On 24-25 April, Malta will transform into the heart of European innovation as we host the 2025 edition of the EU-Startups Summit. Bringing together around 2,400 founders, startup enthusiasts, investors, and corporates, next year’s edition promises to be our biggest and most exciting yet.

Among the many highlights of the Summit, the Pitch Competition stands out as the ultimate platform for Europe’s most promising early-stage startups. This year we received over 1500 applications from exceptionally exciting startups. After a thorough evaluation process, the 15 finalists have been selected!

Meet the Finalists

Aenergi: Founded in 2023 and based in Greece, Aenergi provides AI-driven Energy-as-a-Service (EaaS) solutions for SMBs to optimise energy consumption, reduce costs, and enhance sustainability. Their vendor-agnostic platform integrates with existing infrastructure to offer predictive analytics and real-time monitoring for better energy efficiency.

AlongRoute Data: Founded in 2022 and based in Greece, AlongRoute delivers ultra-precise, AI-powered marine weather forecasts for maritime software providers. By integrating real-time Earth Observation data, their technology improves fuel efficiency, reduces emissions, and enhances digital maritime optimisation.

arterioscope: Founded in 2025 in Austria, is a spin-off from Graz University of Technology developing a cloud-based, highly efficient, and accurate diagnostic tool for the early detection, risk assessment, and monitoring of heart failure by leveraging ECG data with ML. arterioscope is currently raising its seed round with an MVP ready this year.

AviSense.ai: Founded in 2023 in Greece, AviSense develops AI-driven perception and cooperative localisation tech to enhance the safety, accuracy, and trust of connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs). By using data from diverse sensors AviSense delivers real-time situational awareness and centimetre-level positioning while providing drivers with explainable information through extended reality (XR) interfaces.

Caplyzer: Founded in 2022, Caplyzer is a Swedish deep-tech startup with a patented super-capacitive electrolyzer technology enabling safer, cheaper, and scalable green hydrogen production to accelerate the transition to net zero. Their membrane-free technology eliminates gas mixing risks, reduces costs using earth-abundant materials, and efficiently integrates with renewable energy sources.

Clearlea.se: Founded in 2023 in Germany, Clearlea.se is an AI-powered lease management platform that automates data maintenance, document organisation, and deadline tracking for tenants and property operators. It integrates with systems like SAP and SharePoint, enabling users to manage leases efficiently, generate reports quickly, and reduce manual data entry.

DeepFile: Founded in 2024 in Germany, DeepFile is a secure AI-powered document search tool that enables users to quickly locate and access information within their files while ensuring data privacy and GDPR compliance. Operating locally on a user’s device, it indexes documents and images, provides trustworthy AI-driven search results without hallucinations, and keeps data secure.

Deplotic: Founded in 2024 in Italy, Deplotic develops IDRA, an inflatable and deployable robotic arm designed for in-orbit servicing, enabling satellite self-maintenance through inspection, repair, and upgrades. Their patented technology provides a large workspace, high payload capacity, and vibration damping, increasing the economic and environmental sustainability of space assets.

Entropyst: Founded in 2024 in Scotland, Entropyst is a cleantech startup transforming hydrogen production and advanced materials with a single breakthrough solution. Their first-of-its-kind, multi-purpose catalytic reactor converts methane into clean hydrogen and high-value solid carbon nanotubes, enabling a greener, more sustainable supply chain across key hard-to-abate industries.

Grasshopper Air Mobility: Founded in 2023 in Spain, Grasshopper Air Mobility develops autonomous flight-drive cargo drones, such as the Grasshopper e350, which seamlessly integrate air and ground logistics. Their fully automated solution enables faster, emission-free deliveries, optimizing supply chains with vertical take-off, autonomous driving, and automated loading and charging for high-speed, cost-efficient logistics.

GuardenAI: Founded in 2023 in Hungary, GuardenAI develops autonomous laser-equipped robots that use AI, dual cameras, and ultra-fine laser tracking to detect and eliminate agricultural pests without pesticides. Their eco-friendly, low-maintenance solution preserves biodiversity, reduces costs, and provides adaptive pest control that improves over time.

IDCanopy: Founded in 2024 in Austria, IDCanopy provides identity solutions for regulated industries, streamlining customer onboarding, digital signing, and compliance with its Umbrella suite. Their API-driven products, including Umbrella Canopy (KYC), Umbrella Persona (eID), Umbrella Corporate (KYB), and Umbrella Insight (risk monitoring), enable seamless identity management and regulatory adherence.

LOKI: Founded in 2023 in Italy, LOKI collects road images and data using plug & play hardware installable on a vehicle. The system anonymizes data before cloud storage, where AI detects and classifies road defects, road signage, and crosswalk accessibility issues. This enables road managers to improve maintenance and prevent accidents.

Pryvx: Founded in 2024 in Sweden, PryvX provides secure data collaboration solutions that enable organisations to share insights without compromising privacy, using data clean rooms, advanced encryption, and federated learning. Their platform helps industries like telecom, banking, and insurance collaborate on fraud prevention and cybersecurity while ensuring compliance with strict data regulations.

Vyzn: Founded in 2024 in Switzerland, Vyzn is an AI-powered 3D/BIM optimization platform that helps developers and planners create sustainable and cost-efficient construction projects. By automating life cycle assessments, energy efficiency analysis, and thermal comfort simulations, Vyzn enables data-driven decision-making, reducing CO₂ emissions, cutting costs, and streamlining workflows.

The Prize Package

The stakes are high! Valued at over €755,000 the prize is juicier than ever! Packed with funding opportunities, and credits for great tools and services to supercharge your startup’s growth, this prize could truly transform your entrepreneurial journey. Let’s see what is in it:

$250k in Google Cloud credits, a Google Workspace discount for a year, startup success manager and dedicated customer engineering right from the get-go, as well as technical and networking support.€250k Funding Opportunity with Look AI Ventures. The winner will get fast-tracked and invited to pitch directly in front of Look AI Ventures‘ investment committee, and after the due diligence process, there will be a funding opportunity of up to €250k.$120k Funding Opportunity with Techstars. The winner will be fast-tracked to receive a priority review in order to join Techstars. This ensures that the startups’ business plan will be reviewed by the Techstars investment committee and the most relevant program managing director, and in case of a positive due diligence process, the startup will get the opportunity to join a Techstars accelerator program (incl. a $120k investment).€100k Funding Opportunity with Ventures.eu. The winner will be fast-tracked to receive a priority review in order to join Ventures.eu.€10.8k in credits for JetBrains licenses for essential development and team tools including award-winning tools such as IntelliJ IDEA, PyCharm, and JetBrains AI, trusted by 50,000+ startups worldwide.€10k of powerMBA credits to help you upskill your employees or yourself with some of their courses.€10k in X (formerly known as Twitter) advertising credits to put your startup at the heart of the conversation. Plus a year of X Premium+ (T&Cs apply).€9.9k of credits for an explainer video maker account of simpleshow.€5k Business cash prize contributed by Airwallex to accelerate the Winner’s business growth (T&Cs apply).€5k worth of 3-year CLUB membership and an exhibition table at the EU-Startups Summit 2026, including 3 event tickets.

The Jury

The 2025 EU-Startups Summit Pitch Competition jury includes experienced investors. Below we are listing the four jury members, but of course, many more investors will be in the audience during the pitch competition finals.

Angelo Burgarello, Managing Partner at Look AI Ventures.

Charlotte Bruce, General Manager EMEA & APAC / Head of Operations at Techstars.

Thijs Povel, General Partner at Ventures.eu / CEO at Dealflow.eu.

Isabella Yamamoto, Principal at Visionaries Club

Meet the Pitch Competition finalists of the EU-Startups Summit 2025!

The EU-Startups Summit 2025 announces 15 finalists for its Pitch Competition, featuring startups across energy, AI, healthcare, logistics, and cleantech. The prize package includes €755,000 in funding, Google Cloud credits, Techstars accelerator opportunities, and other resources. The jury includes investors from Look AI Ventures, Techstars, and Ventures.eu.