The Eurostart Venture Awards (EVA) 2026 are fast approaching, shining a spotlight on the most promising university start-ups and spin-offs from Belgium, Luxembourg, and the United Kingdom. With its rapidly growing network and increasing enthusiasm, the EVA is evolving this year with a new two-day format to support innovators at every stage of their entrepreneurial journey.
What is the EVA?
The Eurostart Venture Awards celebrate innovation, entrepreneurship, and groundbreaking business ideas. By recognising student founders and university spin-offs with the potential to make a lasting impact, the EVA provides a respected platform to showcase ventures, engage with investors, and connect with mentors and industry leaders.
2026 marks the third edition of EVA, and for the first time, the awards feature two parallel competitions: one for early-stage university start-ups and another for spin-offs and PhD students seeking high-value investors. The start-up category features talent from our partnered universities, EPHEC, Ghent University, University of Luxembourg, and Lancaster University, whilst the spin-offs come from a range of universities from across all 3 nations, ensuring a dynamic cross-border showcase of innovation.
The EVA 2026 is proudly supported by Try Lunn & Co, Branch Austin McCormick and the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce, whose backing ensures the awards continue to provide exceptional visibility and resources for innovative ventures.
The Event
Start-ups Pitching Event
Date: Wednesday, 25 March 2026
Open to students and recent alumni with early-stage ventures or developed ideas, this event will feature six finalists, each delivering a 5-minute pitch followed by a 10-minute Q&A with a panel of expert judges. The jury includes specialists in finance, innovation, and investment, whose varied perspectives will provide invaluable guidance and support to the next generation of start-ups.
Every finalist is guaranteed a cash prize between £1,000 and £5,000 to support the growth or launch of their venture. The evening will open with welcome remarks from the Ambassadors and an introduction to the EVA programme, before concluding with a networking reception, giving attendees the chance to meet founders, jury members, and university representatives.
Raising Capital Event
Date: Thursday, 26 March 2026
Designed for established, university spin-offs and PhD students, this event will showcase six selected companies presenting their innovations, achievements, and growth potential to a curated audience of investors and industry leaders. Each pitch will last 5 minutes, followed by a 10-minute Q&A session.
The evening concludes with a standing networking reception, providing founders the opportunity to engage directly with investors and industry experts. This tailored networking environment ensures that participants gain valuable guidance, connections, and insights to accelerate their growth.
With two days of dynamic pitching, expert feedback, and curated networking, the Eurostart Venture Awards 2026 promise to be an unmissable celebration of university innovation. By connecting talented founders with investors, mentors, and industry leaders, EVA continues to support the next generation of entrepreneurs, helping them turn bold ideas into lasting impact. We look forward to welcoming participants, partners, and guests to what promises to be an inspiring and transformative event.
