*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)
Support material for startups
Take a look at our partner Fiban’s (Finnish Business Angels) tips and support materials for building a good pitch.
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!
Creator*ship workshops
Yrittäjyyskasvatuksen ReStart (FI)
Yrittäjyyskasvatuksen ReStart (FI)
Yrittäjyyskasvatuksen ReStart työpaja on suunnattu yrittäjyysopettajille ja yrittäjyyskasvatuksen asiantuntijoille Kymenlaaksossa, jotka haluavat syventää osaamistaan ja jakaa parhaita käytäntöjään..
Learn to pitch (ENG)
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…
Luovuudesta kilpailukykyä (FI)
Luovuudesta kilpailukykyä (FI)
Luovuudesta kilpailukykyä -työpaja on suunnattu kymenlaaksolaisille luovan alan ammattilaisille, yrityksille ja yrittäjiksi aikoville.
Ikigai (ENG)
Ikigai (ENG)
Are you curious about finding out your own Ikigai? Join us to get a hinch about it and to create your own business idea referring to it.
Our partners 2025
RDI partners
Varustamo – supporting entrepreneurs through business transfer
Ideajalostamo – Idea refinery Kymenlaakso
Kymenlaakso GoGlo – Global Growth & Business Networks
Business ideas for real purpose
Contacts
Mikko Vihanto
Festival Captain
Srishti Jain
Startup & Mentor Relations
Henna Suortti
Communications & Marketing
Location
