Startup World Cup is coming to Stavanger
Eight startups. One stage.
One ticket to San Francisco.
On 25–26 August, eight ambitious startups and scale-ups will pitch live at ONS 2026 for the chance to become the Startup World Cup Stavanger winner and advance to the global competition in San Francisco.
We are looking for companies with real traction, serious growth ambitions and technologies that can make an impact across energy and industry.
Application deadline:
Friday, 21 August
FROM STAVANGER TO SAN FRANCISCO
Your next pitch could be on a global stage
Startup World Cup is a global startup competition powered by Pegasus Tech Ventures, with more than 100 regional competitions across six continents.
Regional winners advance to San Francisco, where founders from around the world compete for a $1 million investment prize.
This year, one of those routes starts on the ONS stage in Stavanger.
Eight finalists will be selected to pitch live during ONS 2026. One overall winner will advance to the Startup World Cup Grand Finale programme in San Francisco, taking place 4–6 November 2026.
WHAT'S AT STAKE?
More than a trophy
The winner of Startup World Cup Stavanger 2026 does not only receive introductions and exposure to relevant investors, industry leaders and Innovation Dock's international ecosystem:
🏆Startup World Cup
Qualification to represent the Stavanger regional competition at the Startup World Cup Grand Finale in San Francisco.
✈️Flight to San Francisco
One return economy flight for one company representative to travel to the Startup World Cup Grand Finale.
🏢Innovation Dock
Three months of office space at Innovation Dock — giving the winning company a base in one of Norway's leading energy and technology regions.
⚖️Thommessen
NOK 50,000 worth of legal advisory services from Thommessen, helping the winning company tackle the legal challenges that come with growth and international scaling.
The $1 million Startup World Cup prize is an investment prize awarded at the global competition and is subject to Startup World Cup's investment terms. Winning the Stavanger competition does not constitute a cash award of $1 million.
ARE WE LOOKING FOR YOU?
Built something that is ready to scale?
Startup World Cup is open to startups across stages and industries, but for the Stavanger regional we are particularly looking for ambitious technology companies that can demonstrate commercial progress, scalable potential and relevance to the challenges and opportunities facing energy and industry.
We particularly want to hear from companies that:
Have a product, technology or service beyond the idea stage
Can demonstrate customers, pilots, partnerships or other market validation
Have clear ambitions to scale internationally
Offer a differentiated and scalable solution
Address opportunities within energy, industrial technology, AI, digitalisation, automation, sustainability, low-carbon solutions or adjacent industries
Can pitch in person at ONS in Stavanger on 25 or 26 August
You do not need to be an ONS Scale-Ups exhibitor to apply.
International companies are welcome.
HOW IT WORKS
APPLY
Submit your application and pitch deck by Sunday, 16 August at 23:59 CEST.
GET SELECTED
Applications will be reviewed based on commercial traction, technology and differentiation, scalability, team strength and international growth potential.
Eight companies will be selected for the live competition.
PITCH AT ONS
Four finalists pitch on Tuesday and four on Wednesday.
Each company gets:
4 minutes to pitch
2 minutes of questions from the jury
All pitches are in English.
WIN
The same professional jury follows the competition across both days and selects one overall winner after the final pitches on Wednesday.
The winner advances to Startup World Cup in San Francisco.
WHEN & WHERE
LIVE AT ONS 2026
Tuesday, 25 August
Pitch Competition — Day 1
11:30–12:30
Hall 4 · Stage 3 · Scale-Ups
Four finalists
Wednesday, 26 August
Pitch Competition — Day 2 & Final
11:30–12:30
Hall 4 · Stage 3 · Scale-Ups
Four finalists · Jury decision · Winner announcement
AUDIENCE CHOICE
And the jury isn't the only one with a vote.
The audience will vote live by QR code during both competition days, with an Audience Choice winner announced each day.
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR
What makes a winning company?
TRACTION
Is there clear evidence that the market wants what you are building?
SCALABILITY
Can this become a significant international business?
TECHNOLOGY & DIFFERENTIATION
What makes the solution genuinely better or different?
TEAM
Does the team have what it takes to execute?
INDUSTRIAL IMPACT
Can the company solve meaningful challenges or create new opportunities for energy and industry?
COURAGE
Are you challenging established thinking and building something ambitious?
THE GLOBAL COMPETITION
100+ regional competitions. One global stage.
Startup World Cup brings together startups, investors, entrepreneurs and global technology leaders through more than 100 regional competitions around the world.
Regional winners meet in San Francisco for the 2026 Grand Finale programme from 4–6 November, culminating in the Grand Finale on 6 November at Hilton Union Square.
The global champion receives a $1 million investment prize.
BROUGHT TO YOU BY
YOUR TURN
Ready to take the stage?
Eight companies will be selected.
Tell us what you're building, show us the traction, and tell us why your company has the potential to scale.
Application deadline:
Friday, 22 August 2026
Finalists will be contacted shortly after the application deadline.
By applying, you confirm that you are authorised to submit the information on behalf of the company and that your company can participate in person at ONS in Stavanger on 25 or 26 August if selected.
FAQ
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Any legally registered startup or scale-up can apply. You do not have to be an ONS exhibitor or a Norwegian company.
We will prioritise companies with demonstrated commercial progress, strong growth potential and solutions relevant to energy, industry and associated technologies.
There is no application fee.
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Each finalist gets four minutes to pitch, followed by two minutes of questions from the jury.
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English.
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Yes. Finalists must have a company representative available to pitch live at ONS in Stavanger on either 25 or 26 August.
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The winner advances from the Stavanger regional competition to the Startup World Cup Grand Finale programme in San Francisco.
The prize package also includes one return economy flight for one company representative, three months of office space at Innovation Dock and NOK 50,000 worth of legal advisory services from Thommessen.
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Yes. Startup World Cup accepts applicants regardless of location, and the Stavanger competition welcomes relevant international startups and scale-ups.