Creative Business Cup Ukraine 2023

Sector: Culture and creative industries
Type: Competition
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
Deadline: Finished
Organiser: House of Europe x Ukrainian Startup Fund

This is your chance to represent Ukraine at the unique international Creative Business Cup BRIGHT in Denmark.

Impress the jury with your pitch in three minutes; leave them doubtless as to whether you should be the winner during the six-minute QA session. The jury involves three experts in the creative industries. 

Pitching will take place on 28 April in a secure location at UNIT.City in a hybrid format, so you can participate online or come to Kyiv. We will announce the results right away.

Creative Business Cup Ukraine is held by the House of Europe in cooperation with the Ukrainian Startup Fund. Learn more about past finalists and follow the updates on Facebook

What do I get?
  • Participation in the Creative Business Cup BRIGHT in Copenhagen, where you will compete for the prize and the title of the best startup of the year with entrepreneurs representing 80 countries of the world. All travel expenses are covered by us. 
  • A chance to find foreign investors, an international audience, and acquaintances among CEOs of startups all over the world. 
  • Opportunity to advance your pitching skills and review the business model in training by leading creative industries professionals at the Creative Business Academy. 
  • Invitation to become part of Creative Business Network (CBN): the network of experts, startups, and investors worldwide.
What is the Creative Business Cup?

Creative Business Cup is the world’s only global competition for creative startups. 

Enterprises from 80+ countries pitch in front of a live jury, competing to become the best creative startup of the year. 

Hearing accessories DEAFMETAL, female urinals Lapee, 100% compostable packaging RAIKU, and liquid air purifier Photio have already conquered the jury. This year it might be you.

This year's Creative Business Cup Global Finals will be held in Copenhagen on 4-5 June 2023 during Green Impact Week.

Can I apply?

This opportunity is perfectly suitable for creative entrepreneurs and startups that:

  • Have a product or prototype that has the market potential
  • Have the core asset of the business based on creative competencies
  • Own the right of the idea of a product or prototype
  • Position themselves as a Ukrainian company
  • Operate via a Ukrainian legal entity: sole proprietor, LTD, etc.
  • Have not yet received investments over USD 1,000,000
How do we define the creative industries?

The sectors of the creative industries include, but are not limited to:

  • Advertising & Marketing
  • Architecture 
  • Craft & Artisanship
  • Design 
  • Experience Technologies  
  • Fashion 
  • Film, Video & Photography  
  • Gastronomy 
  • Leisure Activities  
  • Music  
  • Performing Arts
  • Visual Art  
  • Play & Learn  
  • Gamedev
  • Media
  • Publishing & Literature
  • Radio & Television  
  • Festivals
  • Creative hubs, Museums & Galleries
What do I need to apply?
  • Readiness to pitch your product to an immense international audience
  • Good command of English language (B2). You will pitch your startup and answer the jury’s questions in English
How do I apply?

​​Apply via our online platform. Log in, opt for the chapter ’Creative businesses’ and the open call ’Creative Business Cup 2023’.

The deadline is 20 April 2023 at 15:00 Kyiv time.

Good to know
  • We will shortlist 15 candidates to participate in pitching. The defining selection criteria will be whether your startup belongs to creative industries, whether it has market potential, and whether you demonstrate the motivation to participate in the Creative Business Cup Ukraine.
  • During martial law, some men are not allowed to leave the county. We cannot guarantee you a business trip permit, but we will help: onboard you on procedures and draft an invitation and a certificate stating that we cover trip expenses. Online pitch is also an option.

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