Organization · Trade Organization
Central European Startup Awards
The Central European Startup Awards (CESAwards) is a trade organization based in Central Europe that recognizes and celebrates entrepreneurship across 18 countries. It connects startup ecosystems to a global network, fostering collaboration in innovation and education.
Overview
What Central European Startup Awards does
What Central European Startup Awards is
The Central European Startup Awards (CESAwards) is a trade organization based in Central Europe that recognizes and celebrates entrepreneurship across 18 countries. It connects startup ecosystems to a global network, fostering collaboration in innovation and education.
How it participates in the startup ecosystem
The current public profile supports community and event host capabilities. Each capability below is shown separately so organization identity and role-specific information do not get conflated.
Operational profile
Organization status and context
Organization status describes the entity itself. Funding and program availability appear within the relevant capability profile.
- Operational status
- Active
- Organization type
- Trade Organization
- Founded
- Founded in 2014
- Approximate age
- About 12 years
- Structured capabilities
- Community · Event host
- Last reviewed
- March 7, 2026
Official channels
Find Central European Startup Awards elsewhere
Open the official website or a supported primary organization account.
Capability profile
Central European Startup Awards as a community
Community overview
The Central European Startup Awards (CESAwards) was founded in 2014 and is based in Central Europe. It is part of the Global Startup Awards network and aims to recognize and celebrate entrepreneurship across 18 countries in the region, including Poland, Czechia, Slovakia, Austria, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Montenegro. The organization focuses on connecting communities and fostering collaboration in education, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
Community focus
CESAwards does not provide financial rewards but serves as a bridge connecting startup ecosystems to a global network. It facilitates access to a curated network of investors, startups, incubation and acceleration programs, and government initiatives. The awards aim to inspire and stimulate entrepreneurship while recognizing innovative and socially conscious startups.
Member value
Members benefit from access to a curated network of investors, startups, and various programs that foster innovation and entrepreneurship. The awards also provide recognition for innovative and socially conscious startups.
Membership
- Pricing models
- free
Format and cadence
- Modality
- in-person
- Commitment
- light
Availability
- Membership state
- Accepting
Audience and fit
- Audience
- Founders · Investors · Operators
- Benefits
- network-access
- Program types
- community
- Selection criteria
- open
- Regions
- Europe
Community activity
- Annual events
- 1
Events and activity
CESAwards hosts annual awards ceremonies that celebrate the achievements of startups and entrepreneurs in the region. These events bring together key stakeholders from the startup ecosystem, including investors, founders, and industry leaders.
Notable members
Notable past winners include Alberrt Alexander, CEO at Glueck Technologies, recognized for 'Best Deep Tech/AI/Big Data Startup' at the Asean Rice Bowl Startup Awards; Ingi Rafn Sigurdsson, CEO at Karolina Fund, recognized for 'Best Social Tech Startup' at the Nordic Startup Awards; and Andrej Kiska, Partner at Credo Ventures, recognized as 'Investor of the Year' at CESAwards.
Capability profile
Central European Startup Awards as an event host
Event focus
The Central European Startup Awards (CESAwards) aims to recognize and celebrate entrepreneurship across 18 countries in Central Europe. It connects startup ecosystems to a global network, facilitating access to investors, startups, incubation and acceleration programs, and government initiatives. The awards inspire and stimulate entrepreneurship while recognizing innovative and socially conscious startups.
Participant value
CESAwards serves as a bridge connecting startup ecosystems to a global network, facilitating access to a curated network of investors and programs, thereby inspiring and stimulating entrepreneurship.
Format and cadence
- Event types
- awards-ceremony
- Startups can present
- No
Availability
- Registration state
- Not currently accepting
Audience and fit
- Regions
- Europe
Speakers and past editions
Past editions
Notable past winners include Alberrt Alexander, CEO at Glueck Technologies, recognized for 'Best Deep Tech/AI/Big Data Startup' at the Asean Rice Bowl Startup Awards; Ingi Rafn Sigurdsson, CEO at Karolina Fund, recognized for 'Best Social Tech Startup' at the Nordic Startup Awards; and Andrej Kiska, Partner at Credo Ventures, recognized as 'Investor of the Year' at CESAwards.
Common questions
What to know about Central European Startup Awards
Upseed classifies Central European Startup Awards under the Trade Organization organization type. Its current public profile includes community and event host capabilities.
Source and update disclosure
Know what this page is based on
Source basis
Public organization and program material, official websites, and structured Upseed records.
Last reviewed
March 7, 2026
Known limits
Capability profiles appear only when a structured public profile also contains decision-useful role evidence. Terms and availability can change.
Upseed is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the organization described on this page.