Applications open for MeOut Summit 2026 Pitch Marathon in Budapest
The MeOut Summit 2026, taking place 25-26 November in Budapest, is calling on European startups to apply for its Pitch Marathon, where founders can present to investors without a competitive element. The event expects over 1,000 attendees and 50 speakers.
European startups are invited to apply for a Pitch Marathon at the MeOut Summit 2026, set to take place at Budapest's Akvárium venue on 25-26 November. The Summit will gather founders, investors and innovation leaders from Europe and beyond.
Speakers already confirmed for this year's edition include Oyster co-founder Jack Mardack, Techstars Torino Managing Director Martin Olczyk, Sensoneo co-founder Andrea Basilová, and PlanRadar founder Domagoj Dolinšek, among others.
Pitching without the competitive pressure
Unlike conventional startup pitch contests, this format skips rankings and prizes altogether. Selected companies will take to the Summit's second stage to present their work and receive direct feedback from a panel of venture capital and ecosystem representatives.
The approach is meant to benefit early-stage founders in particular, giving them a chance to present their business model and goals to people who regularly evaluate startups, while also raising their profile among the wider Summit audience. Confirmed participants from the investment and innovation side include 3VC, the Hungarian Innovation Agency, Entrepreneurship Academy and Vienna Business Agency, with more still to be announced.
About the organisers
MeOut Summit 2026 is co-organised by the EU-Startups team together with MeOut Group, with additional support from the Global Startup Awards. The event aims to strengthen Europe's innovation ecosystem by bringing together startups, capital, established businesses, research and policymakers.
Applications are now open. Selected founders will need to clearly explain what their startup does, the problem it addresses, and where the company is heading. The two-day programme is expected to draw more than 1,000 attendees and over 50 speakers.
The Summit will run from 10:00 to 21:00 on both days. Ticket prices start at €30 for students, €80 for startups and ecosystem builders, and €190 for VC and corporate attendees.
