Founders building solutions to address climate, health, agriculture, mobility, and social challenges can now apply for Startup Challenge 2026, an international competition that connects promising startups with investors, corporate leaders, and ecosystem partners.
The programme, part of The Gap in Between 2026 in Valencia, Spain, is seeking startups with validated products or market traction that are ready to expand their reach. Successful applicants will gain exposure to an international audience while competing for a €10,000 cash prize.
Benefits of Participation
Participants chosen for the challenge will benefit from:
- An opportunity to pitch before investors, corporate executives, and innovation leaders.
- Access to curated networking sessions with decision-makers across the global startup ecosystem.
- International visibility through The Gap in Between 2026 event.
- Opportunities to build strategic partnerships and explore funding discussions.
- A chance to win the competition’s €10,000 grand prize.
Eligibility for Participation
Applications are open to startups that:
- Are legally incorporated businesses.
- Have a validated minimum viable product (MVP) or an existing product with market traction.
- Operate at the early or growth stage.
- Demonstrate technical and commercial viability with a clear value proposition.
- Have a committed founding team with the expertise required to execute and scale the business.
- Build solutions in one of the programme’s focus areas, including Climate Tech and Energy, Smart Cities and Mobility, AgriTech and Food Systems, Health and Wellbeing, or Social and Economic Systems.
- Can demonstrate measurable social or environmental impact through customer adoption, pilot projects, partnerships, or other forms of market validation.
The challenge welcomes applications from startups worldwide, and there is no application fee.
How to Apply
Applications close on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, following an extension announced by the organisers. Shortlisted startups will advance through the selection process before pitching at The Gap in Between 2026 in Valencia, where they will present their solutions to a panel of investors, corporate partners, and ecosystem leaders.
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