The 2026 Danube Cup once again showcased creativity, ambition, and entrepreneurial talent emerging from universities across the Danube region. In this special 10th anniversary edition, the winning teams stood out with innovative solutions, strong market potential, and impressive determination.

Following the competition, the DC Office reached out to the three winning teams to learn more about their journeys, the lessons they gained throughout the Danube Cup experience, and what comes next as they continue to develop their ventures beyond the competition stage. Below you can read the impressions of the runner-up team: TraceQ.

TraceQ has created compact robots which locate people under the rubble after natural disasters. The robots assist search and rescue teams by informing them where to look for survivors, thus saving crucial hours resulting in more people saved.

1.How did you like this year’s DC International Pitch competition?

We would like to start off by saying that it was a fantastic experience. The competition was fierce, with a lot of well-prepared teams. It was inspiring to see so many new, innovative ideas across the board and to be able to discuss these ideas after the competition. Apart from learning about other start-ups, we also got the chance to make new friends and connections, which would have been impossible without the competition.

2. What advice would you give to university teams hoping to qualify for next year’s Danube Cup finals?

From what I can see, the most important thing by far is to believe in your idea. At the start of our journey, we met with a professor for a consultation with high hopes to discuss the project. To our surprise, he proceeded to tell us that it was unfeasible and unrealistic, and that we should just drop the whole thing. At that point we almost did, but we decided to apply to the Danube Cup anyway. A month later, we were standing on the stage of the Danube international finals, where we met other professionals and experts who were much more optimistic about our start-up. Even if somebody tells you that it’s hopeless, you should go for it anyway.

3. In your opinion, what qualities distinguish student start-uppers who successfully transition from university projects to sustainable businesses?

A startup requires more effort than most people believe. They start out as something fun and exciting because it is new – creative ideas left and right, and so much hope. But as a few months pass, the excitement fades and it becomes more about consistency than talent. A start-up where the people show up every day to do the work regardless of mood, feelings, or motivation will always thrive over one that does not, regardless of how talented the latter are.

“It’s not what we do once in a while that shapes our lives, but what we do consistently.” — Tony Robbins

Thank you Janos Pál and team TraceQ (Kamila Amangeldi, Bexlan Zinullayev Bexlan and Arya Chatterjee) for sharing your story and experiences with us.