Let’s take a step back
The Startup World Cup is a prestigious global competition organized by Pegasus Tech Ventures, a leading venture capital firm. The goal of SWC aims to connect startup ecosystems across the world and offer promising startups the opportunity to pitch their innovative ideas to a panel of high-profile judges. EY Luxembourg is proud to host the Startup World Cup 2025, bringing together innovation, entrepreneurship, and global expertise to foster the next wave of groundbreaking startups.

This year’s jury has now delivered its verdict!

Among the members of the jury for this 2025 edition, five renowned personalities:
• Genna Elvin, Co-founder of Tadaweb;
• Philippe Linster, House of Startups (HoST);
• Matias Mäenpää, CEO of Videobot and 2023 SWC winner;
• Pierre Schoonbroodt, Luxembourg Stock Exchange (LuxSE);
• Max Gindt, Head of Digital Policy and Media Department at the Ministry of State.

The 10 finalists were:
• MoveMe is a digital platform that simplifies onboarding and relocation for international professionals and students, ensuring a smooth transition to their new country.
• Augment utilizes Digital Twins technology to enhance and simplify Facility Management and improve operational efficiency.
• Silcube Financial Systems Oy is an AI-powered portfolio management system for private debt professionals, transforming loan origination, borrower monitoring, reporting and valuation with a friendly platform that deploys in weeks, not months.
• Maic is an AI-powered automation for hotels that reduces labor costs and increases revenue through upsells.
• Essembl is your new Personal AI Fashion Advisor and will simplify your daily outfit selection as well as way to shop.
• RMT Labs revitalize the IT recruitment industry with an AI-powered platform, an AI recruitment model, and over 100 AI recruitment assistants, creating opportunities for all.
• Elora enables businesses to create a custom AI-powered receptionist in under an hour. Each generative AI agent can handle inquiries, schedules meetings, pass through calls to specific departments, and enhances customer interactions.
• OrganoTherapeutics specialize in developing advanced models for complex diseases that demand equally complex solutions. Their mission is to accelerate the development of therapeutics for neurodegenerative disorders.
• OQ Technology is the world’s first 5G Direct-to-Device Satellite Operator in Low Earth Orbit to connect remote and rural areas.
• Exobiosphere focuses on developing cures from space, proposing the first Autonomous Drug Screening Lab in space to accelerate and enhance research outcomes.

The jury has made its decision!  The winner of SWC 2025 edition is Exobiosphere!

‘’We were not too intimated because we were among friends […] in the next couple of years we would like to hire more people and reach the US. We are proud to win the prize today, our team has worked incredibly hard to get here. We will do our best to make Luxembourg proud.’’
– Kyle Acierno, CEO and Co-founder of Exobiosphere

As the local champion, the winner will represent Luxembourg in the next round of competition in San Francisco, facing over 100 other exceptional startups from around the world. Along with various other prizes and opportunities, the winner will also receive a one-million-dollar investment to help scale their business.