In a year defined by rapid technological change and global innovation, Coreshell emerged as the clear standout at the Startup World Cup 2025 Grand Finale in San Francisco, taking home the coveted $1 million grand prize. The East Bay–based company captured the attention of Silicon Valley’s top investors with its breakthrough in affordable, scalable battery technology that uses metallurgical silicon anodes. The technology promises to reduce costs and extend the range of electric vehicles, a solution that could reshape the EV market.
Held on October 17 at the Hilton Union Square, the event brought together over 3,000 attendees and ten startup finalists from across six continents. These companies, selected from thousands of applicants worldwide, represented the best of global entrepreneurship. Their pitches were judged by an impressive panel of venture capital investors from Andreessen Horowitz, Khosla Ventures, Samsung Ventures, Salesforce Ventures, and others.
The competition’s energy was palpable, as founders shared their visions for everything from circular manufacturing to digital health diagnostics. While Coreshell ultimately took the top honor, Intuition Robotics of Israel earned second place with ElliQ, its proactive AI companion for older adults. Kenya’s BuuPass followed in third, offering a digital booking platform that’s transforming long-distance travel in Africa.
“This year’s competition was incredibly fierce and packed with adrenaline,” said Anis Uzzaman, Founder and CEO of Pegasus Tech Ventures, which organizes the event. “We are extremely proud of this year’s champion and extend our heartfelt congratulations to the Coreshell team.”
He continued, “Innovation knows no boundaries. A successful startup can emerge from anywhere in the world and rise to compete on the global stage.”
The Startup World Cup, launched in 2016, has grown into the world’s largest startup competition, with regional events in more than 100 locations. Each year’s Grand Finale brings together regional champions to pitch for a $1 million investment and the chance to join Pegasus Tech Ventures’ global network of mentors and investors.
This year’s conference was not only a competition but a celebration of innovation. In between pitches, attendees heard from leading voices in technology and investment, including Lori Greiner of Shark Tank, executives from Google, AMD, and LinkedIn, and partners from top venture firms such as Greylock, NEA, and Redpoint Ventures. Their discussions underscored the same theme that played out onstage, which is that entrepreneurship thrives on vision, resilience, and the courage to take risks.
Coreshell’s win is more than a triumph for one company. It represents the ongoing momentum of clean energy innovation and the global appetite for sustainable solutions. As electric vehicles move closer to mainstream affordability, Coreshell’s materials breakthrough could prove pivotal, helping to power a greener, more accessible future for mobility.
For Pegasus Tech Ventures, the event was a reaffirmation of its mission to connect emerging technologies with global investors through its Venture Capital-as-a-Service model. For the startups that competed, it was a reminder that Silicon Valley remains both a destination and a mindset, a place where ideas from any corner of the world can find the spotlight.
In the end, Startup World Cup 2025 was not just about who won, but about what’s next. And if Coreshell’s success is any indication, the future of innovation looks both bright and battery-powered.
