The Startup Pitch Competition has been a key part of Bits & Pretzels since the very beginning. With the launch of the European Pitch Contest, we’ve taken it to a whole new level. The best early-stage startups from Europe and beyond compete for a chance to be in the grand final. Over the years, the contest has helped many startups grow and succeed. From hundreds of applications, a jury of experienced investors picks the most promising startups to pitch on stage at Bits & Pretzels.

If you are a startup with an MVP or an existing product founded 2020 or later with less than 100 employees that has not exceeded Series A funding, and must have received less than 20 mio € in cumulative equity funding, then you are eligible to apply for the European Pitch Contest. For further details on the terms of participation, please visit the terms and conditions of the European Pitch Contest.

To apply, simply click the “Apply now” button above and submit your company name, website, and contact details. This will give you access to the full application form for the European Pitch Contest. You’ll be asked to provide more detailed information about your startup, which will be used to verify your eligibility and assess your application. The most promising startups will also be invited to submit a pitch video as part of the selection process.

The online applications will be used as the foundation for the expert jury to identify the most promising participants. Selected startups will then be invited to optionally submit a short pitch video answering a set of predefined questions. While submitting a video is not mandatory, it significantly increases the chances of being selected.

Based on the applications and videos, the jury will choose the Top 50 startups to be featured at the event. From these, the Rising 20 will be selected to pitch live during the pre-rounds.

The pre-rounds will take the form of pitch battles: in each round, startups compete against each other, delivering a 3-minute pitch followed by a Q&A session with the expert jury. The top competitors of the preliminary rounds will be selected as finalists for the grand final which takes place on the biggest stage at Bits & Pretzels on Tuesday, 30 September. Further details on the selection criteria can be found here.

Only selected jurors with a legitimate interest will have access to your submitted data. This ensures a high-quality evaluation process and helps us select the best startups to pitch in the European Pitch Contest.

Your data will be handled confidentially. Third party service providers only process data to the extent necessary to fulfill the purpose for which you submitted your data and to comply with applicable laws. You can find all further details on data processing in our terms of participation as well as data privacy.

Key Dates for the European Pitch Contest 2025

• Applications open: Thursday, 5 June 2025
• Application deadline: Sunday, 6 July 2025
• Top 50 & Rising20 announcement: August 2025
• Preliminary pitch rounds: Monday, 29 September 2025, at the Bits & Pretzels Festival
• Grand Final: Tuesday, 30 September 2025, on the biggest stage at the Bits & Pretzels Festival

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As part of the Top50, you will

• Be able to join a pitch training from top-tier experts
• Receive a Top 50 quality badge to showcase your achievement
• Get your Startup Profile featured in the official Startup Book—shared exclusively with investors, alongside the Rising20 and exhibiting startups
• Receive logo visibility on the Bits & Pretzels website
  

As part of the Bits & Pretzels Rising 20, you will:

• Receive a free ticket to attend Bits & Pretzels 2025
• Pitch live on stage in the European Pitch Contest
• Compete for a spot in the Grand Finale on the festival’s biggest stage
• Enjoy premium visibility as one of the Top 20 startups
• Get exclusive access to an invite-only dinner with top investors and leading founders
• Have your Startup Profile featured in our Startup Book, shared exclusively with investors
• Benefit from logo exposure on our website and across the Bits & Pretzels channels

Please write us a message to: awards@bitsandpretzels.com