On the 6th of June 2025, Győr gave home to the Race is On – Innovation Challenge Day pitch competition, in which five Hungarian startups were able to present their ideas and developments to a prestigious jury of American experts. This competition jointly organized by Széchenyi István University and the USA Accelerator took place as an official side event of the 2025 Hungarian Summit , with the aim to focus on innovative businesses ready to enter the international market.
The event is based on a consciously constructed strategic process: in September 2024, Széchenyi István University and the USA Accelerator team opened their joint office in the Győr Innovation Park, symbolizing the first milestone on the path of Hungarian businesses to the American market. The current pitch competition was another landmark on this path: an opportunity for domestic startups not only to showcase their ideas, but also to receive tangible support for entering the overseas market.
The competition was process started of with a public call for applications, to which a total of ten startups applied. After the professional pre-selection, five teams were given the opportunity to present their projects live, while the others were given the opportunity to showcase their projects to the visitors through posters at the location. The event was moderated by Gábor Mózsi, president of the Hungarian Club of Chicago.
The international jury of the competition included renowned experts such as Carol Ann Dykes-Logue, director of the University of Central Florida's business incubation program. Innovation Ambassador; Sebastian Tamás, Director of International Investments and Relations at the Hungarian Development Bank. And Gary Cohen, CFO of the Orlando Sports Commission. The jury members not only evaluated the ideas, but also supported the teams with valuable feedback and advice, taking into account the specifics of the American business environment.
The winner was the team of ARport Hungary who work on the development of an augmented reality and smartphone-based indoor navigation and workflow management solution. Their system allows users to follow AR routes in complex buildings, such as airports or manufacturing plants, while giving the opportunity for location operators to manage and optimize workflows in real time.
Also presented at the competition were Krausz High Tech Stone Kft., which company offers innovative, design-oriented concrete solutions for the construction industry; a vessel tracking device, which helps ensure the safety and sustainability of water transport with a real-time ship tracking system; an eye examination device, developed as a diagnostic tool for analyzing nystagmus (involuntary eye movement); and the special prize winner WaterSkyBall, a completely new, Hungarian-developed water sport that anyone can play in shallow water, even without swimming skills.
The awards came not only with recognition but also with concrete opportunities for the winning teams to expand and scale their activities. ARport Hungary won three consultations, among others: three occasions of free business strategy and finance consultations offered by MandoVentures; a 500.000HUF grant for travel support by VOSZ; the opportunity to participate in the 2026 US Market Entry Bootcamp; and finally a free 12-month Soft Landing mentorship in Orlando, offered by the University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program . The special price-winner WaterSkyBall team will receive a year of free business mentoring in Daytona Beach also offered by the UCF.
The organizers are especially grateful to all their partners who made these awards a real springboard for these startups. Thanks to the donations, the participating teams received not only inspiration but also tangible help to realize their dreams.
The success of the event was well displayed by the enthusiasm of the participants, the high-quality presentations and the constructive professional feedback given by the wonderful jury. Although not all teams got to present their ideas live, through their posters they were also an integral part of the vibrant and innovative environment that characterized the Győr Innovation Park that day.
The organizers received clear feedback: there is a need for events like this. The Race is On – Innovation Challenge Day gave domestic startups not only an opportunity to introduce themselves, but also provided new connections, perspectives, and momentum for those who cherish international ambitions.
As one of the jury members put it: "This is not a destination, it's a starting line." – and we are sure that the competing teams will be running with us on this track for a long time to come.
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