The 4YFN Awards run across five categories: Health Tech, Fintech, Climate Tech, Connectivity and Digital Horizons. Four startups are selected per category, which makes up the Top 20.
Entry is narrower than the "global startup competition" billing suggests. The company must be no more than seven years old, founded in September 2019 or later, and the product must already be launched and commercially available. Applicants have to be based in a country that clears the US, UK, Swiss and EU sanctions lists.
The money is tiered rather than winner-takes-all: EUR 20,000 to the winner, EUR 2,500 to each of the five finalists, and EUR 1,500 plus an exhibition pod to each of the Top 20. All of it is equity-free, so a Top 20 placing is worth something on its own. The winner also gets a free exhibition stand at 4YFN 2028.
Applications opened on 1 September 2026 and close at 17:00 CET on 26 October 2026. The Top 20 are announced in the week of 30 November 2026. Semi-finals run on 1 March 2027 and the final on 3 March, both inside 4YFN. The 2027 edition is at Fira Gran Via from 1 to 4 March and hosts around 1,000 startups.
What it actually costs you
Who this is for
Worth applying if you are already selling. The rules ask for a commercially available product, so pre-launch teams are out. Four slots per category means you compete inside your vertical rather than against the whole field, which helps a narrow health or climate play and hurts anything that lands in Digital Horizons. Treat the Top 20 as the realistic target: EUR 1,500 and a pod cost no equity and put you on the floor for MWC week.
How applications work
1 September 2026, through the GSMA submission form
26 October 2026 at 17:00 CET
26 October to 9 November 2026
Week of 30 November 2026, four startups per category
1 March 2027, the Top 20 pitch at 4YFN in Barcelona
3 March 2027, five finalists pitch on the 4YFN Stage
4YFN, the startup event GSMA runs beside MWC Barcelona, awards prizes across five categories: Health Tech, Fintech, Climate Tech, Connectivity and Digital Horizons. Four startups are selected per category. The winner takes EUR 20,000, the five finalists EUR 2,500 each, and the Top 20 EUR 1,500 plus an exhibition pod. All prize money is equity-free. Entry is limited to companies founded in September 2019 or later with a product already on the market. Judging and the final take place in Barcelona in March 2027.