Applications are now open for 2026
The global launchpad for the next wave of AI leaders.
Live on 8 & 9 July 2026 at Le Carrousel du Louvre, Paris, France.
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2027 Tickets

2025 Partners

Part of the RAISE Summit ecosystem

RAISE the STAKES 2026 is now complete

RAISE the STAKES 2026 has officially come to a close after bringing together some of the world’s most promising AI startups for live pitches, major prizes, and global exposure.

Details about the 2027 edition, including applications, timelines, and new opportunities, will be shared soon.
Relive the 2026 Edition
1500+
Applicants
TOP 10
Pitch at the event
TOP 3
Pitch on main stage
€10M+
Award Prizes

2026 TOP 10

Top 10 selected startups invited to pitch live at the event
2026 Competition logistics

Two tracks. Six judges. One main stage.

Ten startups compete in parallel; three pitch live to our VIP jury.
RAISE Summit day 1 - July 8th
10 Finalist pitch, two tracks
Track name: Cloud Infrastructure
Track sponsor: Backblaze
Prizes in credits
Prize values are provided in credits, designed to help teams access the tools and services they need to continue building.
Winner
$100K
in credits
Runner-Up
$50K
in credits
Emerging Startup
$25K
in credits
5 startups pitch live
Five selected startups take the lounge to present what they’re building, why it matters, and how it could shape the future of AI.
3 judges
Three judges from across the AI ecosystem evaluate each pitch live, looking at vision, execution, market potential, and the strength of the team.
James Leaverton
Director, Startups and Developer Relations at Backblaze
Jonathan Userovici
General Partner at Headline
Par Helgosson
Head of PSG Labs at Paris Saint-Germain
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Track name: Next - Gem Ventures
Track sponsors: Google for Startups and Deepmind
Prizes in credits
Prize values are provided in credits, designed to help teams access the tools and services they need to continue building.
1st Place
$20K
in credits upfront
Google for Startups Cloud Program Fast Track
up to $350K
2x tickets to Slush.
2nd Place
$15K
in credits upfront
Google for Startups Cloud Program Fast Track
up to $200K
2x tickets to Slush.
3rd Place
$10K
in credits upfront
Google for Startups Cloud Program Fast Track
up to $100K
2x tickets to Slush.
4-10th Place
$7.5K
in credits upfront each
Disclaimer: All credits and the fast track are pending eligibility.
5 startups pitch live
Five selected startups take the lounge to present what they’re building, why it matters, and how it could shape the future of AI.
3 judges
Three judges from across the AI ecosystem evaluate each pitch live, looking at vision, execution, market potential, and the strength of the team.
Grégoire Peiron
Director Google Cloud France, Startups / Digital Natives at Google
Cecilia Wang
Partner at Accel
Pierre-Antoine Beaudoin
Regional Lead NVIDIA Startup Ecosystem at NVIDIA
Relive the 2026 Edition
RAISE Summit day 2- July 9th
Top 3 Pitch on main stage
The final stage of RAISE the STAKES brings the competition’s top three startups onto the RAISE main stage for a live pitch in front of a VIP jury, investors, founders, and AI leaders. Each finalist will have the opportunity to showcase their vision, demonstrate their traction, and prove why their solution has the potential to shape the future of AI.
Track name: TBA
Track sponsor: TBA
3 startups pitch live
Three standout startups take the main stage to present their solutions live, showcase their ambition, and compete in front of a VIP jury and the RAISE audience.
4 judges
Four expert judges bring investor insight, industry experience, and sharp feedback to evaluate each pitch and help identify the most promising teams.
Gleb Budman
CEO of Backblaze
Cyrille Saint Olive
Head of Venture Capital & Startup Ecosystem, EMEA south at Google Cloud
Luke Pappas
Partner at NEA
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Premium Sponsors

RAISE the Stakes premium sponsors
Competition process

What we’re looking for

We are the premier global launchpad for early-stage AI start-ups. Our mission is to identify the disruptive companies that will redefine the industry
Max €10M total funding
To remain eligible for this program, your startup’s total funding raised to date must not exceed a maximum of €10 million.
Sector agnostic
We accept founders across all industries, provided that AI  is at the core of the product.
Min 2 person team
Companies must be registered legal entity with a team consisting of at least 2 members or 2 dedicated co-founders.
Early-stage startups
Our program is tailored for early-stage ventures, specifically those currently in the Pre-seed, Seed, or Series A.
Competition logistics

Key milestones on the road to Paris

From the first application to the lights going up at Le Carrousel du Louvre, every key step on the road to RAISE 2026 is mapped out below.
Jan 8th
Applications open
June 10th
Applications close
June 17th
Top 100
June 24th
10 Finalist selection
July 8th
10 Finalist pitch
July 9th
Top 3 Pitch on main stage
2025 success story

Our 2025 winners

With an acceptance rate of less than 0.2%, our 2025 cohort represents the top tier of innovation. Out of 1,500+ applicants, these 3 startups earned their place on the main stage.
2027 Tickets
Alexandre Pasquiou
CEO & Co-Founder, Neuralk AI
Ben Luria
CEO & Co-Founder, Hirundo
Vincent Molina
CEO & Co-Founder, pyannoteAI
Top 3 final jury 2025

Evaluated by Tier 1 visionaries

We believe that to build the best, you must be judged by the best. Our jury is composed of global industry leaders and high-caliber founders from the most successful tech cohorts in history.


This is a rare opportunity to showcase your innovation to a panel of top-tier decision-makers who have navigated the journey from foundational infrastructure to global scale, providing an unparalleled trajectory for our finalists.
2027 Tickets
Member of our jury
Julien Bek
Partner, Sequoia Capital
Member of our jury
Serge Lemonde
Startups, Senior Director, Global at Nvidia
Member of our jury
Julien Codorniou
General Partner at 20VC
How to get involved?

Own the EARLY game

Why just watch from the sidelines when you can SPONSOR the action?As a sponsor, you’ll position your brand at the intersection of innovation and opportunity, creating lasting connections with AI’s boldest founders.
Be a jury member
Join our jury to engage with cutting-edge startups, share your expertise, and position your brand as a thought leader while building strong connections with founders and investors.
Offer a prize
Amplify your brand by offering bespoke prizes that engage top startups, expand your reach, and spark valuable collaborations.
Gain deal-flow access
Unlock exclusive access to detailed insights on participating startups and talents, ideal for strategic partnerships and collaborations in the AI ecosystem
Sponsor
Log In
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Practical details

Frequently asked questions

Who is the competition designed for?
Is there a fee to apply?
What happens after the summit?
Do we need to be based in Europe?
What evaluation criteria does the jury use?
Application closes July 10th

Bring your startup to the RAISE stage in Paris

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, with clear communication at each step of the process.
Relive the 2026 Edition
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2027 Tickets
8 & 9 July 2026
Le Carrousel du Louvre,  Paris
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