Startup Summit Kuopio 2026
Pitch your startup at Startup Summit Kuopio
Get your startup in front of investors, entrepreneurs, ecosystem partners and people who can help you move forward. The winner receives €1,000 cash plus practical growth support, workspace, Slush access and FiBAN fundraising advisory. Additional bonuses include regional soft-landing support and public winner visibility after the event.
Prize package
€1,000 cash + practical growth package
The winning startup receives €1,000 cash and a practical support package built from IPR support, startup services, workspace, board readiness support and a Slush 2026 Startup Pass.
- Cash: €1,000 for the winning startup.
- Support: expert services, workspace and Slush access.
- Pathway: FiBAN advisory and possible Pitch Finland consideration.
Included in the package
€5,000+ value
The package brings together contributions from Startup Summit Kuopio partners.
- Cash prize: €1,000 for the winning startup.
- Kespat Oy: IPR consulting package, value €500.
- Hub Panostamo: Startup support services, value €500.
- Novapolis: Panostamo Desk, 6 months of workspace, value €1,600.
- Hallituspartnerit Itä-Suomi ry: Board & Advisory Board Starter Package, value €1,200.
- Slush 2026: Startup Pass, value €395.
- FiBAN: Dedicated 1:1 fundraising advisory session for the winner. The company may also be considered for an invitation to Pitch Finland, FiBAN’s flagship pitching event in front of 100+ investors.
Part of Hub Panostamo Kipinä
The Startup Summit Kuopio pitching competition is organised as part of Hub Panostamo’s Kipinä program, which is co-funded by the European Union and the Economic Development Centre of Eastern Finland (Itä-Suomen elinvoimakeskus).
Why apply?
More than a pitch opportunity
A good pitching competition gives you more than a microphone. It helps you clarify your business, sharpen your message and create conversations that are difficult to get elsewhere.
Startup Summit Kuopio brings together startups, investors, entrepreneurs, companies, researchers and regional partners from Eastern Finland and beyond.
What you can gain
- Clearer pitch and sharper business message
- Useful feedback from experienced people
- New investor, founder and partner conversations
- €1,000 cash prize for the winner
- Cash, expert support, workspace, Slush access, FiBAN fundraising advisory and board readiness support
- Regional soft-landing support in the Kuopio startup ecosystem
- Visibility through Startup Summit Kuopio and selected partner channels
Who can apply?
For startups, teams and innovators with growth ambition
We are looking for ideas and companies with clear commercial potential, a real problem to solve and ambition to build something scalable.
The competition is open to
Applicants may come from different industries and backgrounds. What matters is the potential to build a real business.
- Early-stage startups
- Startup teams
- Student teams
- Researchers and research-based teams
- Individual innovators with a scalable business idea
We are looking for
The strongest applications show a clear problem, a focused solution and a realistic path forward.
- A clear customer problem or market need
- A solution with growth potential
- A team or founder ready to move forward
- Commercial thinking and ambition
- Interest in building connections in Eastern Finland and beyond
Evaluation criteria
What the jury will look at
Applications and finalist pitches will be evaluated based on business potential, clarity and ability to move forward.
Problem and market need
Is the problem real, relevant and worth solving? Is there a clear customer or market need?
Solution and innovation
Does the solution offer a meaningful improvement, new approach or clear advantage compared to alternatives?
Business potential
Is there a realistic business model, commercial opportunity and path toward paying customers?
Scalability
Can the idea grow beyond a single project, local customer or one-off solution?
Team and execution
Does the team have the motivation, insight and ability to take the next steps?
Pitch clarity
Is the idea communicated clearly, convincingly and in a way that makes the opportunity easy to understand?
Prize package
Concrete support for the winning startup
The prize is presented as a practical founder support package, not just as a single euro amount. The winner receives €1,000 cash, partner-provided expert support, workspace, Slush access and FiBAN fundraising advisory. Regional soft-landing support and public visibility are presented as additional bonus benefits.
Prize package
€1,000 cash prizePractical support for the winning startup
The package combines immediate cash with practical services and access from Startup Summit Kuopio partners.
The package is designed to help the winning team move forward after the event with clearer next steps, relevant support, investor-facing guidance and useful connections.
Valued package
What is included
The main package includes cash, partner-provided services and FiBAN fundraising advisory. The listed value of the cash and partner-provided components is approximately €5,000, excluding VAT where applicable. Soft-landing support and public visibility are shown separately as bonus benefits.
- Cash prize €1,000 for the winning startup.
- Kespat Oy IPR consulting package, value €500.
- Hub Panostamo Startup support services, value €500.
- Novapolis Panostamo Desk: 6 months of workspace, value €1,600.
- Hallituspartnerit Itä-Suomi ry Board & Advisory Board Starter Package, value €1,000 + VAT.
- Slush 2026 Startup Pass, value €395.
- FiBAN Dedicated 1:1 fundraising advisory session for the winner. The company may also be considered for an invitation to Pitch Finland, FiBAN’s flagship pitching event in front of 100+ investors.
Prize components at a glance
Direct cash prize for the winning startup.
Partner-provided services, workspace and Slush access. Values are excluding VAT where applicable.
Fundraising advisory and possible Pitch Finland consideration. Additional bonuses are listed below.
- Kespat Oy IPR consulting package, value €500.
- Hub Panostamo Startup support services, value €500.
- Novapolis Panostamo Desk, 6 months of workspace, value €1,600.
- Hallituspartnerit Itä-Suomi ry Board & Advisory Board Starter Package, value €1,000 + VAT 25.5%.
- Slush 2026 Startup Pass, value €395.
- FiBAN Dedicated 1:1 fundraising advisory session. The company may also be considered for Pitch Finland.
Listed values are based on partner-provided prize components and are stated excluding VAT where applicable. FiBAN advisory and possible Pitch Finland consideration are strategic benefits and are not assigned a monetary value on this page. Regional soft-landing support and visibility are additional bonus benefits. Prize-related taxes, fees, reporting obligations and other administrative obligations are the sole responsibility of the winning company.
Regional soft-landing package
Access to Kuopio startup ecosystem services, workspace, mentoring, investor contacts and partner introductions. The purpose is to help the winning startup connect with the right people and opportunities in Kuopio and Eastern Finland.
Public winner visibility package
The winner will be featured through Startup Summit Kuopio, Hub Panostamo and selected partner channels after the event. The package may include a winner article, LinkedIn feature post, newsletter visibility, partner channel promotion and a short founder spotlight.
Fundraising advisory and possible Pitch Finland path
FiBAN will provide a dedicated 1:1 fundraising advisory session for the winner. In addition, the company may be considered for an invitation to Pitch Finland, FiBAN’s flagship pitching event in front of 100+ investors.
Need guidance?
Need help with your pitching competition entry?
If you have questions about eligibility, the application form or what to include in your entry, contact the Startup Summit Kuopio team. We are happy to help with practical questions before the deadline.
We cannot write the application for you or guarantee selection, but we can clarify the process, criteria and practical details.
Timeline
Key dates
Applications are reviewed after the deadline. Selected finalists will be invited to pitch at Startup Summit Kuopio 2026.
Applications are open
Submit your application through the official pitching competition form.
Application deadline
Applications must be submitted by 30 July 2026 to be considered for the pitching competition.
Finalists selected
The selected startups will be contacted and given further practical information about the pitching final.
Pitching final
The finalists pitch live at Startup Summit Kuopio 2026 at Savonia University of Applied Sciences, Kampussydän.
Rules and confidentiality
Important to know before applying
Keep your application clear and practical. Do not include confidential information that you are not ready to discuss publicly if selected as a finalist.
Application
Applications must be submitted through the official application form. By submitting an application, applicants accept the competition rules.
Confidentiality
Applications are reviewed confidentially by the organisers and evaluation team. Finalist pitches presented during Startup Summit Kuopio 2026 will be public.
Intellectual property
All submitted ideas remain the property of the applicant. Applicants are responsible for managing their own IP protection, including patents, copyrights, trademarks and trade secrets.
Originality
The submitted idea must be the applicant’s own concept or development. AI tools may be used to support the application, but the business idea and pitch must reflect the applicant’s own work.
Jury decision
Members of the jury and their immediate family members are not eligible to participate. The jury’s decisions are final.
Prize-related taxes and obligations
Kuopion startupien tukiyhdistys ry, as the organiser of the pitching competition, is not responsible for any taxes, fees, reporting obligations, social security contributions or other administrative obligations that may arise from accepting, receiving or using the prize. Any such obligations are the sole responsibility of the winning company.
Ready to pitch?
Apply by 30 July 2026 for a chance to pitch your startup at Startup Summit Kuopio 2026.
Selected pitching startups receive free participation in the event. The winner receives €1,000 cash plus practical growth support, FiBAN fundraising advisory, possible Pitch Finland consideration, regional soft-landing support and public winner visibility. Prize-related taxes, fees and administrative obligations are the sole responsibility of the winning company. The pitching competition is part of Hub Panostamo’s EU co-funded Kipinä programme.