Paris Startup World Cup, the first edition

June 12, 2025, marked a milestone for the French entrepreneurial ecosystem: for the very first time, the Startup World Cup made a stop in France, with a regional final held in Paris at the heart of Le Village by CA Paris. The event was organized by Startup&Angels, a brand of the French-Australian group Australiance, specialized in supporting the growth and international expansion of innovative companies.

Watch the replay of the Startup World Cup Paris at the bottom of the page.

An international contest

Created by the American venture capital fund Pegasus Tech Ventures, the Startup World Cup is one of the world’s most iconic pitch competitions. Each year, it brings together the most promising startups from over 100 countries, with a $1 million investment awarded to the grand winner of the global final held in Silicon Valley.

The Paris final has established itself as a strategic stop to showcase the dynamism of French innovation and to offer high-potential projects unprecedented international exposure.

The first edition in Paris

The bet paid off: over 500 people registered, with 300 attendees present on-site in a packed venue buzzing with entrepreneurial energy. The audience was made up of one-third investors, one-third startup founders, and one-third ecosystem stakeholders — including incubators, media, institutions, and tech experts.

Out of more than 150 applications received nationwide, 10 finalist startups were selected to pitch on stage. They had the opportunity to present their solutions in front of a high-level jury composed of venture capital funds, family offices, business angels, and key opinion leaders from the ecosystem.

The jury included:

Angela Naser, France Country Director, Women in Tech France
Juliette Nigrelli, Innovation Director, Fédération nationale du Crédit Agricole
Alix Trebaol, Impact Investor, Serena
Frédéric Grévaud, Co-Founder of Auvalie Innovation
Axel Peyriere, CEO Emerging Classified Ventures & Co-Founder of Startup&Angels
Mohand Meftouh, Startup Manager, France Digitale
Vincent Cabanel, VC Principal, 50 Partners
Alex Lubnevskiy, Startup World Cup Ambassador, Pegasus Tech Ventures

The winners

At the end of a day filled with pitches, discussions, and networking, five awards were presented:

🏅 Women in Tech Award – Advanced Care Technologies
👥 Audience Choice Award – Treesition
🥉 3rd Place – Advanced Care Technologies
🥈 2nd Place – Dracula Technologies
🏆 Grand Winner – Nũmi

With its groundbreaking in vitro breast milk solution, Nũmi impressed the jury and took home first place. The startup will now represent France at the Startup World Cup Grand Finale, taking place on October 17, 2025, in Silicon Valley — a major challenge, but also an incredible opportunity for global exposure, funding, and partnerships.

Next stop : Aix-en-Provence

The Startup World Cup doesn’t stop here! A second regional final will take place on July 2, 2025, in Aix-en-Provence, as part of the prestigious Rencontres Économiques, co-organized with Expansi.

Applications are open until June 16. French startups, there’s still time to apply for a chance to join Nũmi at the global finale! To attend this exceptional evening, reserve your spot here.