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Startup World Cup Brussels 2026

The Startup World Cup is a global series of competitions and conferences connecting startup ecosystems worldwide and showcasing the most innovative entrepreneurs. Startups compete for global recognition and a $1M investment prize!

2026 marks the very first edition of Startup World Cup in Belgium. On September 30, Brussels will host its inaugural regional competition, bringing together founders, investors, and partners to celebrate innovation and select Belgium's representative for the global finale in San Francisco.

The competition consists of three stages:

- Regional finals – more than 150 competitions worldwide

- Semi-finals & grand finale – hosted in San Francisco

Two reasons to give it your best shot: beyond the $1M prize and the trip to San Francisco, Top 10 finalists also get complimentary access to VC Connect — our exclusive investor roundtable, held as a pre-event from 2:30 to 4:30 PM the same day (learn more here). Apply now for your chance to pitch in front of top-tier investors and judges. The form takes about 10 minutes to complete if you already have a pitch deck ready (in English or French).