Nature and Forest Startup Pitching Competition

The Forest & Nature Tech Pitching Competition opens for applications on June 3rd. Are you an ambitious team working on commercial solutions in sustainable forest bioeconomy? Apply to compete with your solution for a more sustainable future.

Together with Viikki Wood & Forest InnoHub from University of Helsinki we invite future shapers of the forest and nature sector to join a two-stage pitching competition. We are looking for the most promising early-stage startup and teams developing future commercial solutions to promote sustainable forest bioeconomy, halt nature loss and strengthen biodiversity – turning ideas into impactful innovations. The focus is on identifying impactful and scalable ideas and presenting them directly to experts, industry leaders and investors.

The Forest & Nature Tech Pitching Competition Criteria  

The competition targets early-stage teams and startups developing solutions that: 

• promote sustainable forest bioeconomy 
• halt biodiversity loss and strengthen natural ecosystems 
• create new business opportunities from research and innovation 

Solutions should already have some level of validation and a clear path toward real-world impact. The competition is mainly targeted at early-stage teams and startups, typically within their first three years. Only a limited number of teams are selected to the semi-final stage, and from there, just a few make it to the final. 

The competition culminates in the final pitching event, where one team is selected as the winner and awarded a 5000 € cash prize, along with recognition, sparring and opportunities to take their innovation forward. 

Who can apply? 

Startups and research-to-business teams developing solutions for forests, biodiversity, sustainable materials, monitoring technologies, soil innovation and nature data tools. 

Key dates: 

• Application time: June 3rd - 11th of September 2026 
• Semifinal: October 22th at Metsäpäivät 
• Final: November 18 at Slush 

Apply here (link opens on June 3rd)

Competition timeline

Forest Industry Days 2026 

The first stage of the competition takes place at Forest Industry Days (Metsäpäivät October 2026), where participants meet and pitch to leading experts, companies, and decision-makers. The top teams are selected to advance to the final round.

Y science 2026 

The final round will take place on the stage at an Y-Science (November 2026). Y-Science is a Slush side-event where the teams will gain exposure to a broader startup and investor audience. 

Ready to solve pressing sustainability challenges?

Our goal is to bring forward fresh, research-based solutions to the pressing sustainability challenges of forests and nature as well as related industries – combining science, technology, and practical implementation – and to strengthen Finland’s position in sustainable innovation sector.  

Join us in creating innovations that not only utilize nature but restore and strengthen its vitality for generations to come as well as maximize the sustainable use of natural resources.