International competition
for CEE founders
with global ambitions

12.06 - 24.07.2025

25.08 - 01.10.2025

27 - 29.10.2025

CEE Challenge (call for applications)

Announcement of finalists

Investor Day + CEE Summit + Side events

12.06 - 24.07.2025

CEE Challenge (call for applications)

27 - 29.10.2025

Investor Day + CEE Summit

WARSAW POLAND

Why Apply
The CEE Challenge 2025?

Get
Funding

Win a ticket to Investor Day (October 27th, 2025) as one of the 100 CEE Challenge finalists. Schedule 1-on-1 meetings with investors & corporate entities. Secure equity funding and connect directly with 100+ VCs, CVCs, and business angels.Win €5000, €2500 or €1000, and get an investment opportunity from our friendly investors.

Partnerships
& Clients

Get access to the Deep Tech CEE Summit 2025. Forge meaningful collaborations with global and regional industry leaders. Meet owners, CXOs and directors - members of Employers of Poland. Capture the interest of our partners, and attract large enterprises to accelerate your journey from idea to a market-ready solution/product.

Expand
Visibility

Gain visibility across social media, press, and newsletters. Join the CEE founders community. Win the opportunity to present your startup on the Pitching Stage or in front of a Jury at the CEE Innovators Gala 2025. Get tickets, accommodation, or flights to premier deep tech events in Europe, including the Hello Tomorrow Global Summit 2026 in Amsterdam.

Discover
the CEE region

Connect with passionate founders and investors from the CEE region & EU who are open to collaboration and have global ambitions. Meet representatives from accelerators, technology parks, venture buildings, research institutes, governmental agencies, and the Łukasiewicz Science Network (the 3rd largest in Europe).

Deep Tech CEE
Rising Stars 2025 Category

Accelerate Your Deep Tech Journey in the CEE region!

Apply the Deep Tech CEE Rising Stars Category if your startup or project is between TRL 3/4 and 8/9, and seize the opportunity to showcase your innovative solutions across Central and Eastern Europe, gaining visibility and support to reach new heights.

Deep Tech
Rise in Poland 2025 Category

Establish Your Deep Tech Footprint in Poland!

Apply to Deep Tech Rise in Poland if you’re at TRL 6/7 to 8/9 and aiming to develop your breakthrough technology within the vibrant Polish market. Unlock tailored resources, cooperation, and partnerships to propel your startup to the next level.

Case study

Slide

DAVID MINAŘÍK

MYCO (Czech Republik)

DTCEE Rising Star 2024

Since the Summit, MYCO has accelerated key milestones that are pushing us toward international scale. We’ve deepened cooperation with industrial clients like Thermo Fisher Scientific, Camea, and Meopta, delivering even more tailored mycelium packaging solutions that meet their needs. We’ve also officially kicked off development of our modular, containerized production line. This system is key to making our production technology replicable and scalable abroad. We’re also preparing an EIC Accelerator application to support our market expansion and complete certification processes. The visibility and connections from Deep Tech CEE definitely helped open new doors and strengthen our standing in the deep tech ecosystem.

Slide

JEKATERINA ROMANOVA

PrintyMed (Latvia)

DTCEE Rising Star 2024

Since Deep Tech CEE Challenge 2024, we have been awarded the WomentechEu grant and have secured additional funding. Consequently, we have scaled up our production capabilities. Currently, we are preparing to initiate our first sales in the cosmetics sector, in collaboration with Chanel. Additionally, we are expanding our business operations to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Since these developments, we have also achieved success in numerous competitions.

Slide

MARIA MYCIELSKA

MetaSMithe (Poland)

DTCEE Rising Star 2024

"The Deep Tech Summit Challenge is a unique initiative that provides an opportunity for the CEE region to showcase innovative projects on an international stage. Because the event brings together experts, investors, and industry leaders it offers participants the chance to receive valuable feedback and accelerate project development through potential investments and strategic partnerships. It is an inspiring and dynamic event that promotes breakthrough technologies and has the potential to serve as a pivotal moment in the growth of any startup."

Slide

VAMEKH KHERKHEULIDZE

ELEVENTECH (GEORGIA)

DTCEE Rising Star 2023

“Since participating in Deep Tech CEE—which I still consider the best event I've ever attended, having been to over 300 startup events—we have made significant progress. We completed an 8-month project in Tallinn, Estonia, where, for the first time in history, we fully contained an EV-sized lithium battery fire. We have recently relocated to California and initiated two pilot projects with major electric vehicle (EV) companies, which I cannot disclose at this time. Additionally, our valuation has increased from $5 million to $15 million, with expectations to reach $50 million by the end of the year.”

Slide

DAWID KUCHTA

Microamp Solutions (Poland)

DTCEE Rising Star 2023

“Since we participated in the Deep Tech CEE Challenge 2023, we have established many new partnerships with international technology leaders such as Druid Software, AMD, CONGIV, Supermicro, Consort Digital, and Triopt Group. As a result, our products are reaching a wide audience. In December 2024, we were selected for the NATO DIANA program, which aims to support and accelerate innovations in defense and emergency communications. Additionally, during this year's edition of the World Economic Forum in Davos, we announced our partnership with the European Space Agency. As part of the signed agreement, together with Creotech Instruments, we will be providing a private Microamp 5G mmWave network for the ESA 5G/6G Center at Harwell Campus.”

Slide

PRZEMEK BEN PĄCZEK

NEVOMO (Poland/Swiss)

DTCEE Rising Star 2022

Nevomo has commercialized its globally unique MagRail Booster technology, revolutionizing propulsion for existing rail wagons and infrastructure. By enabling locomotive-free operations, MagRail Booster delivers the capacity, frequency, and flexibility of road transport to underutilized rail networks. This breakthrough product innovation is complemented by a pioneering Rail-as-a-Service business model, which allows industrial and intermodal clients to adopt the solution with zero upfront investment, financing implementation entirely through OPEX savings. Nevomo is currently finalizing a €10 million Series A round, including co-investment from the EIC Fund.

Slide

MICHAŁ CYRANKIEWICZ

SEASOIL (Poland)

DTCEE Rising Star 2022

“Since participating in the Deep Tech CEE Summit 2022, Seasoil has significantly developed. We became the first Polish team to pass through the Deep Tech accelerator at Octopus Ventures, marking a significant step in our growth. We also secured investors, including Bitspiration Booster, which enabled us to expand further and develop the project. Additionally, we have received numerous grants and awards at the national and European levels, including Ventures Thrive, SoTecIn, WomenInTech, and Infoshare, which confirm the potential of our solution. Currently, we are in the prototyping stage and working intensively on product implementation to bring them to the market as quickly as possible.”

Deep Tech Tracks

We welcome innovation across all sectors

Who is the challenge for?

1. Deep Tech Innovators: Whether you’re a startup or a pioneering project rooted in R&D or high-tech engineering, your work has the potential to transform industries. We welcome deep techs operating on the market for up to 5 years.

2. Early-Stage Trailblazers: in the crucial phases of development (from pre-seed to late seed) and at the beginning of your commercialization journey (TRL 3/4 – 8/9). This CEE Challenge is designed to support your growth.

3. Game Changers: Your project is based on a new technology, scientific breakthrough (novel science), or sophisticated engineering processes that can solve real problems.

4. Impact Creators: Address unmet industrial, societal, or environmental needs or even create entirely new markets.

5. Team Players: You’ve got a dedicated team of at least 2 passionate innovators ready to disrupt and redefine.

6. Fresh & Independent: Your project isn’t a subsidiary or company spin-out; you’re a standalone force of innovation.

7. High-Risk, High-Reward: Your project involves significant scientific or engineering risks and is working towards achieving a strong product-market fit.

2. Early-Stage Trailblazers: in the crucial phases of development (from pre-seed to late seed) and at the beginning of your commercialization journey (TRL 3/4 – 8). This CEE Challenge is designed to support your growth.

3. Game Changers: Your project is based on a new technology, scientific breakthrough (novel science), or sophisticated engineering process that can solve real problems.

4. Impact Creators: Address unmet industrial, societal, or environmental needs or even create entirely new markets.

5. Team Players: You’ve got a dedicated team of at least 2 passionate innovators ready to disrupt and redefine.

6. Fresh & Independent: Your project isn’t a subsidiary or company spin-out; you’re a standalone force of innovation.

7. High-Risk, High-Reward: Your project involves significant scientific or engineering risks and is working towards achieving a strong product-market fit.