Iceland Innovation Week — Fermented Shark Tank 2026

Competition · Reykjavik, Iceland

Closed next cycle Applications for the 2026 Fermented Shark Tank ran from 1 November 2025 to 2 March 2026 and are closed. Iceland Innovation Week returns to Reykjavik on 26-29 April 2027, but no call for the next Fermented Shark Tank has been published.

Ten companies pitch for three minutes each in the semi-finals, held on the Founders in Focus workshop day at Grosku Innovation Center, and the top five advance to the final on 29 April, where a cash prize from KPMG is on offer. Founders who take the optional hakarl (fermented shark) and Brennivin challenge before pitching earn extra seconds on the clock and a secret prize. Cheque

None Equity

10 Cohort

Reykjavik, Iceland Where

Fermented Shark Tank is the pitch competition at Iceland Innovation Week in Reykjavik. It is open to startups from Iceland and abroad, and entrants must hold a ticket to the week.

Ten companies pitch for three minutes each in the semi-finals, held on the Founders in Focus workshop day at Grosku Innovation Center, and the top five advance to the final, where a cash prize from KPMG is on offer. Founders who take the optional hakarl and Brennivin challenge before pitching earn extra seconds on the clock and a secret prize. No equity is taken.

Applications for the 2026 round ran from 1 November 2025 to 2 March 2026 and are closed. Iceland Innovation Week returns to Reykjavik on 26-29 April 2027, but no call for the next Fermented Shark Tank has been published.

What it actually costs you

ChequeTen companies pitch for three minutes each in the semi-finals, held on the Founders in Focus workshop day at Grosku Innovation Center, and the top five advance to the final on 29 April, where a cash prize from KPMG is on offer. Founders who take the optional hakarl (fermented shark) and Brennivin challenge before pitching earn extra seconds on the clock and a secret prize.

Equity takenNone

Market rate for the same chequeOpen to startups from Iceland and abroad; entrants must hold a ticket to Iceland Innovation Week. Ten companies are selected for the semi-finals and five reach the final.

Fermented Shark Tank is the pitch competition at Iceland Innovation Week in Reykjavik, open to Icelandic and international entrants who hold a week ticket. Ten companies pitch for three minutes each in semi-finals held on the Founders in Focus workshop day at Grosku Innovation Center, and five advance to a final where KPMG puts up a cash prize. Founders taking the optional hakarl and Brennivin challenge earn extra seconds and a secret prize. No equity.