*ship Startup Festival

*ship is an international acceleration and development platform for early-stage startups. It is also an excellent learning environment for anyone interested in entrepreneurship. The event includes the traditional Pitch Captain Competition, in addition to which we offer a mentoring program for competing startups. There is more to the event, especially from the visitors’ perspective, which you should read more about below.

*ship sails to Xamk – Kotka Campus 8.-9.5.2025!

Pitch Captain Competition rewards:

1st place with 10 000€

2nd place with 5 000€

3rd place with 2 000€

What to expect from *ship?

Startups!

Apply to our Pitch Captain Competition. Prepare your elevator speech, enjoy our mentoring program and hit the stage to win the main prize!

1st place 10 000€
2nd place 5 000€
3rd place 2 000€

Note! Startups may have already raised funding for their business, but the limit for competing startups in the Pitch Captain Competition is 30 000€.

(APPLICATION DEADLINE IS 14.4.2025)

Apply as a startup competitor!

Support material for startups

Take a look at our partner Fiban’s (Finnish Business Angels) tips and support materials for building a good pitch.

Find out more

Register as a visitor

This year, visitors enjoying the event and competition can listen keynote speeches and participate in Creator*ship workshops. In addition, our partners will organize *ship side events like a Junior *ship competition for secondary school students, an ES meetup for members of Finnish higher education entrepreneurship communities, and a roadshow for investors hosted by Fiban! Imagine, all this in one event!

Visitor info-package

Creator*ship workshops

Yrittäjyyskasvatuksen ReStart (FI)

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Learn to pitch (ENG)

Want to become better at pitching? Even if stage fright, uncertainty, or lack of experience is holding you back, this two hour workshop will give you the tools, confidence, and practice to deliver a…