CEE StartUp Voucher 2025 – The Prestigious Startup Competition is back

What happens when three cross-border regions decide to turn their disadvantage into an advantage? Five years ago, the CEE Startup Network was born, and the grand finale of the 2025 edition will take place this autumn in Žilina, Slovakia.

The CEE Startup Network is an initiative connecting the startup ecosystems of the Žilina Region (Slovakia), Moravian-Silesian Region (Czech Republic), and Southern Poland. Representatives from various organizations joined forces to create an active platform supporting entrepreneurship and innovative startups, especially from Central and Eastern Europe.

The mission of this initiative is to balance the dominance of capital cities in the startup environment and provide regional projects with access to mentors, investors, and international markets.
“We want to connect startups, corporations, and regions to build a strong and globally competitive startup environment,” said Pavel Csank, co-founder of the network.

Vlasto Kocián, CEO of INOVIA, adds:
“Our vision is to involve experts from all three countries, help startups enter new markets through a single entry point, and bring valuable partners from across the region.”

The CEE Startup Network offers startups access to various support services, entry into foreign markets, valuable contacts with mentors and investors, and constructive feedback on their business plans. On the other hand, corporations gain access to innovative solutions to their challenges, talented entrepreneurs, and new investment opportunities.

The flagship event of the initiative is the CEE Startup Voucher competition, which has already had several successful editions. 8–10 finalists will be selected to pitch live in Žilina on November 11, 2025, where the winner will be announced.
More than 120 startups from 19 countries participated in the 2024 edition in Wrocław. The winner, Spicy Cells from the Czech Republic, will be presented at the opening webinar on June 26. On the same day, registration for startups for the CEE Startup Network Voucher 2025 will also begin.

Who Can Apply and How:

Startup Age: Young companies up to 5 years old from founding.
Innovative Product or Service: Startups should offer a technological or innovative solution with potential for global growth.
Development Stage: Startups may be at prototype, MVP (minimum viable product), early growth, or later stages.
Willingness to Present: Startups must be ready to pitch live in front of a jury and attend the finals in Žilina in person.

Prizes:

Cash price: Minimum of €20,000
Thematic vouchers from business partners
Everyone wins: Even those who don’t win the prize money will receive valuable feedback from business experts, as well as new contacts with investors, mentors, and potential expansion partners.

Key Dates:

June 26, 2025 – Open Call Begins | Kick-off Webinar
September TBA 2025 – Funding Horizons, Czech Republic | Hybrid event
September 14, 2025 – Application Submission Deadline
October 6, 2025 – Top 20 Semifinalists Announced
October 15, 2025 – Semifinals | 3-min pitch + Q&A session
October 20, 2025 – Finalists (Top 8–10) Announced
November 11, 2025 – Final Event: Startup Voucher 2025 LIVE in Žilina, Slovakia