The Paris Blockchain Week conference will take place from April 8-10, 2025, during which the Crypto: Start in Block startup competition will be held, featuring a prize pool of $10 million. This competition serves as a launchpad for the most promising early-stage projects in the industry, as noted by the organizers.
This is reported by Finway
12 teams will compete for prizes in the form of grants, loans, and other awards during the pitch session. Nick Wyman, CEO of the Bubblemap project and a past winner of this competition, stated:
“PBWS changed the game for our ‘roadshow.’ We not only secured investments but also gained popularity, which helped us exceed our seed round targets!”
In addition to Bubblemap, several other well-known crypto projects, including Xverse, CrossCurve, YC Bitstack, Onesafe, Zyfi, and PWN, received significant boosts to their development through participation in last year’s pitch session.
About the Competition and Its Participants
This year, 12 startups have been selected to have the opportunity to present on stage and receive a booth at the PBW Startup Village. The competition will conclude with the final Master Stage, where three winners will be determined. Among the judges are industry leaders, including Akshat Vaidya, Nathan Shiron, and Cosmin Staicu.
In addition to the competition, an Investor Day will also take place on April 10, gathering numerous venture investors and industry experts. Delegates will have access to the Startup Village and Investor’s Lounge areas, facilitating networking. During this event, there will be presentations, panel sessions, and other activities.
Nathaniel Elkaim, head of the investor relations at PBW, commented:
“As we approach Paris Blockchain Week 2025, the momentum has never been stronger, and early-stage investor interest has reached an all-time high. The Start In Block competition and Investor Day are at the core of our mission, creating a successful ecosystem where innovative startups gain unparalleled visibility.”
Expectations for Competition
According to the organizers, last year over 800 startups competed for participation in the competition, of which only 10 made it to the stage. Competition is expected to be even fiercer in 2025. Winners will gain exclusive access to funding opportunities, mentorship, and technical resources for the development of their projects.