Ready, set, pitch. The five reasons to participate in VivaTech’s Startup Challenges

Viva Technology, is recognized worldwide as a powerful catalyst for business transformation, startup growth, and innovation for the common good. Since 2016, VivaTech accelerates innovation by connecting startups, tech leaders, major corporations, and investors responding to our world’s biggest challenges. 

For the past six years, VivaTech’s Startup Challenges have been a core part of VivaTech’s DNA, showcasing their open-innovation mechanism that connects startups with industry leaders, corporates, ecosystems, and institutional partners.

The VivaTech Startup Challenges platform is the place where startups and partners work together to create a shared future. It is open to all startups who have come up with solutions to challenges proposed by these partners.

The competitions are organized around the biggest topics in tech: GreenTech, Sustainability, Future of Work, Smart City, Sports Tech, Data & AI, Customer and Employee Experience, and more. 

In a few words: 100+ challenges by top corporates, 10,000+ applications every edition, 136 countries represented and 1,000+ startups selected every year. 

Here are five reasons to participate in these challenges as a startup. 

1- DEVELOP YOUR NETWORK 

Participating in these Challenges is a great way to develop your network by meeting VC’s, business angels, accelerators, and other startups. More than 700 investment funds and over 300 accelerator partners at VivaTech are ready to find tomorrow’s breakthrough technology. VivaTech’s networking tools and official side events allow conversations to start – and to just keep going. 

2- EXHIBIT AND PITCH 

Startups selected also get the opportunity to exhibit and pitch their product or solution in a Partner booth and/or on a Pitch Stage, be coached by pitch experts with 300+ industry-specific talks.

Sessions are organized to help startups get the tips and advice they really need and to get inspired by speakers from cybersecurity and fintech, to the metaverse, climate tech, and more. 

3- GENERATE BUSINESS LEADS 

Generate business leads with top decision-makers from top companies, the public sector, and NGOs. The majority of startups generate up to 25% of annual leads during VivaTech. (Source: VivaTech startup satisfaction study). Moreover, startups that generate leads at VivaTech spend less time prospecting for leads after the event and create lasting partnerships with strategic corporations. Ready, set, pitch. 

4- SCALE YOUR BUSINESS 

Scale your business by participating in open innovation programs from top corporates. At VivaTech, you can meet the most influential decision-makers (70% of the audience is C-level). Startups that are ready to pitch their ideas can meet the right people and learn to scale their business. 

5- BOOST YOUR VISIBILITY 

Last but not least, selected startups will get boosted visibility thanks to strong international media coverage. Winning is more than the package you receive. Winners also gain top media attention, with a spotlight on their organization, and a boost to help to achieve their ambition. It's up to you to grab the opportunity and launch yourself into the next step. 

(BONUS) - GET FREE PASSES 

If you participate in the VivaTech Startups Challenges, receive free passes to access every part of the event (meetings, conferences, side events, innovation parks, etc.) 

Now: ready, set, pitch! 

More information about the VivaTech Startup Challenges here.