Blog - Opentop

PEIC 2026: meet the startups coming to Valencia on 21 October

Written by Imad Hachemi | Sep 22, 2026, 7:00:00 AM

 

PEIC 2026: meet the startups coming to Valencia on 21 October

 

PEIC (Port Entrepreneurship International Congress), the international reference congress in port entrepreneurship and innovation, holds its fourth edition within VDS), at Valencia's City of Arts and Sciences. And this year it's back with a bigger stage, more formats and new ways to see innovation up close.

Last June we opened a call for startups and the response exceeded all expectations: more than 70 applications, the vast majority from abroad, from entrepreneurs around the world eager to showcase their solutions at PEIC. After a demanding selection process, the committee has chosen startups from 12 countries: Chile, Singapore, Canada, the USA, Czechia, Norway, Finland, Austria, Germany, Belgium, Italy and the United Kingdom.

A bigger stage: the Agora Stage

One of this year's big new features is the Agora Stage, a larger space with room for a bigger audience, which will host the congress.

 

Check out the full agenda

 

Innovation Lighthouse: much more than a pitch

The Innovation Lighthouse sessions go one step beyond the traditional pitch: each startup presents its solution and then joins a roundtable discussion with two industry experts. This year there are four thematic areas:

Innovation in action: the Demo sessions

PEIC features two hands-on, interactive Demo sessions where startups show their innovations live:

PEIC DEMO on the LAKE

Another first for this edition. Throughout both days of VDS, the lake at the City of Arts and Sciences becomes a testbed open to the public. At PEIC DEMO on the LAKE you can see and try out, in their natural element, the solutions developed by Marine Robotics, Mesh Robots, Ocean Ecostructures, Oil Kontrol and Panssari.

Three awards up for grabs

All selected startups at PEIC are in the running for this edition's three awards:

    • Audience Award, voted by attendees.
    • International Innovation Award, granted by PIN (Port Innovators Network).
    • Best PEIC Startup Award, chosen by an expert jury.

Thanks to those who make it possible

Our thanks to KIWA for its support as Strategic Partner, and to Boluda Corporación Marítima, the Port of San Diego, Marina Port Valencia and PHAROS 39.0, whose collaboration helps make this global event possible.

See you on 21 October in Valencia!