The European Commission Directorate General for Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, has launched a youth start-up competition aimed at young entrepreneurs between 18 and 25 years old from European Member States and COSME partners countries who are developing innovative start-up ideas that tackle today’s most critical challenges.

Eligibility

Entrants must be aged between 18 and 25 (included); 

Be a citizen of any of the EU or COSME countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Iceland, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia, Turkey, Ukraine.

How to participate

Entrants will have to submit a video (in English) of no more than three minutes explaining their start-up idea, its relevance, and their business plan. Participants and their start-ups should be from one of the EU or COSME countries. Only one entry per applicant.

Prizes

The winner of the YSC will be chosen by a jury based on three essential criteria: creativity, visibility, and communications. The three shortlisted candidates will be announced online and invited to the SME Assembly in Bilbao, Spain, which is taking place on 13-15 November 2023.

The competition is part of European SME Week, an annual pan-European campaign to promote entrepreneurship in Europe.

Deadline: 2 October 2023.

Read more here.