STARTUP WORLD CUP 2024: UKRAINE
EIT Community RIS Hub Ukraine and Sigma Software Labs
with the support of the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine are conducting the Ukrainian regional startup competition of Startup World Cup.
The local round is backed by UNICORN program and provides a platform for Ukrainian startups to prepare for the global stage of Startup World Cup, the world's largest global pitch competition with a $1M prize in investment held on October 2 and 4 in San Francisco, California.
What is Startup World Cup
Who can apply
Requirements
Program Highlights
Submit your startup and get ready for the adventure of a lifetime
Benefit from expert mentorship and gain valuable insights to refine your business strategy
Get assistance from startup development experts at one-to-one meetings
Engage in dedicated meetups and workshops to get insights from startup gurus
Selection of the teams that will pitch at the Final Demo Day of the competition and monetary prizes
Showcase your progress, pitch to potential investors and partners, and receive awards
Team
FAQ
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What is Startup World Cup?Startup World Cup is the largest and leading global annual startup competition worldwide, gathering promising startups from over 50 regions worldwide. This year the Ukrainian regional tour of Startup World Cup is backed by UNICORN Program.
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What is a UNICORN?The UNICORN is an annual startup contest driven by Sigma Software Labs with a full-fledget free mentorship program from industry leaders, cash and partner awards. It has been running for 8 years, bringing together 980 projects and 2,200 early-stage entrepreneurs. In 2024, startups identified as Rising Star projects eligible for the Startup World Cup will complete the UNICORN mentorship program as part of preparations to the Final Pitch at September 4th.
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What topics or domains are eligible for the competition?This is an industry-agnostic competition.
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What stage of startup development is accepted?We accept all stages. Still, the final pitch will include 20 teams, equally divided between 10 startups that passed UNICORN program and other 10 – via Fast Track. Only the teams that meet certain criteria are eligible for Fast Track.
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Startups from which countries can participate?Only startups with a Ukrainian co-founder owning no less than 50% of the company, and with presence in Ukraine (office, development center, or remote team) are welcome to apply.
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What are the prizes for startups?The main prize is becoming the team to represent Ukraine in the Startup World Cup in Silicon Valley - Final on October 2 and, if admitted, Grand Final on October 4 with tickets to San Francisco paid by SID Venture Partners. Additional monetary prizes from the partners of the compatition will be awarded to best startups at UNICORN Demo Day.
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What is the format of the final?The Final Pitch Day will be held offline simultaneously in two cities – Kyiv and Warsaw – connected by a teleconference.
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Who will judge the competitionWe will engage top representatives of tech & venture ecosystems, the final list will be announced closer to the Final. This will give the best accumulation of the expertise to select the team, which will present the Ukrainian technological ecosystem in the USA.
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Does the contest cover travel and accommodation expenses?No, it doesn’t. However, SID Ventures Partners will cover travel expenses (incl. avia and accommodation) for the winner of the Ukrainian stage to represent the country in San Francisco.
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Do I have to pay to participate in the contest?Participation in STARTUP WORLD CUP 2024: UKRAINE competition is completely free.
ORGANIZERS
- EIT Community RIS Hub is part of the EU program, which aims to connect Ukrainian entrepreneurs and partners with Europe’s largest innovative ecosystem for business development
- In 2023, EIT launched more than 50 educational, entrepreneurial, and business programs for Ukraine
- EIT directed more than 4 mln euros to strengthen the Ukrainian economy
- EIT provides various financial instruments – grants from 10 to 250 thousand euros and venture financing for entrepreneurs
- VC arm of Sigma Software, one of TOP 100 Global IT Outsourcing companies by IAOP
- Investing in startups and scaling them globally via B2B network
- $2.1M+ invested in 18 startups
- Recognized as one of the most active investors in Ukraine during the full-scale war
- Building UA startup ecosystem (events, global partnerships, mentors, VCs, consulting)
Partners
- TOP 100 Global IT Outsourcing
- TOP 20 largest IT companies in Ukraine
- 20 years of experience in the implementation of quality technological solutions
- Offices on 4 continents and partnerships in 30+ locations around the world
- Educational platform aimed at professional development and knowledge-sharing with IT community globally
- 19 years of experience in various fields and team of expert practitioners
- The first unique Ukrainian high-technology venture capital firm established by IT experts for IT geeks
- The most active VC in Ukraine
- 13 Ukrainian IT tech executives as General Partners
- 5 founding companies
- YCombinator, Horizon Capital, Sequoia, etc. as co-investors
- Over $3M invested in Ukrainian startups
Get ready to take off!
Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to soar to new heights with STARTUP WORLD CUP 2024: UKRAINE competition. Whether you’re looking for mentorship, funding, or valuable connections, this program is tailor-made for startups like yours. Mark your calendars and join us on this thrilling journey.
Join STARTUP WORLD CUP 2024: UKRAINE and witness your startup’s transformation. Apply now!
Contact Us
Have questions or need more information? Reach out to our team, and we'll be happy to assist.