From Last-Minute Application to Finalist Stage: Elevon.io’s Journey to the Startup Awards 2025

Sometimes, the best stories don’t start with perfect timing. They start with a decision, and a deadline closing in.

That’s exactly how our journey to the Startup Awards Slovakia 2025 (SASK) began. We submitted our application at the last moment, with no grand expectations - just a belief in what we were building. Elevon.io wasn’t chasing visibility. We were focused on one mission: shifting enterprise banks and telcos into the AI era. The rest, as it turned out, came naturally.

The Unexpected Call

Soon after, we received the message:

" You’ve advanced to the semifinals."

Suddenly, our regular sprint cycles turned into something entirely new, preparing for the SASK Bootcamp in X-BIONIC SPHERE, in Šamorín. Between client meetings, cross-country travel (Bratislava–Prague), and one cancelled vacation, we managed to reorganize everything in record time. When the doors opened at the venue, we were the first ones there - ready for whatever came next.

Day 1: Meeting the Future of Slovak Innovation

The first day was about energy - meeting other semifinalists, exchanging ideas, and understanding the rhythm of the program. The atmosphere was charged with ambition.

One highlight stood out: a session led by Andrej Dula from Rezztek, a seasoned founder with an unmatched understanding of what it takes to pitch, connect, and win. His advice was simple but powerful - show your story, numbers, build relationships, and remember that success isn’t just about one presentation, but about how you present yourself throughout the entire weekend.

That mindset shaped our approach from that moment on. The day closed with rapid-fire 30-second intros between startups and mentors - short, sharp, and revealing.

Day 2: Feedback, Friction, and Growth

Morning kicked off with group mentoring, where each team had 3 minutes to present their vision. The Q&A session that followed was intense, but incredibly valuable. The mentors’ questions didn’t just test our business model - they forced us to sharpen our narrative. To turn complexity into clarity.

The afternoon shifted into individual consultations. We already knew who we wanted to talk to - the mentors whose expertise aligned with our product strategy, B2B focus, and enterprise integration model. We used every available slot. It was demanding but transformative.

After a short break, we sat down to rework our pitch - trimming pages of notes with feedback, restructuring slides, and rewriting lines until 3 a.m.

Condensing our whole story and showing the full scope of our work with clarity into three minutes was brutal. But the process made us realize something: if we could explain our solution in three minutes, we could explain it to anyone.

Day 3: The Stage, the Spotlight, the Silence Before the Applause

Sunday morning. The final day. The main hall filled quickly - 25 startups, top mentors, and leading figures from the Slovak innovation scene in the front rows.

We were scheduled early in the lineup. It helped - less time to overthink, more time to focus. Three minutes on stage, three minutes for Q&A. That’s all we had to communicate what Elevon.io is building: Inspiring story and a platform that enables companies to create, orchestrate, and scale AI across entire business operations.

Hours later, the announcement came: Elevon.io advanced to the finals in the Digital category, followed by strong applause.

What Comes Next

The reaction from our team - both on-site and remotely was pure excitement. For us, this wasn’t just recognition. It was validation that meaningful innovation, built with discipline and purpose, finds its way forward.

Next stop: the Grand Finale in Košice on November 27 and live on TV Dajto a VOYO.

Stay tuned. Follow us on LinkedIn to keep up with what’s next and cheer us on for the finals.

Martin Kadlec, Founder & Chief Product Officer, Elevon.io