Startup School 4: Five Continents – 500 Startups brings together startups, experts, mentors, investors and innovation ecosystem stakeholders from across the world, creating a platform for knowledge exchange, international networking and new opportunities for collaboration. Demo Day 2026 marks the culmination of the program: selected startups showcase their solutions to an international audience and connect directly with investors and partners.

The fourth edition of the program received nearly 350 applications from 15 countries, with 233 startup teams admitted after selection. The training phase delivered 20 sessions across 11 modules, with nearly 30 trainers and mentors from 13 countries contributing. Demo Day features a startup exhibition, a pitch competition, panel discussions and an awards ceremony. The event is organized by the Enterprise Azerbaijan portal of the Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication (CAERC).