Are you showcase-ready?
Startup Showcase 2026 · music-tech founders
The Startup Showcase for music-tech founders. Hands-on prep with the Amplitude team takes you from application to pitch-ready, then you pitch to the investor jury at SoAlive Music Conference in Sofia. No fees. No equity taken.
The Programme
Amplitude Ventures runs the Startup Showcase for SoAlive Music Conference (SAMC). Applications open 14 August. Once selected, you get a 45-minute 1-on-1 online session with the Amplitude team, built around your startup. We go through your pitch, your model and where investors will push back, then send you concrete assignments to work on before the jury round, with feedback by email as you iterate. From 14 September, prep sessions sharpen your pitch, tighten your numbers story and get you ready for investor questions. So by the time you're in front of the jury on 15 October, you've already stress-tested the pitch that matters. Winner announced 16 October.
What is SoAlive Music Conference
SoAlive Music Conference (SAMC) is Sofia's music meeting and festival, where the Bulgarian and wider European industry gathers around music, tech and new business models. soalivemusicconference.com ↗
Who should apply
Open to music-tech founders worldwide. Most are early-stage (pre-seed or seed), incorporated and past the idea-only stage. Solo founders are welcome. If you're building for how music gets made, distributed, monetised or experienced, you're in scope.
Special focus on Bulgaria and the wider Balkan region. The showcase exists to surface strong local ideas and put the region's music-tech scene on the map internationally.
Key dates
Applications closed on 27 September 2026. The selected startups prepare in online sessions and pitch to the investor jury at SoAlive Music Conference in Sofia on 15 October; the winner is announced on 16 October.
What's included
- A 45-minute 1-on-1 online session with the Amplitude team on your pitch, your model and where investors will push back
- Concrete assignments after your 1-on-1, with feedback by email as you iterate
- Prep sessions from 14 September to sharpen your pitch and get ahead of investor questions before the jury round
- Your pitch to the investor jury at SoAlive Music Conference in Sofia
- Selected startups get a 3-day full access pass, up to 2 passes per startup
- Visibility across Amplitude & SAMC channels throughout the programme
Cost
Free
no fees · no equity · no promise of investment
Logistics
Prep sessions run online. The showcase itself is in person at SoAlive Music Conference, Sofia, October 2026.
Attendees cover their own travel and accommodation.
We can write invites but can't guarantee visa support for travel to Sofia for outside EU participants.
Alumni outcomes
From our bootcamp founders
A few voices from the 15 startups we've taken through the programme.
“The program pushed us to rethink our funding strategy from scratch. The online sessions were structured and demanding, and the live pitch day with a strong jury was a good test of where we stood.”
“Their coaching was super effective. We were chosen as the MusicTech project winner at Slush Music Startup Program 2025 — it opened doors to many possibilities. We owe a lot to Amplitude Ventures.”
“Being part of Amplitude's accelerator was a real pleasure. Talking Playlo through with Taj and Jakob gave me valuable perspective on the project and its potential — and their feedback sharpened both my pitch deck and my approach to investors.”
“Amplitude Ventures' accelerator provided Music Tech founders with a unique combination of pitch training, media exposure and market insight, like no other. It was challenging, well structured and highly rewarding.”
“The accelerator was highly valuable for us, especially because of Jakob and Taj's patient, hands-on guidance in shaping our startup's positioning. Their time and feedback helped us build a much clearer, stronger narrative, which has been invaluable for our next stage of growth.”
“The Amplitude Ventures X Slush accelerator helped us transform our pitch into by-far its best and final version with a clear story narrative highlighting the business opportunity. The dedicated sessions provided direct feedback and suggestions, allowing us to easily elevate our pitch in just a few sessions.”
Applications for 2026 are closed
Thank you to every founder who applied. The selected startups pitch to the investor jury at SoAlive Music Conference in Sofia on 15 October 2026.
Building in music tech? The programmes page shows what's open next, and the studio is glad to talk any time.
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