National Startup
Competition
National Startup Competition is a competition for the best and brightest university startups from the Danish Universities. All startups compete for cash prizes, receive feedback from experts on how to improve their startup, and become a part of a network of like-minded entrepreneurs!
Watch top university startups compete live on March 27th at IDA. See winners take home big prizes and network with industry leaders!
A total of 200,000 DKK
in prizes!
National Startup Competition is a competition for the best and brightest university startups from the Danish Universities. All startups compete for cash prizes, receive feedback from experts on how to improve their startup, and become a part of a network of like-minded entrepreneurs!
We will be open for new applications on the 2nd of December.
JOIN THE JOURNEY
National Startup
Competition
National Startup Competition is a competition for the best and brightest university startups from the Danish Universities. All startups compete for cash prizes, receive feedback from experts on how to improve their startup, and become a part of a network of like-minded entrepreneurs!
Watch top university startups compete live on March 27th at IDA. See winners take home big prizes and network with industry leaders!
A total of 275,000 DKK in prizes!
Win 20,000 DKK in each category, and the overall winner
will take home 100,000 DKK.
Categories 2025
GREEN
Making our planet and society more sustainable
and environmentally
friendly.
SOCIAL
Solutions that help
people locally and
globally. Improving
society and our lives.
DIGITAL
Everything from
softwares, financial
services, and new
platforms.
PRODUCT
A physical device /
prototype that
improves functionality
or helps customers.
HEALTH
Optimizing health
industry, saving more
lives & creating better
well-being.
GREEN
Making our planet and society more sustainable
and environmentally
friendly.
SOCIAL
Solutions that help
people locally and
globally. Improving
society and our lives.
DIGITAL
Everything from
softwares, financial
services, and new
platforms.
PRODUCT
A physical device /
prototype that
improves functionality
or helps customers.
HEALTH
Optimizing health
industry, saving more
lives & creating better
well-being.
Timeline
Categories 2024
How can we optimize human’s health? The category Health covers everything from medical processes in the health sector or platforms that generate more awareness of diseases and symptoms among the general population. In other words, if your purpose is to save more lives or create better well-being, you have come to the right place.
Our world is changing and people are changing with it. What can we do to make our planet better for future generations? The category Green consists of ideas that make our planet and society become more sustainable and environmentally friendly. This could for example be in industries of Energy, Recycling, Packaging, Food and Beverage or other related industries.
Do you have a physical and tangible device, a sketch or prototype of a machine, robot, new component, or consumer product, that improves functionality or help reduce costs or time for your customers? If your answer is yes, then the Product category is for you.
The world is becoming more digitalized. The category Digital consists of ideas that are not specifically green or for health purposes, see green/health categories. Do you have an idea for a new platform that could make it easier for customers? Then this category covers everything from software as a service, financial services, and new platforms in all industries.
Globally, locally we all live side by side and we not only face environmental challenges but also societal challenges. Does your solution help people locally or globally? Does it improve society and our lives? Are humans centered around your solution? Then this is the category for you!
Timeline
Overall and Digital Winner of the
National Startup Competition 2025
SagaLabs
Train as you fight!
Aalborg University
Winner of:
20.000DKK for winning
the Digital Category
100.000DKK for winning
the Overall Prize
Audience Award
SPKTRA
Hyperspectral camera snapshot camera for sorting and quality control with instant feedback.
Aalborg University /
Technical University of Denmark
Winner of: 75.000DKK
What's in it for you?
Extensive Network
Knowledge Sharing
Celebrate University Entrepreneurship
Sparring With Peers
Diversity
Product
Social
Health
Digital
Heine Knudsen
Head of Unit Capital Region of Denmark
Digital
Health
Social
Overall and Green Winner of the National Startup Competition 2023
Anemo Robotics
Anemo Robotics is a company specializing in assessing
the effects of offshore activities on marine life and biodiversity.
Technical University of Denmark
Winner of:
10.000DKK for winning the Audience Favourite Prize
20.000DKK for winning the Green Category
100.000DKK for winning the Overall Prize
Overall and Green Winner of the National Startup Competition 2023
Anemo Robotics
Anemo Robotics is a company specializing in assessing the effects of offshore activities on marine life and biodiversity.
Technical University of Denmark
Winner of:
10.000DKK for winning the Audience Favourite Prize
20.000DKK for winning the Green Category
100.000DKK for winning the Overall Prize
"Winning Venture Cup was a huge boost for Blue Lobster."
Blue Lobster
Blue Lobster is an app that connects chefs with low impact fishermen, bringing you the best quality seafood straight from the harbor and paying the fishermen fairly. They were the overall winner of National Startup Competition in 2019 as well as the winner of the Digital category.
Overall and Social Winner of the National Startup Competition 2022
Overall and Social Winner of the National Startup Competition 2022
humAId
At humAId we translate deaf peoples lives. By providing a digital AI based sign language translation service which can be used directly on the deaf persons smartphone.
University of Southern Denmark
F A Q
When can I apply?
The application for 2023 will open 1st February, but fill in the pre-signup to get notified.
Is it mandatory to travel to Copenhagen?
All competition activities are hybrid for teams from SDU, AU, and AAU, except for the Award Show the 21st of June. Please note that category finalist must have at least one person attend the award show from the startup.
Which categories can I compete in?
- Product
Do you have a physical and tangible device, a sketch or prototype of a machine, robot, new component, or consumer product, that improves functionality or help reduce costs or time for your customers? If your answer is yes, then the Product category is for you. - Digital
The world is becoming more digitalized. The category Digital consists of ideas that are not specifically green or for health purposes, see green/health categories. Do you have an idea for a new platform that could make it easier for customers? Then this category covers everything from software as a service, financial services, and new platforms in all industries.
- Health
How can we optimize human’s health? The category Health covers everything from medical processes in the health sector or platforms that generate more awareness of diseases and symptoms among the general population. In other words, if your purpose is to save more lives or create better well-being, you have come to the right place.
- Green
Our world is changing and people are changing with it. What can we do to make our planet better for future generations? The category Green consists of ideas that make our planet and society become more sustainable and environmentally friendly. This could for example be in industries of Energy, Recycling, Packaging, Food and Beverage or other related industries.
- Social
Globally, locally we all live side by side and we not only face environmental challenges but also societal challenges. Does your solution help people locally or globally? Does it improve society and our lives? Are humans centered around your solution? Then this is the category for you!
Where does the competition take place?
The award show will take place at IDA, Kalvebod Brygge 31, 1560 Copenhagen.
How long is the pitch?
The pitch will be 4 minutes followed by a 12 minute Q&A.
Which language is the pitch?
All pitches and all events take place in English.
How should I add the budget and timeline to my application?
You can add your budget and timeline in the appendix.
How long should the timeline be?
We would recommend showing a timeline for the next 2-3 years, but it depends on your startup and how much time you need to develop your product/service, your time to market, etc. Think about what makes sense for you to show the judges.
What should I include in my budget?
Please show your internal economy for the next couple of years. You do not need to include the prize money in your budget.
Where should I add the appendix?
You can add your appendix in the same document as your application. Indicate when the appendix starts.
FAQ
Who is eligible to join the competition?
All teams must have at least one cofounder who is a student, faculty member, or recent graduate (within 1 year from graduation) from one of the Danish universities (AAU, AU, CBS, DTU, KU, RUC, SDU, ITU) at the time of submission.
Full-time foreign students and diploma students are also welcome to apply as long as they otherwise comply with the rules.
How do I participate in the competition?
All applicants participate by uploading their business plan on our submission platform, YouNoodle.
What do I gain from participating?
All teams receive written feedback from our jury on their business plan, the Venture Cup Booster Pack (bundled offers and discounts relevant for Startups) and access to our mentor-programme, Venture Cup Experts.
Can I participate again?
Yes, you are allowed to participate in the same competition the following year, if you have developed your business considerably since you last participated. Former winners of the categories are not eligible to participate again.
How many will be selected for the Semifinals?
The 5 highest ranked Startups in each category will be selected to participate in the Semifinals.
Semifinals will take place online on 2 and 3. of June. The Final Award Show will happen on the 24 of June. It is mandatory for each team to have one cofounder in the team present during this phase.
You fill in your application on YouNoodle and upload your business plan. The template can be found here.
Feel free to use the platform Jambo for the business plan. It’s free of charge and can help you develop your business plan through integrated helping modules. It is developed by a previous Project Manager for the Venture Cup competitions so it’s tailormade to help you accelerate! Check it out here.
Every university has a incubation hub, that you should contact if you need help with your application
Our judges have strict guidelines on how to judge the business plans. The parameters looked at: The Product/service description, Impact, Business plan feasibility, Team structure, and Implementation Plan.
You must upload your application on YouNoodle by 4. of May.
Timeline
"Winning Venture Cup
was a huge boost for
Blue Lobster."
"Winning Venture Cup
was a huge boost for
Blue Lobster."
Blue Lobster
Blue Lobster is an app that connects chefs with low impact fishermen, bringing you the best quality seafood straight from the harbor and paying the fishermen fairly. They were the overall winner of National Startup Competition in 2019 as well as the winner of the Digital category.
Copenhagen Business School
All teams must have at least one cofounder who is a student, faculty member, or recent graduate (within 1 year from graduation) from one of the Danish universities (AAU, AU, CBS, DTU, KU, RUC, SDU, ITU) at the time of submission.
Full-time foreign students and diploma students are also welcome to apply as long as they otherwise comply with the rules.
All applicants participate by uploading their business plan on our submission platform, YouNoodle.
Early Bird special gives you an access to a Venture Cup employee that will support you on your application for 15-20 minutes.
All teams receive written feedback from our jury on their business plan, the Venture Cup Booster Pack (bundled offers and discounts relevant for Startups) and access to our mentor-programme, Venture Cup Experts.
Yes, you are allowed to participate in the same competition the following year, if you have developed your business considerably since you last participated. Former winners of the categories are not eligible to participate again.
The 5 highest ranked Startups in each category will be selected to participate in the Semifinals.
Semifinals will take place online on 2 and 3. of June. The Final Award Show will happen on the 25 of June. It is mandatory for each team to have one cofounder in the team present during this phase.
You fill in your application on YouNoodle and upload your business plan. The template can be found here.
Every university has a incubation hub, that you should contact if you need help with your application
Our judges have strict guidelines on how to judge the business plans. The parameters looked at: The Product/service description, Impact, Business plan feasibility, Team structure, and Implementation Plan.
You must upload your application on YouNoodle by 4. of May.
F A Q
"This victory is key
to opening doors."
"This victory is key
to opening doors."
humAId
At humAId we translate deaf peoples lives. By providing a digital AI based sign language translation service which can be used directly on the deaf persons smartphone. They were the overall winner of National Startup Competition in 2022 as well as the winner of the Social category.
University of Southern Denmark
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