OpenDubai World Trade Centre × Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy (GITEX)
Deadline Nov 2 · Finals Dec 10
$200K total prize pool; stage-based support incl. cloud credits, UAE market access, GITEX booths
- Eligibility
- Global startups, grouped by stage (Pre-Seed / Seed / Series A)
- Format
- Online application → semi-finals Dec 8-9 Dubai → awards Dec 10
AIFintechClimate & EnergyHealthEnterprise
Note|$200K prize pool under GITEX North Star — worth a look if you want to test the Middle East market and land a Dubai booth.
OpenSXSW
Deadline Nov 13 · Finals Mar 16, 2027
Prize package + investor & media exposure
- Eligibility
- Early-stage startups
- Format
- Regular entry Sep 14 - Nov 13, 2026 → live pitch in Austin (Mar 16-17, 2027)
AI & Machine LearningEnterprise
Note|A long-running pitch stage with AI & machine learning as a core track; regular entry closes Nov 13, 2026 — good for North American exposure.
RollingITU (United Nations)
Deadline TBA
$20,000 cash at Grand Finale + UN Summit exposure + accelerator programme + investor connections
- Eligibility
- AI startups addressing global challenges (SDGs), all regions
- Format
- Monthly online pitching sessions (Sep 2026 - May 2027) → Grand Finale at AI for Good Global Summit (Jun 2027)
AI for GoodClimateHealthRobotics
Note|Backed by the UN's ITU, with monthly online pitch sessions open all year — a standing channel for AI for Good work in climate, health and beyond.
RollingPegasus Tech Ventures (Silicon Valley)
Deadline TBA
$1,000,000 investment prize at Grand Finale (San Francisco)
- Eligibility
- Global tech startups (AI, FinTech, SaaS, DeepTech etc.) via 100+ regional events worldwide
- Format
- Regional pitch competitions year-round → Grand Finale in San Francisco
AIFinTechSaaSDeepTech
Note|Silicon Valley–backed $1M investment prize; qualify through 100+ regional events worldwide, with rolling applications that suit teams at fundraising stage.
RollingNVIDIA
Deadline TBA
Cloud credits + go-to-market support
- Eligibility
- AI startups
- Format
- Online application
Note|Strictly an accelerator rather than a competition: cloud credits plus go-to-market support that most AI startups qualify for — nothing to lose by applying.
AnnouncedChain Of Events (Paris, Le Carrousel du Louvre)
Opens Jan 8, 2027
Main-stage pitch before jury of Sequoia / NVIDIA / 20VC; global launchpad exposure
- Eligibility
- Global early-stage AI startups, total funding ≤ €10M, min 2-person team, AI at the core
- Format
- Applications Jan-Jun → Top 100 → 10 finalists → live pitch at RAISE Summit Paris (Jul 2027)
AI infrastructureApplied AI
AnnouncedWMF - We Make Future / AI Festival
Deadline TBA
Live finals at AI Festival Milan (Feb 11-12, 2027) + WMF 2027 Bologna + incubator residency at Tecnopolo di Bologna + Saudi Makes Future trip
- Eligibility
- Italian and international startups with AI as core business
- Format
- Two-phase application → 6 finalists live pitch (3 min + Q&A), jury & audience awards
AI applications across sectors
AnnouncedWeb Summit
Opens Jan 10, 2027
PITCH winner package + media exposure
- Eligibility
- Startups with funding < $5M
- Format
- Live pitch at Web Summit
AI & Data