VENTURECUP 2026
Sweden's largest national competition for early-stage startups with verified, scalable business ideas and growth potential.
Open 15 April to 15 September 2026. The submission deadline is 15 September. Taking part is free of charge.
What you get out of it
Feedback
Useful assessment from jury groups of experienced entrepreneurs, investors and industry experts.
Network
Meetings with investors, partners and fellow founders, both in your region and nationally.
Prize money
The chance to win money that moves the business idea forward.
A seal of quality
Over the years, a win in VENTURECUP has proven to attract both investors and media attention.
How entries are assessed
Every entry is evaluated against four criteria. Make sure your entry covers all of them before the deadline.
Business idea
Which problem do you solve, for whom, and why your solution?
Team
Do you have the competence and the staying power to execute?
Scalability
Can the business grow without costs growing just as fast?
Credibility
Is there verification (customers, tests, agreements, data) behind your claims?
The competition step by step
- Submission by 15 September 2026 at the latest.
- Screening jury. After the deadline all entries are assessed by a screening jury that selects which startups move on.
- Pitch to a regional jury. Those selected get to pitch to the regional jury groups.
- Regional finals take place in October in the East, North, West and South regions, with dates in the event calendar.
- Regional winners are named in the categories Impact Maker, Game Changer, Beyond Academic and Best Traction.
- The national final in early 2027, where all regional winners compete for the title Startup of the Year.
The categories
Impact Maker
For the company whose solution delivers clear social or environmental benefit.
Game Changer
For the company that challenges how an entire industry works.
Beyond Academic
For the company taking research and academic knowledge out into the real world.
Best Traction
For the company already showing measurable customer growth and traction.
What do you need to compete?
All you need to compete is a business idea. You decide what in your entry is public and what is read only by the jury, who have signed non-disclosure agreements.