Start-ups can apply for the EU Top 50 Start-ups Competition until 25 October.

Independent from the competition and whether they are among the Top 50 or not, they are cordially invited to participate in the ‘Hemicycle Start-up Convention’ where more than 800 entrepreneurs, policy makers, investors and corporate representatives will witness the pitches of the winners and listen to charismatic speeches.

The EU Top 50 will:

• Pitch in the Hemicycle of the European Parliament
• Showcase their venture in the Summit exhibition area
• Participate in face-to-face meetings with corporate decision makers and investors
• Attend an intimate networking gathering with millennial founders
• Participate in workshops on EU support for start-ups, scale-up and internationalisation
• Gain media exposure: the EU Top 50 will be presented in a Special EU Top 50 Magazine

Startup HQ: The headquarters of the startup must be based in Europe

Age-Eligibility: S/he must be under the age of 35

Co-founder Status: The applicant must be a founder or a co-founder of the startup

Impact & Innovation: Startups need to demonstrate potential to disrupt a billion-dollar marketplace and make an impact on society

Working Product/Prototype: Each company must be able to demo a working prototype at the European Innovation Summit on the 27th of November 2017

Fundraising: Startups should be pre-series A and shouldn’t have raised more than 3 million euros

Leadership: The startup founder(s) must demonstrate exceptional leadership

References: Applicants must have at least one reference to give more insight into their product and traction