Next Startupper Award

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Next Startupper Award

Championing the NextGen of Entrepreneurs

The Award

The Next Startupper Award celebrates student entrepreneurs driving positive change through innovation. This inter-school and university competition offers aspiring founders the opportunity to pitch their impact-driven solutions to leading tech and entrepreneurship experts at VivaTech.

Apply now and join us for the 10th edition of VivaTech, taking place from 17-20 June 2026 at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles.

Apply Now

The Next Startupper Award is the 8th edition of the inter-school and university competition for the new generation of entrepreneurs building ventures with positive impact. This is your opportunity to transform your entrepreneurial vision into reality on the global innovation stage.

Do you have an entrepreneurial project in development? Are you ready to accelerate your venture by presenting your innovative solution to leading tech and entrepreneurship experts? This competition gives you a powerful platform to gain visibility, receive expert feedback, and connect with investors and industry leaders who can propel your project forward.

Don't miss this opportunity to shine at VivaTech and compete for the €5,000 prize.

Apply Now

Eligibility Criteria

Language : Ability to communicate and pitch in English.
Student Status : Be a current student enrolled in a school or university
Project Maturity: Have an entrepreneurial, innovative, and tech/digital-oriented project or startup created less than three years ago

The six finalists will be selected based on the criteria below, with attention to gender parity and diverse representation of schools and countries of origin.

Selection Criteria

Entrepreneur Profile

Display clear vision and ambition, team complementarity, market and customer knowledge, technical and commercial skills, and ability to articulate ideas effectively (pitch deck)

Positive Impact

Demonstrate meaningful social and/or environmental positive impact through your project

Innovation

Show relevance, originality, and technological innovation compared to existing alternatives in the market

Scalability

Present a feasible, realistic, and viable solution with strong technical, economic, and environmental sustainability

Rewards

For the 6 finalists
- Speaker Passes (4-day VIP access)
- Pitch at VivaTech on the Pitch Studio Stage
- A masterclass with the CEO of Welcome To The Jungle
- Dedicated program during the 4 days of the event
For the winner
- All of the rewards previously mentioned
- Pitch on the Main Stage of VivaTech
- €5,000 check
- A startup corner at the 2027 edition

For the 6 finalists
- Speaker Passes (4-day VIP access)
- Pitch at VivaTech on the Pitch Studio Stage
- A masterclass with the CEO of Welcome To The Jungle
- Dedicated program during the 4 days of the event
For the winner
- All of the rewards previously mentioned
- Pitch on the Main Stage of VivaTech
- €5,000 check
- A startup corner at the 2027 edition

For the 6 finalists
- Speaker Passes (4-day VIP access)
- Pitch at VivaTech on the Pitch Studio Stage
- A masterclass with the CEO of Welcome To The Jungle
- Dedicated program during the 4 days of the event
For the winner
- All of the rewards previously mentioned
- Pitch on the Main Stage of VivaTech
- €5,000 check
- A startup corner at the 2027 edition

For the 6 finalists
- Speaker Passes (4-day VIP access)
- Pitch at VivaTech on the Pitch Studio Stage
- A masterclass with the CEO of Welcome To The Jungle
- Dedicated program during the 4 days of the event
For the winner
- All of the rewards previously mentioned
- Pitch on the Main Stage of VivaTech
- €5,000 check
- A startup corner at the 2027 edition