Deadline Date: March 09, 2026
The Next Startupper Award celebrates student entrepreneurs driving positive change through innovation.
The focus areas of the Award include innovation of the solution, maturity of the product or service, scalability of the project, and positive CSR impact through social and/or environmental criteria. Finalists will receive speaker and startup passes granting four-day access to the event, visibility at VivaTech, and networking opportunities with jury members.
The Grand Winner, selected by the jury based on the same evaluation criteria, will receive funding of €5,000 along with a Startup Corner at VivaTech 2027, valued at €3,500. All travel, accommodation, insurance, and personal expenses remain the responsibility of the candidates.
The Award is open exclusively to students enrolled in a higher education institution who can provide valid proof of student status, such as a student card or certificate of enrollment. Each candidate may submit only one application, and each project must be linked to a single candidate, as multiple candidates are not permitted to apply with the same project.
Applications must be written in English, with no restriction on nationality or country of residence. Eligible candidates must have founded their startup less than three years ago and must present an innovative entrepreneurial project with a clear technological orientation and a positive impact on society.
To participate, candidates must create an account on the Agorize platform, accept its Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, register for the Award, and agree to the official rules. Participation is free of charge, although candidates remain responsible for internet access and related equipment costs.
Following the application deadline, a selection stage will take place from March 9 to March 27, 2026, during which projects will be evaluated based on innovation, maturity, scalability, and CSR impact. At the end of this phase, six finalist projects will be selected, with the official announcement scheduled for April 3, 2026. The organizers reserve the right to reduce the number of finalists if applications do not meet the required standards.
The final stage will be held physically in Paris during the Viva Technology event from June 17 to 20, 2026, at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles. On June 17, 2026, the six finalists will pitch their projects live on stage before a jury of tech-sector stakeholders and an audience. Each pitch will last three minutes, followed by a four-minute question-and-answer session conducted entirely in English, without the use of support materials.
Attendance at the pitch session and award ceremony is mandatory for finalists, and failure to confirm or attend may result in disqualification and replacement by the next ranked candidate. By participating, candidates agree to all conditions set by the organizers, including identity and eligibility checks conducted by Viva Technology.
For more information, visit Viva Technology.
