Artificial Intelligence is no longer a buzzword reserved for research labs and tech giants. Across Europe, cities, corporates, and public institutions are wrestling with pressing questions:

• How can AI optimise logistics and supply chains?
• What role does synthetic data play in protecting privacy?
• Can generative AI strengthen public services or manufacturing processes?

These are not abstract puzzles, but rather urgent challenges shaping Europe’s competitiveness and social wellbeing.

Enter the AI Challenge 2025, launched by the EIT AI Community.

Beyond a Competition: A Matchmaking Arena

What makes the AI Challenge different from your typical startup pitch competition is its matchmaking design. Instead of asking founders to build solutions in a vacuum, the challenge starts with real needs put forward by companies, institutions, and cities.

Startups aren’t just competing for prize money; they are solving problems that stakeholders have already put on the table. Problems that, if addressed, could scale across industries and borders.

To get an idea what that can look like, check out lasts year's winners stories: Mayday.ai, Isarsoft and Nuavis.

What’s in It for Startups?

Startups joining the AI Challenge gain more than visibility. They step into a pipeline that can accelerate their growth:

• Direct connection with challenge owners actively seeking solutions.
• A €5,000 award to kickstart proof-of-concept development.
• Membership of the AI Founders Club, giving access to tailored support and the wider EIT innovation ecosystem.
• Credibility and exposure by being selected as part of a Europe-wide AI initiative.

In other words: it’s not just about winning; it’s about positioning your startup at the heart of Europe’s AI movement.

Why It Matters Now

Europe is doubling down on AI. Regulatory frameworks, data spaces, and cross-sector collaborations are being built as we speak. For startups, this creates a window of opportunity: those who engage now will not only find customers, but also help shape how AI is applied and governed across the continent.

The AI Challenge 2025 is one of those rare chances to be both entrepreneurial and influential, helping real organisations while contributing to Europe’s leadership in responsible, impactful AI.

Time to Step Forward

The call is now open for solution providers. If you are a startup with an AI solution that could move the needle on one of the challenges, this is your invitation.

• Applications are open now
• Deadline: 29 October 2025
• Pitching & winners: November 2025