Austria’s most influential startup competition, the #glaubandich Challenge 2026, is back for its 8th edition. This nationwide program seeks to discover and support the country’s most promising young businesses across 10 dynamic categories, including food & beverage, energy, sustainability, artificial intelligence, robotics, and social impact.
Organized by Erste Bank and Sparkasse in partnership with Trending Topics and the Founder Service of the Chambers of Commerce, the challenge will once again identify Austria’s Startup of the Year.
Nationwide Tour Across Austria
The 2026 #glaubandich Challenge will travel across all nine Austrian states between February and April 2026, hosting 2–3 city pitches per week. Each event will give local startups a chance to present their innovations and compete for a place in the grand finale.
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Grand Finale in Vienna
Category winners will be invited to the final event at Erste Campus in Vienna in April 2026, where the country’s most outstanding startup will be crowned Startup of the Year 2026. Additionally, the Female Startup 2026 award will be presented to celebrate women-led ventures.
Submission Deadline
Interested startups can apply until 31 October 2025 to secure a chance to participate in this prestigious competition and gain nationwide exposure.
