The ticket to the grand final of Startup World Cup 2026 in San Francisco was secured by the medical technology startup Microvitality, which emerged as the winner of the Greek final of the competition.
Building on the success of last year's event, in which Grandmama had emerged as the winner, Athens Tech Circle and Pegasus Tech Ventures once again brought some of the most promising startups to the forefront.
The competition was strong, as more than 60 startups from Greece and Cyprus applied to participate, with 16 of them being selected to present their business proposals at the Greek final, which took place at Snappi Hub, in the center of Athens, with the support of Metavallon VC and Starttech Ventures.
The winning Microvitality will represent Greece in the global final of Startup World Cup, which will take place from November 4 to 6 in San Francisco, where it will face more than 100 startups from around the world, competing for a $1 million investment prize.
The diagnostic test for irritable bowel syndrome
Speaking to Euro2day.gr, Microvitality co-founder and COO, Sofia Paschenti, said she was particularly happy about the victory, while describing the competition from the other startups and founders who participated in the final as very strong. At the same time, she noted that she is very happy to travel to the US and present her company to a larger audience.
Microvitality has developed a diagnostic test for irritable bowel syndrome, which focuses on what happens in the small intestine. As Ms. Paschenti explained, the company has created a small swallowable capsule, about the size of a vitamin, which reaches the small intestine and collects a sample.
In fact, according to her, today no other test can collect a sample from that specific point. The sample collected is then analyzed in the laboratory and the results are sent to the doctor or the patient, allowing the doctor to proceed with the diagnosis and apply personalized treatment.
The company was founded in 2024, with the idea being born in Boston, where Sofia Paschenti met Microvitality's co-founder, Zoe Watson, during their studies.
As Ms. Paschenti explained, after completing their master's degree they met a researcher at Tufts University, who had developed this specific technology, and proposed that they collaborate. Following the first distinctions and the securing of initial funding, Microvitality proceeded to a full spinout from the university and now operates in its own laboratory.
The new funding round and the goals for the global final
At this time, Microvitality is in the process of raising pre-seed funding, targeting $1 million, funds which, as Ms. Paschenti explained, will be directed mainly toward carrying out the first clinical study. She revealed that the company already has commitments of about $350,000 and is now seeking the remaining amount.
In this context, Microvitality's COO estimated that the presence in San Francisco will offer the company visibility and the opportunity to come into contact with potential investors.
“I am sure that we will meet many people and investors who may want to help and participate in our pre-seed funding round,” she stressed.
Finally, she added that her goal is to meet other founders, partners, as well as patients, and to connect with the global ecosystem.