upSTART 2017 - Applications open for 50k startup pitch competition
by Startacus Admin
***Since original publication - the prize fund has been increased to a package of £150k! Click here for updated details!***
In 2016, high potential start-ups from across Europe travelled to Belfast, a culturally diverse city full of opportunity and an appetite for growth and change. The start-ups battled for a now £150k prize in front of a panel of globally recognised judges.
The pitch event took part at Digital DNA, Ireland’s leading business and tech event held in Belfast.
To get a flavour of last years upSTART competition, check out the below short video:
Startup Pitch Event Startacus
Startacus worked with Digital DNA last year to co-facilitate the pitch event and we are delighted to return this year as startup community partners to make sure this year’s upSTART pitch event is an even bigger success with an increase in participants and audience.
Applications are now open and you can apply by visiting the website: https://digitaldna.org.uk/upstart
The key key areas of industry interest have now been selected for upSTART 2017 and applications are especially welcomed for the following categories:
- AI
- Data
- Cyber
- Fintech
- SaaS
- IoT / Wearables
- Wildcard (Innovative startups from other specialists verticals)
The Prize
The overall champion of upSTART Belfast will this year receive a mega cash prize of £10k, plus an additional 140k in valued prizes. See here for all the details on just that.
The startups that are selected to pitch over the two days will also have the opportunity to hold one-to-one meetings with investors and take part in a private networking social for startups & investors.
Key Criteria
- Startups that apply can be at the concept, MVP or launched and trading stage.
- Both pre-investment and post-investment startups, who have raised less than £1 Million will be suitable to apply.
- Startups who have been trading for less than 36 months can apply.
- It is free to pitch at Digital DNA 2017
Applications are now open, and for more information on upSTART 2017 including the categories, prizes and criteria, visit https://digitaldna.org.uk/upstart
Good luck to all that apply and we look forward to meeting and speaking to as many startups as possible at upSTART 2017! 
Subscribe to our newsletter
If you would like to receive our startup themed newsletter, full of the latest startup opportunities, events, news, stories, tips and advice, then sign up here.
Seedrs’ AutoInvest will allow investors to customise investment criteria from industry sector, stage of business and tax relief eligibility to automatically invest in equity crowdfunding campaigns.
Local SEO can become, one of, if not the most effective method of marketing your local business. Here's some handy tips care of Digital Next.
Enhance convenience and efficiency by giving your home a brain, care of Manchester-based startup Wondrwall, a smart home intelligence system that learns from your behaviour.
How do you make sure your employer brand knocks your competitors out of the park to attract talent to your startup? Dee Murphy, Organisational Psychologist & Head of Employer Branding at Jobbio has this to offer...
The innovative platform which is on a mission to “teach kids how to code, bot by bot.”
These things matter - the most essential security advice for small business owners...
Into running? This startup offering SMART insoles & real-time coaching is for you...
Innovation in farming with this cloud based ecosystem which has been designed to unify agricultural data
The startup that's building on tradition to create an entirely innovative range of beverages...
A look at a few of the attributes that are helpful as an entrepreneur and what to do if you know that you’re coming up short with some of them.
Published on: 15th March 2017
If you would like to enable commenting via your Startacus account, please enable Disqus functionality in your Account Settings.
- Trezeo looks to the crowd to target full UK launch 27th Jun 2018 Trezeo, a fintech startup focused on delivering financial stability to the self-employed, targets fully launching its income smoothing business account product in the UK.
- CliniShift awarded upSTART startup pitch title at Digital DNA 2018 21st Jun 2018 CliniShift wins the upSTART startup pitch title at Digital DNA for 2018, battling off against 24 other disruptive UK, NI and Irish startups.
- Launchpad, the award-winning incubator/accelerator building high tech startups in Cornwall 21st Jun 2018 Launchpad, an innovative, post-graduate incubation & acceleration programme developed by Falmouth University that aims to create new digital businesses to meet identified market demand in just 12 months.
- Lloyd's Lab begins global search for tech talent 21st Jun 2018 Over ten weeks, tech startups will be given the unique opportunity to work with Lloyd’s market experts to shape the next big innovation.
