sTARTUp Day

sTARTUp Day 2026 is a prominent festival in Northern Europe focused on startups and business, taking place in Tartu, Estonia. It gathers founders, investors, executives, and ecosystem builders, fostering an environment conducive to entrepreneurship, innovation, and collaboration. The event features a blend of a comprehensive conference program and a festival atmosphere, facilitating networking and business opportunities within the regional and international startup community.

Event Overview

• 3,000+ attendees
• 350+ startups represented
• 200+ investors present
• 140+ speakers participating
• 70+ companies exhibiting
• 50 countries involved

Reasons to Attend sTARTUp Day 2026

This event is structured to foster valuable connections and provide practical insights. It features expert-led presentations, interactive workshops, pitching sessions, and organized networking opportunities over three days.

Participants can expect:

• Opportunities to engage with early-stage and scaling startups
• High-quality matchmaking between investors and founders
• Insights into the latest trends in startups and technology
• A community-focused experience with a festival vibe

Intended Participants

Startups

Startups at early and growth stages aiming to secure funding, recruit talent, validate concepts, and connect with investors and partners in the ecosystem.

Investors

Angel investors, venture capitalists, and institutional investors looking for investment opportunities and access to startups from Estonia and the broader Nordic–Baltic area.

Executives & Corporates

Decision-makers interested in fostering innovation, collaborating with startups, forming partnerships, and exploring emerging technologies.

Ecosystem & Community

Accelerators, incubators, universities, government entities, and organizations supporting entrepreneurship and innovation.

Visitors

Professionals, students, and aspiring entrepreneurs interested in startups, innovation, and business trends.

Program Highlights

Conference & Talks

More than 150 speakers will share their insights during the two main festival days, addressing topics such as:

• Experiences and lessons from founders
• Perspectives on fundraising and investment
• Trends in startups and technology
• Strategies for innovation, leadership, and growth

Workshops

Over 40 hands-on workshops led by industry experts, covering subjects including:

• Sales and marketing strategies
• Legal and human resources considerations
• Productivity and scaling techniques
• AI, technology, and growth

Startup Pitching Competition

The official pitching competition at sTARTUp Day allows selected startups to present their ideas live to investors and industry leaders, competing for prizes, visibility, and potential investment.

This session also gives investors direct access to a curated selection of startup opportunities.

Exhibition Area

The demo area serves as the main exhibition space, featuring vetted startups, innovative companies, and ecosystem partners.

The venue is organized into three thematic sections:

• Startup Street – exclusively for startups
• sTARTUp Tartu – showcasing the local startup ecosystem and innovation
• Partner Land – featuring corporates and ecosystem organizations

Networking & Additional Events

Networking is central to sTARTUp Day, enhanced by:

• Access to a matchmaking application
• Curated side events and meetups
• Speed networking sessions between startups and investors
• Community gatherings focused on specific industries

sTARTUp Night

The festival features notable evening events that provide relaxed networking opportunities beyond the main conference activities.

Festival Environment

sTARTUp Day merges the organization of a professional conference with the vibrancy of a festival. Attendees can expect spontaneous moments, creative experiences, and community-driven activities that facilitate meaningful connections.