The 10th anniversary edition of the Danube Cup International Pitch Competition brought together some of the region’s most promising student startup teams in Vienna. Hosted by the WU Entrepreneurship Center as part of the Entrepreneurship Avenue Conference, the Final combined a high-quality competition with the energy of one of Europe’s largest student-led entrepreneurship events.

For the host university’s organizing team, the event was also a celebration of how far the Danube Cup has come over the past decade. From the maturity of the ventures to the professionalism of the pitches, this year’s Final reflected the growing strength of entrepreneurship education and collaboration across the Danube region.

In an interview with the DC Office, Dr. Rudolf Dömötör, Director of the WU Entrepreneurship Center and the Entrepreneurship Center Network (ECN), shared his experiences and perspective on the anniversary edition of the competition:

How did the WU Entrepreneurship Center get ready to host the 10th anniversary DC International Pitch Competition?

When we learned at the end of last year that the Final could no longer be hosted in Belgrade, we immediately discussed within our team whether WU Entrepreneurship Center could step in at relatively short notice. It did not take long before the answer was a clear ‘YES’.

We were genuinely excited about the opportunity. Hosting the Danube Cup Final is always a privilege, but being able to welcome the community for the competition’s 10th anniversary made it even more special. Since we had already successfully hosted the Final in 2022 – the first time it took place outside Hungary – we knew what it takes to create a memorable experience. Integrating this year’s Final into the Entrepreneurship Avenue Conference, one of Europe’s largest student-led entrepreneurship events, felt like a natural fit. I was particularly happy to see how enthusiastically the Entrepreneurship Avenue student organizing team embraced the idea from the very beginning.

Our ambition was not only to deliver a well-organized competition, but also to give our partners and participants an unforgettable experience of Vienna, WU, and the city’s vibrant startup ecosystem. The fact that the event coincided with ViennaUP created wonderful opportunities to connect the Danube Cup community with the broader entrepreneurial landscape.

None of this would have been possible without outstanding teamwork. I would like to especially acknowledge Monique Fischer and Florentina Köck from the WU Entrepreneurship Center, as well as Hanna Greiner and Sofia Boneva, the two Head Organisers of Entrepreneurship Avenue 2026, for their exceptional commitment. I would also like to thank all Danube Cup partners for the collaborative and enjoyable preparation. It was a true team effort across the entire network.

What was your opinion about this year’s contest? How did you like the competing teams?

I was genuinely impressed by this year’s competition. The overall quality of the finalist teams was outstanding. They addressed highly relevant real-world problems across a remarkably diverse range of industries, technologies, and markets, while demonstrating that they had already invested serious effort into validating their ideas with potential users and customers. That combination of innovation and market validation is exactly what makes for promising entrepreneurial ventures.

Another aspect that really stood out was the quality of the pitches. After the event, several jury members independently told us how impressed they were; not only by the ideas themselves, but by the professionalism with which they were presented. The teams communicated their value propositions clearly, made excellent use of prototypes and demonstrations, and answered questions with confidence. As a result, selecting the winners was anything but easy.

For me, this also reflects the remarkable development of the Danube Cup over the past ten years. Today, it is much more than a student pitch competition. It has become a platform where ambitious founders present ventures that are increasingly mature, well-prepared, and ready to take the next step.

At the same time, this progress is a testament to the outstanding work being done by our partner universities. Behind every team stands a dedicated entrepreneurship center, committed educators, mentors, and support staff who continuously improve their courses, programs, and start-up support. The quality we saw on stage in Vienna is, in many ways, the result of this collective effort. I believe that is one of the Danube Cup’s greatest strengths: we are not only celebrating entrepreneurial talent but also learning from one another and continuously raising the standard of entrepreneurship education across the Danube region.

After hosting this year’s Final, what lessons or insights will WU Entrepreneurship Center take away from the experience?

Hosting this year’s Final reinforced something we have believed for a long time: entrepreneurship thrives in strong communities. Competitions like the Danube Cup are, of course, about identifying outstanding start-up teams. But they are equally about connecting universities, educators, mentors, and students across borders. The conversations between participants are often just as valuable as the competition itself, because they inspire new ideas, collaborations, and friendships that last well beyond the event.

Another important takeaway is the remarkable progress we have seen over the past decade. Year after year, the quality of both the ventures and the pitches continues to improve. This gives me great confidence that entrepreneurship education and start-up support at our partner universities are moving in exactly the right direction. Together, we are creating an environment in which entrepreneurial talent can truly flourish.

And, with a smile, I have to admit that it was, of course, especially rewarding to see the winning team come from WU Vienna. As hosts, we did our very best to stay neutral throughout the competition, but we certainly enjoyed celebrating their success afterwards.

The experience has also given us fresh energy to further strengthen our existing partnerships and to build new international collaborations. Great start-up ecosystems are not built by individual universities alone, but by strong networks that collaborate, learn from one another, and create opportunities together. That is exactly what the Danube Cup has stood for over the past ten years, and I am convinced its best chapters are still ahead.

Thank you very much for the interview!