# Global Startup Awards

> Global Startup Awards runs startup competitions, events and a community network connecting founders with investors, corporations and public institutions. Originating as the Nordic Startup Awards in 2012, it expanded through regional licensing and partnerships. Its current competition portal lists nine regions, while GSA reports coverage of 156 countries. Edition 12 introduces a startup-focused competition and investor juries.

- **Founded:** 2012
- **Headquarters:** Copenhagen, Denmark
- **Founders:** Kim Balle (Co-founder; publicly described by GSA as CEO in 2026), Peter Kovacs (Co-founder)
- **Products:** Global Startup Awards competition, XO Engine / competition management software, Regional and event licensing, Global Grand Finale and networking events, GSA Community and Welcome Offer
- **Notable:** Started as Nordic Startup Awards in 2012 and adopted a connected global brand in 2015., Reports coverage of 156 countries; the current portal groups applicants into nine regional competitions., Edition 11 concluded in Malta in May 2026 with 71,671 nominations, 181 global finalists and 13 winners.

## Products & services

- **Global Startup Awards competition** — Regional and global startup recognition programme; Edition 12 focuses on startups, with investor juries and sector-specific categories.
- **XO Engine / competition management software** — Proprietary deal-sourcing and competition software used to collect profiles and run the competition; described by Kim Balle in a March 2026 interview.
- **Regional and event licensing** — Packages covering brand rights, competition software, communications assets, event documentation, templates, training and operational support.
- **Global Grand Finale and networking events** — Awards events, investor meetings, alumni gatherings and cross-border introductions.
- **GSA Community and Welcome Offer** — The current FAQ gives all startup applicants community participation plus free or discounted partner tools and services; the package varies by edition.
- **Down the Rabbit Hole / GSA Stars Podcast** — Founder conversations hosted by Kim Balle; the launch event featured Pleo co-founder Jeppe Rindom in Copenhagen.

## Achievements

- Started as Nordic Startup Awards in 2012 and adopted a connected global brand in 2015.
- Reports coverage of 156 countries; the current portal groups applicants into nine regional competitions.
- Edition 11 concluded in Malta in May 2026 with 71,671 nominations, 181 global finalists and 13 winners.
- Edition 11 generated more than 450,000 public votes, according to GSA.
- Lists Pleo, UiPath, Oura and Grab among its alumni; alumni outcomes should not be attributed causally to the award.

## Latest updates

- **2026-08** — GSA was listed among collaborators for the August 24 InnovateMeOut Copenhagen event at the Hungarian Ambassador’s Residence.
- **2026-07** — A July 2 announcement described Edition 12’s startup-only competition, investor-only global jury and 2027 return to Denmark. The live portal now lists 12 categories; the announcement originally listed 13.
- **2026-05** — Edition 11 concluded at the EU-Startups Summit in Valletta; Denmark was announced as the 2027 finale destination.

## Links

- Website: https://www.globalstartupawards.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/global-startup-awards/
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/cesawards
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@global.startup.awards
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/globalstartupawards/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGlobalStartupAwards

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/global-startup-awards
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-22