Applications open for the Forest & Nature Tech Pitching Competition

The Forest & Nature Tech Pitching Competition is now open for applications, inviting ambitious teams to step onto the stage and compete with their solutions for a more sustainable future.

We are looking for the most promising early-stage startups and teams that are developing future commercial solutions to promote sustainable forest bioeconomy, halt habitat loss and strengthen biodiversity – i.e. turning ideas into impactful innovations. The focus is on identifying impactful and scalable ideas and presenting them directly to experts, industry leaders and investors.

The competition is built around two pitching stages.

The first stage of the competition takes place at Forest Industry Days (, 22 October 2026), where participants can meet leading experts, companies, and decision-makers in forest use by pitching their solution. From there, the top teams are selected to advance to the final round. Finalists take the stage at an (18 November 2026), Slush side-event, gaining exposure to a broader startup and investor audience.

What the competition looks for

The competition targets early-stage teams and startups developing solutions that:

  • promote sustainable forest bioeconomy
  • halt biodiversity loss and strengthen natural ecosystems
  • create new business opportunities from research and innovation

Solutions should already have some level of validation and a clear path toward real-world impact. The competition is mainly targeted at early-stage teams and startups, typically within their first three years. Only a limited number of teams are selected to the semi-final stage, and from there, just a few make it to the final.

The competition culminates in the final pitching event, where one team is selected as the winner and awarded a 5000 € cash prize, along with recognition, sparring and opportunities to take their innovation forward.

Apply Now

Applications are now open. Fill the form, pitch your solution, and compete for a place among the leading forest and nature innovations.

Organizers