SME Week Youth Start-Up Competition 2024

Are you a young visionary with a transformative start-up idea? Are you driven by a passion to address global challenges while upholding European values and principles? If so, we have exciting news for you!

The European Commission proudly presents the 2024 Youth Start-up Competition (YSC), launched in the framework of European SME Week. After the remarkable success of its first edition, we’re back to celebrate and support young entrepreneurs, aged 18 to 25, who are crafting innovative start-up ideas to tackle the world's most critical challenges.

What You Need to Know

Eligibility Criteria:

• Age: You must be between 18 and 25 years old.
• Residency: You must be resident in any of the EU or COSME countries.

Submission Requirements:

• Theme: Your start-up idea must promote sustainability and reflect EU values.
• Presentation: You need to create a short video (maximum 3 minutes) detailing:
  
  • The concept of your start-up idea.
  • Why your idea is relevant today.
  • A brief overview of your business plan.
• Deadline: The deadline for submissions is 20 September 2024.

Selection Criteria:

• Creativity: Innovative and original ideas.
• Originality: Potential to attract public interest and media attention.
• Communication: Clear and compelling presentation of the idea.

Why Participate?

• The winner of the YSC will be chosen by a distinguished jury based on the three essential criteria mentioned above. The jury will shortlist the three best candidates, who will all be invited to attend the SME Assembly in Budapest, Hungary, from November 18-20, 2024.
• During a dedicated YSC session at the SME Assembly, the finalists will have the opportunity to pitch their start-up idea to the jury members and the audience live. The audience and jury will vote and select the best candidate. The winner will be announced on stage.
• Attending the SME Assembly 2024 is not just an opportunity to showcase your start-up, but also a chance to connect with potential investors and partners. The event features various workshops, panel discussions, and networking opportunities where young entrepreneurs can learn, grow, and collaborate with industry professionals.

The 2024 YSC winner will receive an exclusive invitation to attend the prestigious European Innovation Council Summit 2025 in person.

The YSC is part of the European Commission’s ongoing efforts to promote enterprises and support entrepreneurship across Europe. We recognize the crucial role that young people play in shaping the future of the European Union, and we are committed to fostering entrepreneurship as a promising career path for the next generation.

Building on last year's momentum, YSC 2024 is a chance for young innovators to showcase their start-up ideas that address urgent issues such as sustainability, social inclusion and technological advancement. This is your chance to shine, with submissions open until 20 September, 2024.

APPLY NOW: Submit your entry today and be part of shaping a better future for Europe!