Startup Celebration
This is a Skylab Community exclusive event. It is for teams and startups in the Skylab Startup Programme, or by invitation only.
An evening where the whole Skylab community comes together to celebrate what we've built – not just the wins, but the whole ride. Join us for an evening of food, drinks, awards, and genuinely good people who get what it's like to be in a startup.
This year, we'll be sharing stories from across the community – the ups, the downs, and the moments that made it all worth it. And we're handing out two awards: Breakthrough of the Year and Pitch of the Night.
When & where
📍 DTU Skylab
🕗 16:00–20:00
🗓️ 22 Oct 2026
Two awards
Breakthrough of the Year
Some of the best moments in a startup's life happen out in the world, when a customer, a partner, or a market does something no one saw coming, and suddenly everything moves. The main award, Breakthrough of the Year, celebrates that moment: a real-world breakthrough from the past year that surprised even the team itself.
This is not about who raised the most money or has the most polished idea. A breakthrough can be a grant, an accelerator spot, or another funding win - but just as easily a customer, a partner, or a market saying yes in a way nobody saw coming. That's what we are celebrating.
- Who can be nominated: teams from Skylab programmes in the past 12 months in Stage 2 or Stage 3 (incl. pre scale-up track)
- Nomination: anyone can nominate a team, including nominating your own, by answering three short questions: What happened? Why does it matter? What can others learn from it?
- Selection: a jury of one investor, one industry voice, and one former Skylab founder picks four finalists
- On the night: the four finalists pitch their breakthrough live on stage at the Startup Celebration
- Winning: the jury decides the winner the same evening, right after the pitches – and announces it on the spot
- Prize: 15.000 DKK - sponsored by PSV
Nominate a team, including your own, for "Breaktrough of the Year"
Pitch of the Night
This award goes to the team that tells its story best, live on stage.
- Who can apply: teams from Skylab programme in the past 12 months, Stage 1-3
- Application: submit your pitch deck and a short motivational text
- Selection: Skylab staff pick four finalists based on a clear story, the pitch's pull, and problem/solution – all finalists are offered the same pitch training beforehand
- On the night: each finalist pitches for 3 minutes, followed by 2 minutes of questions from the jury
- Winning: the same jury as Breakthrough of the Year scores clarity, story, credibility, and delivery - 75% of the result. The audience votes via QR code for the remaining 25%
- Prize: 10.000 DKK - sponsored by DI
Apply for "Pitch of the Night"
Deadline for nominations
October 14
Finalists will be advised no later than Monday 19 Oct, 11:00 AM.
Contact
Alexander Egebjerg, Incubator Manager, DTU Skylab. bjerg@dtu.dk. Mobile: +45 31310330.