Yesterday, on 17 February 2026, the Best of Startups Gala 2025 took place at KPMG’s event venue in Budapest, bringing together founders, investors, mentors, and ecosystem leaders to celebrate the most impactful ventures of the past year.
Recognised as one of the leading startup ecosystem events in Hungary, the gala once again demonstrated the strength, ambition, and collaborative spirit of the European innovation ecosystem.
For us at MeOut, the evening marked a particularly meaningful milestone: we were honoured with the prestigious Ecosystem Builder of the Year 2025 award.
The Best of Startups Gala 2025 delivered a dynamic programme filled with recognition, insight, and meaningful connections.
The event opened with welcome remarks from Ács Zoltán, President of HFA (Mafisz), and Ördögh Dalma, Director at KPMG Hungary, setting the tone for a celebration of innovation leadership and entrepreneurial achievement.
Throughout the evening, two award ceremony segments presented by TokePortal and KPMG recognised outstanding startups shaping the future of technology, business, and impact. Award winners introduced their ventures to a distinguished audience representing the Hungarian and European innovation ecosystem.
A high-level startup ecosystem panel discussion, moderated by Hild Imre (OUVC), brought together leading voices from venture capital, banking, fintech, and investment. The discussion reflected on ecosystem growth, capital access, and the evolving role of founders in a competitive European landscape.
The programme also featured live startup pitches in Budapest from Available, Puli Space, and JUPO World, followed by a Q&A session and a premium networking reception that fostered valuable conversations across sectors.
Being recognised as Ecosystem Builder of the Year 2025 is more than an award for us - it is a reflection of the community that grows alongside us and contributes to the platforms we build.
Since day one, we have been committed to serving the European innovation ecosystem by creating initiatives that generate real impact and move industries forward. That mission has not changed and it will not.
This recognition reinforces our long-term commitment to strengthening Europe’s innovation capacity, empowering founders, and contributing to Europe’s competitiveness on a global stage.
We extend our congratulations to all awardees for their outstanding achievements and our sincere thanks to Tőkeportál for the recognition and continued support.
The Best of Startups Gala 2025 once again proved that such gatherings are not just about celebrating success - they are about reinforcing collaboration, accelerating innovation, and supporting high-impact startups in Europe.
As we look ahead, we remain committed to building stronger bridges within the European startup ecosystem, fostering meaningful partnerships, and contributing to a more competitive and resilient innovation landscape.
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