Wednesday, June 24, 2026 - Friday, June 26, 2026
BolognaFiere, Bologna, Italy
WMF International Startup Competition
Applications call ends on March 12!
Only until 12/03, the call is open for the international Startup Competition of WMF – We Make Future, one of the largest global competitions for startups and innovative projects.
Present your startup on the WMF Mainstage (24–26 June 2026, BolognaFiere), in front of an international audience of investors, VCs, companies, and incubators, within the International B2B Fair and Festival on Innovation: AI, Tech, and Digital.
Apply to the Startup Competition by 12/03!
14 Challenges of the Future, 14 staretgic sectors
We are looking for startups that use Digital, AI, and emerging technologies to solve one or more of the 14 Challenges of Future. These challenges represent the 14 strategic sectors at the core of the WMF ecosystem.
The selection
From the applications received, we will select:
6 Finalists: to compete in the Grand Finale on the WMF Mainstage.
140 Startups (10 per Challenge): to pitch their projects on the Startup Stage and access exclusive business and networking opportunities throughout the three-day event.
The Opportunities
By applying to the call, you can:
Compete for over €2 million in prizes;
Present your project on the Mainstage of WMF – We Make Future;
Gain access to the final of the Startup World Cup (grand prize: $1M);
Take part in B2B meetings with international investors, VCs, and funds;
Join Innovation Night & Side Events, exclusive evenings with VCs and founders;
Receive benefits and incentives to access the Startup District;
Gain access to Saudi Makes Future (14–16 December, Riyadh);
Access Land in BO and the ecosystem of the Tecnopolo di Bologna;
Join the global WMF network and benefit from opportunities active throughout the year.
Apply your startup now or share this opportunity with your network!
The call closes on March 12.
Thanks to WMF - We Make Future for the listing and graphics for this startup event.
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