We’re looking for the brightest early-stage startups looking to get a kick-start in their fundraising goals for 2026. With three investments, equity-free cash, legal help and cloud services up for grabs, this is your chance to take the stage and win BIG!
We're not limiting the competition to any specific vertical. Whether you're building a DeepTech product, innovating the banking industry, creating hardware, working on achieving SDGs, we encourage you to apply. Our investment partners are looking for startups with a live product in hand, accompanied by traction or feedback, a formidable team, and the readiness for investment. If your startup isn't ready for investment yet, don't hold back – you can still compete for other valuable prizes.
In the first round, you’ll first need to assess your startup’s current development status on a scale of 1-9 across six areas using The KTH Innovation Readiness Level™ model:
Ϟ Customer Readiness Level (CRL)
Ϟ Technology Readiness Level (TRL)
Ϟ Business Model Readiness Level (BRL)
Ϟ IPR Readiness Level (IPRL)
Ϟ Team Readiness Level (TMRL)
Ϟ Funding Readiness Level (FRL)
You can find detailed information about how to score your startup on each aspect HERE.
Be honest! We don’t expect you to score high on any aspect, but our investors do need a realistic overview of your current state.
In the second round, we'll ask you some additional questions based on which our jury will make the decision for the TOP30.
Ϟ Up to €200,000 EstBAN-led syndicate investment
EstBAN is putting together an angel syndicate to invest up to €200k in the most investable startup team from the sTARTUp Day 2025 deal flow. EstBAN syndicates have invested almost €2.7M into awesome startup companies. You can find skyrocketing teams from our portfolio like VSight, Jeff App, Fractory, TranslateWise, ATOM Mobility, Adact, and numerous others.
Ϟ Up to €200,000 deep tech investment from BSV
BSV is an early-stage VC dedicated to developing the Deep Tech, Life Science and Dual-Use Tech ecosystem in the Baltics and Nordics. Their focus is on early-stage individuals and teams that are engaged in research and development and are seeking to address complex technical challenges with significant potential for commercial applications.
Ϟ €10,000 equity-free cash from Swedbank
Our partner Swedbank will give €10k equity-free cash to one of the teams to fund their growth.
Ϟ €10,000 legal support from Sorainen
Legal advice worth €10,000 from award-winning international law firm Sorainen, who has advised numerous startups, including Bolt, Sunly, Veriff, Montonio, Äio, and Nanordica Medical. Sorainen has acted as legal adviser on either the startup’s or the funders’ side in 5 out of 13 transactions that have given birth to the Baltic unicorns—many of which have sustainable missions at the core of their business. Sorainen was ranked among the Top 30 most innovative law firms in Europe by the Financial Times in 2024, and is shortlisted again in 2025.
Ϟ Pitching training for TOP30
Teams who have been chosen to pitch in the TOP30 will get a chance to take part in intense pitching training.
We're not limiting the competition to any specific vertical. Whether you're building a DeepTech product, innovating the banking industry, creating hardware, working on achieving SDGs, we encourage you to apply. Our investment partners are looking for startups with a live product in hand, accompanied by traction or feedback, a formidable team, and the readiness for investment. If your startup isn't ready for investment yet, don't hold back – you can still compete for other valuable prizes.
Two-part application process
This year, sTARTUp Pitching takes place in two parts.In the first round, you’ll first need to assess your startup’s current development status on a scale of 1-9 across six areas using The KTH Innovation Readiness Level™ model:
Ϟ Customer Readiness Level (CRL)
Ϟ Technology Readiness Level (TRL)
Ϟ Business Model Readiness Level (BRL)
Ϟ IPR Readiness Level (IPRL)
Ϟ Team Readiness Level (TMRL)
Ϟ Funding Readiness Level (FRL)
You can find detailed information about how to score your startup on each aspect HERE.
Be honest! We don’t expect you to score high on any aspect, but our investors do need a realistic overview of your current state.
In the second round, we'll ask you some additional questions based on which our jury will make the decision for the TOP30.
The sTARTUp Pitching Prizes in 2026
Ϟ Up to €200,000 EstBAN-led syndicate investment
EstBAN is putting together an angel syndicate to invest up to €200k in the most investable startup team from the sTARTUp Day 2025 deal flow. EstBAN syndicates have invested almost €2.7M into awesome startup companies. You can find skyrocketing teams from our portfolio like VSight, Jeff App, Fractory, TranslateWise, ATOM Mobility, Adact, and numerous others.
Ϟ Up to €200,000 deep tech investment from BSV
BSV is an early-stage VC dedicated to developing the Deep Tech, Life Science and Dual-Use Tech ecosystem in the Baltics and Nordics. Their focus is on early-stage individuals and teams that are engaged in research and development and are seeking to address complex technical challenges with significant potential for commercial applications.
Ϟ €10,000 equity-free cash from Swedbank
Our partner Swedbank will give €10k equity-free cash to one of the teams to fund their growth.
Ϟ €10,000 legal support from Sorainen
Legal advice worth €10,000 from award-winning international law firm Sorainen, who has advised numerous startups, including Bolt, Sunly, Veriff, Montonio, Äio, and Nanordica Medical. Sorainen has acted as legal adviser on either the startup’s or the funders’ side in 5 out of 13 transactions that have given birth to the Baltic unicorns—many of which have sustainable missions at the core of their business. Sorainen was ranked among the Top 30 most innovative law firms in Europe by the Financial Times in 2024, and is shortlisted again in 2025.
Ϟ Pitch deck legal proofing & 6000€ legal support from Triniti
TRINITI will provide pitch deck legal proofing for all TOP30 startups (making sure that the pitches are bullet-proof from the legal perspective). In addition, TRINITI will give out up to 6000€ worth of legal support to selected TOP startups. TRINITI is a pan-Baltic full-service law firm with a strong focus on advising the technology sector. TRINITI’s attorneys are experienced in advising startups in all the stages of a startup’s life cycle – from the first pitches to exit.Ϟ Mentorship and advisory worth €120k from Values360Ventures
Values360Ventures fosters the adoption of Core Values among global investors to drive a new wave of impact investing in SMEs. Vales360Ventures helps startups grow and go global, with experise in expanding into Africa, Asia and the Middle East. One winner will receive a year of mentorship and advisory to support market entry, business development and initiative engagement.Ϟ Pitching training for TOP30
Teams who have been chosen to pitch in the TOP30 will get a chance to take part in intense pitching training.
PITCHING TIMELINE
DATE | EVENT |
October 6 | Applications open here |
November 7 | Applications close |
November 14 | Announcing to the startups who proceed to round II |
November 23 | Deadline for submitting round II information |
December 9 | Announcing the TOP30 |
January 29 | TOP30 pitching at the sTARTUp Day Pitching Stage |
January 30 | The TOP 5 will pitch at the sTARTUp Day main stage, the jury will decide and announce the winners. |