• CEE Startup Network sets to reward and empower aspiring startups of the earliest stages
• Applications are accepted until September 15th
• 20 semi-finalists will compete for 8 spots in the Finals, and Top 3 contestants will get cash prizes

CEE Startup Network members Innovation Centre INOVIA, Moravian-Silesian Innovation Center, Silesian Startup Foundation, and Agencja Rozwoju Aglomeracji Wrocławskiej S.A. team up for the 2024 edition of CEE Startup Voucher. This initiative empowers innovative intentions of startups and small and medium-sized businesses in their initial phase, but promising a radical innovation with the potential for rapid growth of the company and robust market penetration.

The CEE Startup Voucher was established in 2021 with the aim to solidify the position of local startups on the European tech scene and to draw more attention from international corporations, investors, and organizations to CEE’s startup ecosystems. Tech enthusiasts from the Czech Republic, Poland, and Slovakia are joining forces to prove that innovative ideas with the potential to change the world can and do emerge even in seemingly remote and unlikely locations.

The winners of CEE Startup Voucher 2023 were:

• 1st place: sweetACTIVE – a Slovakian startup with a group of health-improving products based on an innovative technology for sugar beet processing.
• 2nd place: SPEARhydro – a Slovak developer of an exceptionally green-conscious floating power plant that provides clean and stable electricity by harnessing the natural flow of rivers. Its unique technology makes it extremely environmentally friendly.
• 3rd place: Out of Dark – a Czech AI SaaS for monitoring and evaluating the customer journey in an intuitive and transparent environment.

Eligibility and Roadmap

In CEE Startup Voucher 2024, 20 carefully selected startups will gain the opportunity to showcase their ideas, as well as get exposed to and connect with hundreds of VCs and business angels. CEE startups of the earliest stages from all verticals are invited to compete for cash prizes of up to EUR 25K, tailored services for scaling up their business, and, of course, the opportunity to pitch before the most sought-after Czech, Polish, and Slovak investors.

Applicants may submit any business project, plan or idea that wasn’t implemented yet, and there are no limits regarding the age of the company. At that, the initiative is primarily meant for early-stage startups, so startups in Pre-Seed or Seed stages will be less prioritized during the selection process.

• The startups are to apply here until September 15th. The submission includes filling out the application form, uploading team video, improving pitch deck in accordance with recommendations, and attending a dedicated webinar with a keynote speech and Q&A together with fellow founders. The applicants are strongly recommended to familiarize themselves with the Conditions.
• The jury (which is yet to be announced) will take their time and choose the Top 20 applicants that will move further. These 20 semi-finalists will have to confirm that they will be able to attend the Finals in Wrocław in October.
• The Semi-Finals will take place online on October 7-8th. The participating startups will each get 30 minutes for their presentations: 3 minutes for the pitch, 20 minutes for discussion and Q&A, and 7 minutes for feedback.
• 8 finalists will be announced on October 10th. They will be provided with further instructions concerning the Finals that will take place on October 24th in Wrocław as part of the Made in Wrocław Conference 2024. The exact location and other details are yet to be announced.
• The winner receives a cash prize of EUR 25K, and the second and third places get EUR 15K and 10K respectively. Other startups are eligible for aftercare curation and tailored services.

As a bonus feature, CEE Startup Network will hold an additional event on September 3rd: Funding Horizons in Žilina, Czech Republic (+online) where founders can learn about the current funding opportunities.

More Details

For more information, please see the CEE Startup Voucher’s page and follow CEE Startup Network’s LinkedIn. Before applying, please take a few moments and take a look at CEE STartup Voucher’s Conditions.