Between now and early February 2027, six events offer startups a pitch stage or meetings with funds: Slush in Helsinki, AfricArena in Cape Town, NEXTEN in Accra, Expand North Star in Dubai, Web Summit Qatar in Doha and STEP in Dubai. Their formats differ widely, as does the cost of entry. Here is an overview based on information published by the organisers.
Slush, in Helsinki: a high density of investors, but sold-out tickets
Slush takes place on 18 and 19 November 2026 in the Finnish capital. Its organisers claim more than 12,000 participants and more than 25,000 meetings, and state that 76% of attendees are startups or investors. The startup ticket, priced at €395 including VAT, gives access to the meeting-booking tool, mentoring and investor office hours. The catch: as of 12 November 2026, startup and investor tickets were listed as sold out, as were the Thursday and Ecosystem passes. That leaves the more than 600 side events listed around the conference.
In Africa: Cape Town and Accra bet on face-to-face meetings
In Cape Town, the AfricArena Grand Summit comprises two formats. The one-day Rise Summit is expected, according to the organiser, to bring together more than 150 local and 200 international Africa-focused participants: venture capital funds, development finance institutions, business angels, corporates and startups. Startups wishing to take the stage apply through the AfricArise programme. The one-day Scale Summit is aimed more at growth companies ready to sell to large corporates, with one-to-one meetings arranged in advance. The page did not yet mention a firm date as of 12 November.
In Accra, on 2 and 3 December, the NEXTEN Summit plans 32 startup pitches and a “Pitch Battle” final, over two days and four rooms or stages. The organisers highlight more than $400 million in deal flow: a self-reported figure that no independent source corroborates. Applications go through a dedicated startup page; visitor pre-registration is free.
In the Gulf: a prize competition and two shows in early February
From 8 to 10 December, Expand North Star takes place at Expo City Dubai, alongside GITEX Global. Its Supernova 0X competition has 60 startups pitching live; nine finalists are selected, then three winners share $115,000 in cash prizes, with no equity taken. A Founder’s Pass, granted on request, allows holders to occupy a small stand for one day.
From 31 January to 3 February 2027, Web Summit Qatar hosts its startup programme in Doha. The process unfolds in three stages: a conversation with the dedicated team, an assessment followed by selection, then preparation with the support team. Neither the price nor the deadline appeared on the page consulted.
Right after, on 3 and 4 February, STEP Dubai sets up at Dubai Internet City. The organiser has not yet released figures for 2027, but announces 8,000 participants, 300 startups and more than 200 investors per year, combining its Dubai and San Francisco editions.
How to choose and prepare your trip
The first criterion remains the geography of the funds you are targeting. A young company looking for Nordic or European investors would do well to aim for Helsinki; a startup that wants to grow on the African continent will find specialised funds in Cape Town and Accra. The Gulf shows mainly attract those targeting the region’s markets and capital.
The second criterion is format. A pitch competition brings visibility, but only a handful of finalists benefit directly. Meeting tools, on the other hand, benefit all participants who get in early. In any case, a few rules apply:
- draw up in advance a list of the funds attending whose thesis matches your sector and stage;
- book your slots in the event app as soon as it opens;
- prepare a short version of your pitch, two to three minutes long, and up-to-date metrics;
- budget for travel, accommodation and visas, which are rarely included in startup packages.
The full calendar, with a map of the cities, lets you see the whole agenda of this winter’s tech events. Journalists and content creators who wish to cover these competitions can request accreditation.
Frequently asked questions
Which pitch competition offers the biggest prize this winter?
Among the pages consulted, only Supernova 0X, at Expand North Star, publishes an amount: $115,000 in prizes with no equity taken, shared between three winners. The other organisers do not display any prize money.
Do you have to pay to meet investors at Slush?
Yes: the startup ticket costs €395 and gives access to the meeting tool and investor office hours. It was, however, listed as sold out as of 12 November 2026.
Which events suit an African startup?
AfricArena in Cape Town and the NEXTEN Summit in Accra are the most focused on funding African startups. The African Startup Conference in Algiers, from 5 to 7 December, is also aimed at young companies from the continent.
Sources
- Slush 2026, Nov 18-19, Helsinki — Slush, 2026-11-12
- AfricArena Grand Summit 2026 — AfricArena, 2026-11-12
- NEXTEN Summit 2026, Accra — NEXTEN Summit, 2026-11-12
- Expand North Star 2026, 8-10 December, Expo City Dubai — Expand North Star (DWTC), 2026-11-12
- Web Summit Qatar 2027: startup programme — Web Summit Qatar, 2026-11-12
- STEP Dubai 2027, 3-4 February — STEP Conference, 2026-11-12
- African Startup Conference 2026 — African Startup Conference, 2026-11-12