The Rising Stars of Innovation: EU-Startups Summit 2026 Pitch Competition Finalists

On May 7-8, Malta will once again transform into the heart of European innovation as we host this year’s edition of the EU-Startups Summit. Bringing together around 2,500 founders, startup enthusiasts, investors, corporates, and media representatives, this year’s event promises to be our biggest and most exciting edition yet.

Among the many highlights of the Summit, the Pitch Competition stands out as one of the most exciting moments! This year, we received over 1,600 applications from exceptionally promising early-stage startups across Europe. After a thorough evaluation process, 15 finalists have been selected and will take the stage in Malta to present their startups in front of our audience and a jury of well-known investors.

Meet the Finalists

Agilica: Founded in 2023 and based in Belgium, Agilica delivers a patented multi-modal resilient positioning and GPS-independent navigation technology for enabling autonomous drone operations. Their onboard positioning system utilises ultra-wideband technology to enable precise, autonomous drone navigation and landing, even within GPS-denied or dynamic environments.

Agnia Aerospace: Founded in 2025 and based in the UK, Agnia Aerospace is developing a dual-mode electrospray thruster for low-Earth-orbit satellites that integrates ultra-high efficiency and high-thrust capabilities into a single, pump-free architecture. Their innovative technology promises to ensure that the next generation of space infrastructure remains manoeuvrable, profitable, and 100% debris-free.

AlterEcho: Founded in 2025 in Denmark, AlterEcho is developing a system of robotic avatars and AI agents that seeks to revolutionise the pharmaceutical and medical industries by removing the risk of human contamination from cleanrooms. Their solutions promise to reduce the industry’s biggest cost drain and operational hazard, resulting in cleaner, more efficient, and more profitable operations.

Arclight Aerospace: Founded in 2025 in Malta, Arclight Aerospace is developing a regulatory-grade airspace operating system that enables safe, scalable, low-altitude operations for drones and future Urban Air Mobility services. Their ambitious team seeks to provide governments with the tools to open urban airspace while giving operators predictable and scalable access.

Asvel: Founded in 2023 in Estonia, Asvel is developing an AI-powered robotic endoscopy system that controls the surgical camera using real-time instrument tracking, soft-robotic actuation, and voice to improve precision and reduce surgeon workload. By enhancing minimally invasive procedures and reducing dependence on manual assistance, they help enable safer and more efficient operations.

Cooled Motors: Founded in 2025 and based in the UK, Cooled Motors is developing a new type of magnetless EV motor that reduces the cost of EV motors by up to 70% while matching the performance of standard magnet motors. Their ambitious team aims to deliver highly efficient, sustainable, and economically viable motors for vehicular transport and power generation worldwide.

DAITABLE: Founded in 2023 in Slovakia, this startup leverages AI to monitor, predict, and optimise energy consumption in real time. By combining advanced analytics with seamless integration into existing systems, their system identifies inefficiencies early and supports sustainable, future-ready operations across energy-intensive sectors such as manufacturing, commercial buildings, and infrastructure.

eMomentum: Founded in 2025 and based in Italy, eMomentum delivers an IoT solution focused on maximising performance and minimising waste in industrial and infrastructural operations. Their turnkey solution continuously monitors motor systems, helping to reduce energy costs and cut CO₂ emissions thanks to predictive maintenance alerts and AI-powered expert support.

Entrelacs: Founded in 2025 and based in France, Entrelacs aims to end one-size-fits-all mental health assessment by building AI that understands each person’s mental health beyond standardised tests. Combining conversational AI with adaptive psychometrics, its platform tailors evaluations to individuals and improves over time, enabling earlier detection of mental health deterioration.

Muun Health
: Founded in 2023 in Estonia, Muun Health is developing the first wearable real-time hormone monitoring device for women’s health. The innovative startup aims to fill the gap in women’s hormonal health tracking for a better quality of life with their non-invasive tech solutions, with insights accessible through their mobile application for better management of reproductive health.

The D-ID Video Maker Enterprise plan, including a 5-user package, is priced at €9,900 and comes with one year of complimentary use.
A value of €5,000 is allocated for an exhibition table at the EU-Startups Summit 2027, which includes 3 event tickets and a 3-year CLUB membership.

The jury for the event includes representatives from Look AI Ventures, Malta VC, and Techstars.

Ensure to secure your ticket promptly and stay updated on our event page for exciting announcements.

Our event sponsors include Malta Enterprise, a key economic development agency in Malta, supporting local and foreign enterprises in their growth and innovation endeavors. Additionally, M. Demajo Group, a prominent business entity in Malta with over 115 years of history, is also a sponsor. The IONOS Cloud Start-up Program offers up to €100,000 in cloud credits for young companies, emphasizing digital sovereignty and GDPR compliance.

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