By establishing EuroAsian Startup Awards (EASA), the world’s largest no-pitch, no-conference startup competition has arrived in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Russian Federation, Turkey and Ukraine. On one hand, EASA aims to find the next innovation game-changers of the region and connect them to the global ecosystem, and on the other, provide a platform for businesses, corporates and other stakeholders around the world to find talent, innovative solutions and discover market opportunities.

You have a great idea? Here’s a global platform to show it!

As the brand new region of Global Startup Awards, EuroAsian Startup Awards covers Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine – a nearly 300 million market with developed and rapidly growing innovation ecosystems. Based on three level, national, regional and global, the competition aims to provide a platform for local startups to present and validate their ideas, while continuously making connections with those helping them in international expansion.

After the nomination phase, startups are competing on a national level in 18 industries and categories, like Founder of the Year, Best Women Startup or Big Data and AI. The best ones in each category, chosen by industry and ecosystem experts, qualify themselves to the regional final. In the global finale, the most promising innovative companies from the region compete with the world’s next future shapers. During this journey, participating startups can enjoy the benefits of a global network of corporates, investors, experts, incubators, accelerators and the international media.

Regional EASA HQ’s activity in organizing the competitions, involving startups, local jury members and ambassadors is helped by national partners in each country.

Connecting global businesses to local innovators

Besides organizing the competitions, EASA facilitates mutually beneficial cooperation between global businesses looking for innovative solutions, talent or market opportunities, and regional startups looking for partners that help them grow.

“We aim to build bridges between East and West. With the competition, we find the most talented teams of the region, with our regional market insight and network, we also help those who are looking for innovative solutions from AgriTech to Big Data. This region is full of talent and opportunities, we aim to show and unlock it on a mutually beneficial basis. In the digital world, corporates need innovation more than ever, which startups actually have - while startups need the support that corporates can provide. We create the matchmaking platform for the parties” – said Attila Sándor, founder and CEO of EuroAsian Startup Awards.  

The journey has started

The nomination phase starts in April, the national and regional finals are expected to be organized in September and November. In the meantime, EASA with its national partners are actively working on establishing the framework of the competition and on involving the region into the global innovation ecosystem. As a part of it, the regional HQ organizes a two-day meetup in Budapest and Szeged, Hungary in March, where national partners will introduce their ecosystems and network with Hungarian startups, incubators and corporates.