Pitching Prize Was Divided into Three Awards

PUUPPOLA, Finland — In a startup competition stripped of traditional slides and polished stage presences, twelve entrepreneurs were forced to pitch their business models from the passenger seat of a race car navigating a circuit at breakneck speeds. Held on July 29 at four-time World Rally Champion Tommi Mäkinen’s headquarters near Jyväskylä, the invitation-only Rally Pitch event brought together founders, investors, and partners for a high-intensity test of focus. While participants delivered a preliminary pitch on solid ground, their high-speed laps—filmed live for an audience and a five-member judging panel—proved that communicating a complex vision in AI, health tech, or semiconductors becomes entirely different when battling extreme G-forces.

Blending high-stakes venture capital with pure motorsport spectacle, the inaugural format tested whether founders could maintain composure and clarity under conditions designed to disrupt them. Organizers noted that while the high-performance cars supplied the raw speed, the ultimate responsibility fell on the entrepreneurs to provide the traction. Official results and winning pitches are scheduled to be announced following the event’s closing ceremonies.

Winners with RallyPitch’s Olli Rundgren (third from right.)

The jury decided to divide the winning podium into three ones, based on pitcher’s individual behavior. “Best in Car” prize was awarded to Erica Ylimäki of Medcubex. “Best in Pitch” was Syntactiq’s Lukas Schuster. “Best in Class” was awarded to Inrace’s Benoit Gouit.

Here’s Erica/MedicubeX pitching during the actual Rally Pitch.

Read more about this year’s Rally Pitch by Peter Green here.