Deadline Date: April 13, 2026
The VivaTech is inviting B2B startups to apply for a challenge aimed at supporting the development of European tech alternatives to US companies.
The challenge focuses on startups positioning themselves as European alternatives in cloud infrastructure, AI tools, SaaS platforms, and data services, emphasizing European values such as data sovereignty, transparency, and independence. Key priorities include strong European positioning, market traction with paying customers, sovereignty fit with European infrastructure, scalability potential, and a founding team with the vision to become a European category leader.
The challenge targets B2B startups with fewer than 50 employees that have a product in production with paying customers, a clear value proposition as a European alternative, cloud-native architecture ready to scale, current cloud spend of at least €1,000 per month, and ambition to become a category leader in Europe. Startups can be from any sector, provided that using European sovereign cloud strengthens their market positioning.
Applicants must be incorporated less than eight years ago and have fewer than 100 employees. Selected startups will gain support to strengthen their European positioning through sovereign cloud infrastructure, enhancing credibility and customer trust while enabling growth.
The program emphasizes infrastructure that aligns with European values, ensuring that startups can compete effectively against US tech giants while maintaining independence and transparency. Startups will also receive mentorship and opportunities to connect with European enterprises seeking alternatives to US-based solutions.
This challenge provides a unique platform for emerging European tech companies to showcase their products, expand their market presence, and become trusted European alternatives in their respective categories.
For more information, visit VivaTech.
