The VDS Startup Competition, part of the international tech event organized by Startup Valencia, has officially opened its 2025 call. The initiative seeks to identify and showcase the most innovative startups worldwide, offering them the opportunity to present their projects in front of more than 12,000 professionals from 120 countries and 800 investors expected to attend on October 22–23 at the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia.
Organized in collaboration with Sesamers—a global platform connecting founders, investors, corporates, and tech events across Europe—the competition is open to startups from any part of the world and is divided into two tracks. The Early Stage track targets tech startups that are self-funded or have raised up to Series A, founded between 2020 and 2025, with fewer than 50 employees and focused on the development or commercialization of software or hardware products. The Growth Stage track is designed for growing startups with external funding between Series A and C, founded between 2010 and 2025, with fewer than 100 employees and also focused on software or hardware products.
Startups may select up to two subcategories that align with the sectors they operate in and the technologies they develop. The five verticals are: Digital Transformation & Business Solutions, Consumer Technologies & Services, Social Impact & Sustainability, Media & Entertainment, and Deep Tech & Emerging Technologies. The application period will remain open until June 27, 2025.
After the selection process, the 50 semi-finalists will be notified in early July. A prestigious international jury will then select ten finalists—five from each track—who will pitch their projects live on the main stage of VDS 2025. The two winning startups will receive an exhibition space at the next edition of VDS in 2026, international media coverage, and access to key investors.
The VDS Startup Competition has become a key platform for tech startups looking to scale and connect with the global innovation ecosystem. For this edition, Startup Valencia aims to surpass the more than 800 applications from 65 countries submitted in 2024, when HULO.ai (Netherlands) and Smart Point (Spain) were named winners in the Early Stage and Growth Stage categories, respectively.
As Juan Luis Hortelano, President of Startup Valencia, explains:
“The VDS Startup Competition is much more than a contest. In this eighth edition, we reaffirm our commitment to entrepreneurship and technology as drivers of economic transformation. VDS has become a strategic meeting point where the world’s most disruptive startups connect with investors, corporates, and international leaders. We want Valencia to play an active role in the global growth of tech entrepreneurship.”
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