EU-Startups Summit 2026: Showcasing Europe’s Rising Stars in Malta

Malta is set to become the epicenter of European entrepreneurship on May 7-8, 2026, as it hosts the 12th edition of the EU-Startups Summit. The event will bring together approximately 2,500 founders, investors, startup enthusiasts, and media representatives from across the continent, fostering a dynamic environment for innovation and collaboration. EU-Startups anticipates this year’s summit to be its biggest and most exciting yet.

Pitch Competition Highlights: Meet the Finalists

A key highlight of the EU-Startups Summit is the annual Pitch Competition, designed to showcase Europe’s most promising seed and pre-seed startups. This year, over 1,600 applications were received, and after a rigorous evaluation process, 15 finalists have been selected to present their ventures on stage in Malta to a panel of investors and a large audience. Business News Malta reports that the competition offers a chance to secure prizes valued at over €750,000.

The 2026 Finalists

• Agilica (Belgium, Founded 2023): Delivers a patented multi-modal resilient positioning and GPS-independent navigation technology for autonomous drone operations.
• Agnia Aerospace (UK, Founded 2025): Developing a dual-mode electrospray thruster for low-Earth-orbit satellites, focusing on efficiency and debris-free operation.
• AlterEcho (Denmark, Founded 2025): Developing robotic avatars and AI agents to eliminate human contamination risks in pharmaceutical and medical cleanrooms.
• Arclight Aerospace (Malta, Founded 2025): Developing a regulatory-grade airspace operating system for safe and scalable drone and Urban Air Mobility services.
• Asvel (Estonia, Founded 2023): Developing an AI-powered robotic endoscopy system to improve precision and reduce surgeon workload.
• Cooled Motors (UK, Founded 2025): Developing magnetless EV motors aiming to reduce costs by up to 70% while maintaining performance.
• DAITABLE (Slovakia, Founded 2023): Leveraging AI to monitor, predict, and optimize energy consumption in real-time across various sectors.
• eMomentum (Italy, Founded 2025): Providing an IoT solution for maximizing performance and minimizing waste in industrial and infrastructural operations.
• Entrelacs (France, Founded 2025): Building AI to understand individual mental health beyond standardized tests, enabling earlier detection of deterioration.
• Muun Health (Estonia, Founded 2023): Developing a wearable real-time hormone monitoring device for women’s health.
• Snoika (Estonia, Founded 2024): A B2B SaaS startup helping companies improve visibility in AI search engines.
• Systellar Space (Spain, Founded 2024): Enabling AI for the design of complex physical systems like satellites and aircraft.
• Vecify (Spain, Founded 2026): Developing an AI engineering compliance platform to help teams move faster without compromising safety.
• Warden Machinery (Luxembourg, Founded 2023): Developing AI and computer vision to improve predictability and efficiency in metals and mining processes.
• Xydra Labs (Germany, Founded 2025): Developing an AI architecture allowing Large Language Models (LLMs) to reason over structured enterprise data.

The Prize Package: Over €1 Million in Value

The stakes are high for the finalists, with a prize package valued at over €1 million. This includes:

• €250,000 Funding Opportunity: Fast-tracked pitch to Look AI Ventures with potential for up to €250,000 in funding.
• $220,000 Funding Opportunity: Fast-tracked interview with Techstars, with the possibility of joining an accelerator program and receiving $220,000 in investment.
• Up to €434,000 from Malta Venture Capital: Matching investment for startups based in or relocating to Malta.
• Up to €100,000 in Cloud Credits: From IONOS to support hosting and scaling needs.
• $24,000 in Credits from Cyscale: For cloud security monitoring.
• $24,000 Draper University Scholarship: For up to two co-founders, including a guaranteed interview and potential full scholarship.
• $12,000 in Credits from LUA AI: To build an AI agent for task automation.
• €12,000 in value from Make: Including credits and consultation services for no-code automation.
• Up to $12,000 in Credits from Notion: Including access to Notion Perks and the Champions Community.
• 90% discount on HubSpot for Startups: Worth up to $25,000, with additional credits for LinkedIn and Google Ads.
• €10,000 in JetBrains licenses: For essential development tools.
• €10,000 in Remote Credits: To support international hiring.
• €9,900 D-ID Video Maker Enterprise plan: 5-user package for one year.
• €5,000 value for an exhibition table at EU-Startups Summit 2027: Including tickets and a 3-year CLUB membership.

Event Sponsors

The EU-Startups Summit 2026 is supported by key sponsors including Malta Enterprise, M. Demajo Group, and IONOS Cloud. EU-Startups highlights Malta Enterprise’s role in fostering a vibrant startup ecosystem and attracting investment to the island.

Secure your ticket and stay tuned for updates on the event page.