Think your startup has what it takes to dominate its market? Prove it on the global SaaStock stage this October in Dublin.
Apply now here and secure your spot on the stage where tomorrow’s unicorns are made. The deadline to apply is September 17, 2025.
From UiPath in Romania to Klarna in Sweden, Revolut in the UK, and Synthesia in Denmark, Europe has proven it can produce global tech champions. But every unicorn’s journey starts somewhere – often with a single pitch that captures the right investor’s attention.
Now it’s your turn. If you’re building the next category-defining AI or SaaS product, the SaaStock Europe Global Pitch Competition is your shot to stand where tomorrow’s success stories are born. This October in Dublin, you’ll face investors, test your business under pressure, and compete for up to €1 million investment package, plus the kind of exposure money can’t buy.
The event puts pre-seed and seed-stage AI and SaaS founders in the hot seat. It’s an opportunity to launch your startup in front of the most influential people in the industry: VCs, top funds like Octopus Ventures, Antler, Frontline Ventures, and more.
The SaaStock Europe Global Pitch Competition will run from October 13-15, 2025, with the main conference taking place on October 14-15. The pitch competition will span all three days, kicking off with Startup Day on October 13 – an exclusive day for pitch competition participants and culminating in the semi-finals and final during the main conference on October 14-15.
It will bring together more than 4,500 attendees, 2,500 companies, 600 investors, and 90+ global speakers. Last year’s pitch competition saw 70+ participants, though in previous years it’s been over 100+. If you’re building a tech product that could define its category, this is your moment to secure deals that could rewrite your company’s story.
In the hot seat: Pre-seed and seed-stage founders
The competition targets startups at a critical inflexion point – those ready to scale but still in the early stages of their journey. While up to €1M investment package is the headline prize, every participant also gains global exposure, media visibility, and direct access to investors.
Eligibility for applying:
- < 35 employees
- < $3M raised
- < $1.5M ARR
Past winners turned their pitch into millions in fresh funding, high-profile partnerships, and explosive growth. Basically, the alumni roster reads like a who’s who of SaaS and AI success stories. Belli, an air cargo software innovator, attracted five investors directly from the competition. Compare Ethics, an AI-powered ESG compliance platform, emerged from Dublin’s stage in 2024 with a sharper pitch and heightened investor interest. As CEO Abbie Morris testifies, “The calibre of people that just pitched is insane. So I am definitely still digesting like it’s a very wild, very humbling moment.”
Further, Tipple’s 2023 win translated into an oversubscribed $4.3 million seed round and rapid expansion. Read more about past winners from SaaStock Global Pitch Competition alumni feature here and you can also listen to the conversation with the previous winner, that is, Tipple’s founder over here below:
Meet this year’s judges
The competition’s impact is driven in large part by its judging panel, which features:
- Maria Wagner of HSBC Ventures
- Ken Donald of OPUS
- Alex Reed of Mountside Ventures
- Sarah Finegan of Antler
- Andrea Gurnari of 2100 VC
- Scott Law of Quadri Ventures.
The field is wide open, but expect dominant themes around AI-driven workflow automation, especially tools promising productivity boosts in vertical markets. Generative AI that is designed for heavily regulated sectors like healthcare and finance is also gaining ground. And vertical SaaS continues its rise, with specialised platforms tackling niche industries, from precision agritech powered by IoT to smart ESG compliance solutions navigating evolving global regulations.
What the judges are looking for in 2025:
- Product – the strength, innovation, and scalability of the solution
- Market validation – evidence of demand and traction
- Business model – clarity, sustainability, and revenue potential
- Team – capability, diversity, and execution track record
- Overall feel – the judges’ confidence in the startup’s ability to succeed
Applications are open now. Don’t wait. The sooner you apply, the more time you have to prepare your winning pitch. Apply now!
Here’s a video to get inspired from their last year’s insights
This article is in editorial partnership with SaaStock.
