll gain access to our matchmaking app two weeks earlier than most people. Use the opportunity to get a head start and request meetings with the hottest participants before all their slots are full.
VIP Reception
Celebrate the beginning of sTARTUp Day in style! The VIP Reception brings together speakers, investors & executives for an unforgettable night.
VIP Lounge access
Escape to your lounge where you can kick back and relax, get some work done, or prep for the next meeting.
Investor Day
Investor Day on January 29 is an exclusive investors' meetup to share experiences, learn from each other, and create meaningful contacts. Structured in a way you'd feel both elevated by and busy with new ideas while leaving enough room for networking.
Executive Day
Executive Day on January 29 is about taking the time to listen, talk, and network with other leaders. This is the place to bounce your thoughts and learn about challenges and solutions across different industries.
List of attending investors
Startups will see the participating investors' list (investor's name + investment fund's name) which enables them to request meetings with the right investors through our matchmaking app.
List of attending startups
There are over 300 unique startups at sTARTUp Day, which can be quite overwhelming at times. We'll send you a database of all of the participating startups so you can browse through them all and select the ones you want to meet beforehand.
Personalised startup matches
With the help of our good friends from Dealum, we will find the most relevant startup matches based on each investor’s profile. This means that investors will get a list of hand-selected startups that meet their requirements, making it even easier to meet the right startup.
Visibility at sTARTUp Day website
All validated startups and the biggest VC funds will be featured on the sTARTUp Day website.