Edition 12 is live!

Get your startup in
front of the investors

Edition 12 runs across 9 regional competitions and 12 categories, judged entirely by investors. One application, one global finale stage.

apply now
  • categories
  • unicorns
  • global stage

100 organisations and people who make founder success possible, recognised alongside them. Selected by GSA across every region. Honourees join the Global Grand Finale and regional events.

  • Regional
    Structure

    9 competitions.

    Each one judged on its own terms.

    No founder competes against a market ten times its size. Find your region below.

  • Nordics

  • Central Europe

  • Western Europe

  • South Europe

  • Eastern Europe

  • North America

  • Latin America and Caribbean

  • Asia and Oceania

  • Africa

apply now

  • 12
    Categories

    Every one built for founders defining what’s next.

  • AI-First

    For startups built around AI at the core, from applications to the infrastructure behind them.

  • Airtech

    For startups cutting aviation’s carbon footprint or reinventing how people and goods move through the air.

  • Cybersecurity

    For startups protecting data, infrastructure, and digital trust from real threats.

  • Deeptech

    For startups turning hard science into products competitors can’t easily copy.

  • Fintech

    For startups rebuilding payments, lending, insurance, or investing with new technology.

  • Greentech

    For startups cutting emissions, waste, or resource use across any industry.

  • Health Tech

    For startups improving health outcomes, in hospitals or everyday life.

  • Maritime Tech

    For startups modernising ports, shipping, and ocean conservation.

  • Best Newcomer

    For early-stage startups with a strong MVP and real market validation already.

  • Space Tech

    For startups working in orbit or using space data to solve problems on Earth.

  • Sports Tech

    For startups improving performance, fan experience, or how venues run.

  • Agritech

    For startups making farming more productive and sustainable.

apply now
How it works

From application to
Global Grand Finale
in four phases

GSA runs competitions, builds communities, and hosts events that connect founders with investors, corporates, and governments across the global innovation ecosystem.

Competition Framework

Every year, we find the top startups, founders, and ecosystem players in every region. Here’s exactly how.

  • Apply

    step 1

    Fill out the shortest application form we’ve ever used.

    Have these ready:

    • A pitch deck (PDF)
    • A few details about your startup’s journey
    • Takes about a minute.

  • You’re in

    step 2

    From the moment you apply, you’re part of the global GSA community – with all its perks:

    exclusive partner offers,

    a network of ecosystem partners,

    and insights across 9 global regions.

  • Scoring

    step 3

    This one’s on us.

    We built our own AI tool to help score applications, with every result checked under strict human oversight.

  • Outcome

    step 4

    You’ll hear back from us and we let you know the outcome either way.

  • Questions?

    FAQs

    Questions about the process?
    Check the FAQ or contact us.

    view FAQs contact us