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April 30, 2025

Day One at Upstream: This is where momentum happens

Explore what’s happening on Day One at Upstream Festival 2025 – from founder pitches and expert roundtables to investor matchmaking and our expanded venue at Annabel. This is where startup momentum kicks off.

Day One at Upstream: This Is Where Momentum Happens

The full program for Day One of Upstream Festival 2025 is here – and if you’ve been waiting for a reason to grab your ticket, this is it.

We’re talking investors on the ground, startup pitches with serious traction, real talk on real stages, and side-by-side programming that means you’ll find value whether you’re in your first round – or your fifth.

Founders, Here’s Why You Need to Be in the Room

This isn’t one of those events where investors hide in VIP lounges and founders queue up to maybe get noticed.

At Upstream, we’re mixing it up – literally.

On stage?
You’ll hear from impact VCs like Borski Fund, ecosystem builders like Invest-NL, operators-turned-founders, and deeptech innovators.
Yes, real insights from people who actually build and back companies.

In sessions?
Get into expert roundtables like "How to hire truly entrepreneurial talent” and "Getting featured in the media is easier than you think."

In the spotlight?
We’ve curated founder pitches across social, energy transition, circularity, and digital.
Whether you’re pitching or just watching, this is where ideas turn into next steps.

In the app?
Use the Upstream app to book speed dates with investors and corporates – no awkward cold intros needed.

Investors & Corporates, You’re in Good Company

If you’re scouting your next investment, corporate partner, or co-investor, the Day One lineup was built for you.

The speed dating tracks are designed to cut through the noise – with founders that are ready, not rehearsing.

You’ll meet:

  • VCs across early and growth stages

  • Corporate innovation teams actively building partnerships

  • Angel investors and LPs with a focus on sustainability, health, and deeptech

We’ll keep that agenda tight, but trust us, it’s worth showing up for.

The Setup

We’ve expanded our venue this year – taking over annabel AND its outdoor space. That means more breathing room, more meetups, and more spontaneous run-ins that lead to “Hey, we should talk.”

See the full program here
Grab your ticket now – because category caps are real and spots are moving.

This is where the startup ecosystem comes together.
And Day One is where it all kicks off.

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