Let's send startups to
Silicon Valley
The winners of Startup Awards Slovakia are heading to Silicon Valley in March 2027. Help them make the most of this opportunity.
Your contribution will expand the winning teams’ program – supporting expert preparation, investor meetings and an on-site base.
What your contribution makes possible
Imagine having the chance to visit Meta’s offices, talk with people from Google, Salesforce or Notion, or meet investors over dinner at the legendary Buck’s restaurant in Woodside, which has been part of the Silicon Valley story for decades.
That’s exactly why we’re organizing a trip to Silicon Valley. Thanks to Startup Awards Slovakia, the winning teams will get the chance to explore one of the most important technology ecosystems in the world.
Over the course of one week, they will take part in investor meetings, mentoring, expert workshops and discussions with people who have experience building global technology companies.
How will we use the funds raised?
We have divided the fundraiser into four financial milestones that will allow us to gradually expand the program in Silicon Valley. Each milestone has a specific purpose and is directly linked to supporting the SASK delegation. Each subsequent milestone also includes the previous activities and allows the program to grow further.
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Milestone 1: €2,250 · Transport and logistics
Covering transport costs and shared branding for the delegation (branded T-shirts for participants). -
Milestone 2: €5,000
A sponsored dinner or lunch with selected speakers. -
Milestone 3: €8,500
An individual workshop for each startup focused on the US market. -
Milestone 4: €18,000
A dedicated space and base for meetings with investors and mentors in San Francisco.
Prispej na program víťazov v Silicon Valley
Príspevky nie sú určené konkrétnemu startupu. Spájame ich do spoločného rozpočtu, z ktorého rozširujeme program víťazných tímov v Silicon Valley. Vyber si ľubovoľnú sumu – naskenuj QR kód v bankovej aplikácii, zvoľ sumu a potvrď platbu.
Po návrate víťazov zo Silicon Valley zverejníme prehľad, na čo sme príspevky použili.
Dobrovoľný príspevok
Naskenuj QR kód v bankovej aplikácii. Otvorí sa platba cez payme, kde si zvolíš výšku príspevku.
Príjemca platby: SASK, o. z.
Potvrdenie o príspevku ti pošleme na požiadanie – napíš na info@sask.sk.
Why did we decide to launch a fundraiser?
This year, for the first time, we want to involve the wider community in supporting Slovak startups.
The core trip program and flights form the baseline. Our ambition, however, is to give participants even more opportunities for in-person meetings, high-quality preparation and building relationships with people who can pass on valuable experience.
Our goal is to build long-term support for the Slovak startup ecosystem and help ambitious entrepreneurs succeed in international markets. The trip to Silicon Valley is one of the initiatives through which we want to achieve this goal.
Thanks to voluntary contributions, we want to expand these opportunities and make sure Slovak founders can use their time in Silicon Valley as effectively as possible.
We will use the funds raised for logistics, networking activities, expert preparation and other parts of the program that will increase its value for participants.
Viki Brezina
CEO, SASK
“This experience changed their perspective on business, opened up new opportunities and accelerated their growth. The contacts and knowledge they gained will have a lasting impact on their future success.”
Čo cesta priniesla predchádzajúcim víťazom
Posúvame slovenské startupy k globálnemu úspechu. Víťazi predchádzajúceho ročníka strávili v marci 2026 týždeň v San Franciscu a Silicon Valley – od úvodnej večere cez workshopy až po návštevy Mety a Googlu. Všetko bolo zamerané na biznis a ich ďalší posun.
Koho stretli
Čo si startupy odniesli
Laura Ďorďová
Tapaya
“This week definitely gave us confidence. In San Francisco, if you don’t give it 100% of your energy, you won’t survive. Everyone here is hustling, building and moving forward. What surprised us most was meeting incredibly successful people who were genuinely willing to help, connect us with the right people and push us further. We got to see how the biggest companies in the world operate, but also how founders who are just starting out think and work here.”
Martin Kapšo
Cultiwise
“It’s not just about this trip. The whole journey through the SASK program – from the bootcamp through the grand finale to all the mentoring sessions – has completely changed the way we talk about what we’re building. The energy of San Francisco, the work ethic of the people here – we’re taking that home with us. I would recommend it to every early-stage founder in Slovakia. A network of people who want to help is something you can’t find on your own.”
Milan Vizner
Norriv
“The biggest change? At home, we thought in single units. Here, every conversation is about hundreds of millions, billions. That shift in mindset is huge. We also met Slovaks who made it here and are incredibly successful – that alone changes your view of what’s possible. We’re taking home focus and a way of thinking that makes us think much, much bigger.”
Martin Pistovčák
Aerostacks
“We’re probably the youngest ones here. And that’s exactly the point – don’t be afraid to give it a try. For early-stage founders, especially young ones, it’s an incredible opportunity to see first-hand how things work there. We spent a week in San Francisco with a packed schedule and met people we would never have reached otherwise. If you get an opportunity like this, take it. You have nothing to lose.”
Kto sme
SASK je občianske združenie, ktoré stojí za Startup Awards Slovensko. Počas roka organizujeme meetupy, bootcamp, finále a cestu do Silicon Valley a prepájame startupy s ľuďmi, ktorí im vedia pomôcť rásť.
Použitie vyzbieraných prostriedkov zverejníme po návrate víťazov zo Silicon Valley.
Viac o SASKQuestions and answers
Into a shared budget for expanding the winners’ program in Silicon Valley: logistics, networking activities, expert preparation and other parts of the program. The core trip program and flights are already covered.
No, all contributions go into a shared fund.
Yes, on request via info@sask.sk.
Yes, write to us at info@sask.sk and we’ll agree on the form of support.