The 20 early-stage startups stepping into the Spotlight 2026

Filtering hundreds of early-stage applications down to a tight group of 20 for Spotlight 2026 is equal parts privilege and reality check. It gives us a front-row seat to what Eastern Europe’s sharpest builders are actually getting their hands dirty with behind closed doors. 

And if last year’s Spotlight cohort was defined by the first wave of generative tools, the 2026 application pool reveals something much deeper: an ecosystem that has aggressively matured overnight.

What is Spotlight?

Taking place right at the heart of How to Web Conference 2026 in Bucharest (October 6–8), Spotlight is the region’s leading startup matchmaking program and competition. Think of it as a high-density shortcut: early-stage teams from across Central and Eastern Europe skip months of cold outreach and constant travel, compressing their fundraising and growth push into three focused days.

Spotlight makes that happen by putting founders directly across the table from experienced mentors, strategic partners and more than 250 seasoned investors who know what it takes to scale global technology companies.

The main themes defining the 2026 cohort

Eyeing up this year’s 20 semifinalists, four unmistakable shifts emerge across the regional ecosystem:

Enterprise security and AI safety

With AI deployment scaling rapidly, security has graduated to the front line. The cohort brings software resilience, AI threat prevention and enterprise data protection to the surface, with startups like Hyperbunker, AISafe.io and CortexMine building load-bearing trust layers for modern systems.

Deep tech & hardware engineering taking center stage

CEE’s deep technical roots are showing up in physical and hard-tech domains. From advanced bio-materials and industrial robotics to specialized hardware and drone engineering, founders are pointing their talent at physical systems and deep scientific engineering.

Domain-specific AI beyond the application layer

AI is still present, but the era of generic “wrapper apps” is more or less over. This year’s cohort embeds vertical intelligence directly into complex industries, from healthtech and sleep science to architectural automation, spatial GIS intelligence and AI-driven video infrastructure. 

High-leverage B2B and modern mobility

From reinventing urban micro-mobility models to streamlining enterprise operations, founders across the region are building product-led B2B platforms designed for day-one international distribution.

Meet the 20 semifinalists

Out of hundreds of builders vying for this mentorship, investor facetime and stage presence at this year’s Spotlight program, meet the 20 semifinalists taking the stage in Bucharest:

• WakeZ
• Elvo
• Renter
• Fadron
• FIORA5
• CortexMine
• AISafe Labs
• Nicelium
• Naumu
• Travecta
• GEOforge
• Golana Computing
• TensorPix
• MOTIQUM
• ARCHTYP
• anyconcept
• HYPERBUNKER
• Prometheus Robotics
• Intrudify
• TasteRay

What awaits the cohort?

The 20 selected startups, spotlighting founders from ten countries across CEE and the diaspora, will bring their best under the How to Web Conference roof, competing in the semifinals, with only five advancing to pitch on the Startup Stage in the finals. 

While Spotlight builds up to a final winner on stage, the real value of the program lies in the stage and visibility it gives to the entire cohort. Throughout the conference, the selected startups get direct exposure for their products in front of thousands of investors, operators, executives, and fellow founders, backed by targeted media coverage, live feedback and tailored mentoring:

The broader event network: Access to 50+ side events, private networking lounges and curated gatherings designed to turn casual intros into long-term partnerships.

Pre-scheduled 1:1 sessions with tier-1 VCs: Direct access to decision-makers from funds like Eurazeo, Creandum, Underline Ventures and Cherry Ventures.

Tailored mentorship and expert feedback: Direct guidance alongside pitch teardowns and dedicated sessions with mentors and jury members representing BCR, Stripe, KAYA VC, AWS, Bitdefender, Make and more.

Accelerate Sales & Fundraising tracks: Curated masterclasses where experts like Zoltan Vardy and Laurentiu Ghenciu break down live sales-process case studies and sharpen fundraising narratives on the spot.

Join the crowd matchmaking

Attending How to Web Conference 2026 on October 6–8? Don’t just watch the pitches from the audience.

All 20 semifinalists will host dedicated booths in the Demo Area throughout the event. Stop by to test their products, challenge their pitches or meet your next portfolio investment before the rest of the market catches on.

Pro tip here: You don’t have to wait until you hit the floor in Bucharest. Log into the How to Web networking app today, filter the cohort by category and lock in your 1:1 meetings directly with the founders before their schedules fill up.

Get your ticket to How to Web Conference 2026 and meet those building the region’s next wave.