The Startup World Cup New York regional event takes place today, September 28, 2026, at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. The event brings together 12 startup finalists after a large field of 116 teams from 10 countries. Each finalist will present its company before a panel of investors, business leaders and startup experts.
The event gives these young companies a major chance to gain attention, meet investors and move closer to the global Startup World Cup final. The New York winner will represent the region at the Grand Finale in San Francisco from November 4 to 6, 2026. The global winner will be eligible for a $1 million investment prize.
From 116 Teams to 12 Finalists
The road to the New York stage began with 116 startup teams. The teams came from 10 countries, which gave the regional contest a broad international mix. Applications closed on August 30, 2026. After a two-week review, organizers chose 12 companies for the final event.
The 12 finalists are Xatoms, Biuty.ai, Janus Cyber, OVAI, Catcher Academy, Journey Robotics, Upxycle Inc., Clean Label Solution LLC, Iron Step, FaceIQ Labs, MAAT Energy and METAiAM. BridgePoint Global Advisors lists Catcher Academy with the longer name AsiaMath AI, Inc. on its event page.
The group covers a wide mix of technology and business ideas. This range reflects the broad nature of the Startup World Cup, which brings founders from different sectors into one global competition. The New York event also gives the local startup community a chance to see new products and meet the people behind them.
Where and When the Event Takes Place
The Startup World Cup New York regional final takes place at the Morris W. and Fannie B. Haft Theater at the Fashion Institute of Technology. The theater sits inside the Fred P. Pomerantz Art and Design Center in New York City. The main event runs from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on September 28.
BridgePoint Global Advisors lists check-in at 1:30 p.m. and the venue address as 227 W 27th St, New York, NY 10001. Admission is free with advance registration.
The event also forms part of a larger day at FIT. A separate Global Beauty & Fashion Tech Forum takes place earlier that day, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The Startup World Cup regional event follows it at the same theater.
A Panel of Startup and Business Leaders
The event has a strong group of judges and speakers. Dr. Wayne Liu, President of the Americas and Chief Growth Officer at Perfect Corp., will host the event. Jason Schupbach, President of the Fashion Institute of Technology, will deliver the keynote address.
The judge and speaker group includes Jenny Fielding, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Everywhere Ventures; Erica Duignan Minnihan, Co-Founder and General Partner at Reign Ventures; Justyn Turner, Vice President of Strategic Partnership at NYCEDC; Michael Ferraro, Executive Director at FIT DTech Lab; James Acquaviva, Director of Strategic Innovation at Stony Brook University; and Bryan Huang, Founder and CEO of LANDED.
For the 12 finalists, this creates a rare chance to put their companies before people with experience in venture capital, business growth, technology and strategic partnerships.
More Than a Startup Contest
The New York regional final is not only about the pitch contest. It also serves as a meeting place for founders, investors, students, executives and other members of the startup community.
BridgePoint Global Advisors says its goal is to connect promising entrepreneurs with investors, strategic partners and other resources. The company also sees the event as a way to help founders gain visibility and create useful business relationships.
For investors, the event can offer a close look at early-stage companies from different markets. For founders, it can create new contacts beyond the competition itself. Students and people who want to learn more about entrepreneurship can also get a direct view of how founders present a business idea before an expert audience.
The Prizes at Stake
The first-place winner will earn the chance to represent New York at the Startup World Cup Grand Finale in San Francisco. The New York regional prize also includes round-trip airfare and hotel accommodation for the winner.
The second-place winner will receive $2,500 in cash, while the third-place winner will receive $1,500. These prizes give the top three finalists a direct reward for their performance at the regional event.
The larger prize comes at the global level. The Startup World Cup Grand Finale in San Francisco will take place from November 4 to 6, 2026, at Hilton Union Square. The global competition has a $1 million investment prize for its winner.
The Road to San Francisco
The New York winner will join regional winners from Startup World Cup events across the world. The main Startup World Cup site says there will be more than 200 regional winners with a chance to take part in the semi-finals. From there, 10 finalists will advance to the Grand Finale.
At the Grand Finale, each of the 10 finalists will have four minutes for a pitch and two minutes for questions from the judges. One finalist will then be eligible for the $1 million investment prize.
That makes the New York event an important step for the 12 companies on the stage today. A regional title can give one of them access to a much larger global audience and another chance to present its business before investors and industry leaders.
A Special Part of the Event
The program also has a cultural element. Before the New York winner is announced, guests will hear a special performance from the Celadon Quartet of The Juilliard School. This adds a different touch to an event that is otherwise focused on startups, investment and technology.
The mix of founders, investors, business leaders and students also reflects the wider purpose of the event. Startup competitions can offer more than a stage and a prize. They can create a place where people meet, exchange ideas and find new business links.
Why Today Matters for the Finalists
For the 12 finalists, today is a major test. They have moved from a field of 116 teams to a small group with a chance to represent New York at the global final. Each company now has a limited window to explain its product, business model and opportunity to the judges.
The final result will decide which startup moves ahead to San Francisco. For the other finalists, the event can still bring value through new contacts, exposure and possible interest from investors or business partners.
Startup World Cup New York therefore marks more than the end of a local selection process. It is the next step in a global startup competition, with 12 companies now set to put their ideas before a New York audience and compete for a place at the November Grand Finale.
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