There are pitch competitions, and then there’s pitching while dangling above a city. Global Tech Weekend, the decentralized tech movement that has previously drawn executives from Google, Meta, Amazon, and StartX, is taking startup fundraising to new heights—literally. The group has announced that its official 2027 season launch event, set for December 5, 2026, at Mtatsminda Hall in Tbilisi, will feature a “Pitch in a Ferris Wheel” format where founders get exactly six minutes—the time it takes the wheel to complete one full rotation—to make their case directly to international investors inside the cabin.
For the first time, the landmark Mtatsminda Ferris Wheel will be given over entirely to venture capital and early-stage startup meetings. The idea, according to organizers, was to pull the startup pitch out of a conventional conference room and into an experience that demands focus: no stage, no audience, just a founder and an investor face to face.
“The tech ecosystem has many promising startups whose growth depends on meeting the right investors, securing funding, and expanding internationally,” says Medea Janjghava, CEO of Global Tech Weekend. “‘Pitch in a Ferris Wheel’ is designed to facilitate these connections: six minutes, one rotation, and a direct conversation between a founder and an investor. We invite startups and investors to become part of this unique experience.”
Also worth a look: Global Peter Drucker Forum draws 720 leaders from 53 nations to tackle next-gen innovation and Adriana Aristizabal turns war-zone grit and Himalayan climbs into a global speaking platform.
Global Tech Weekend, which previously hosted leaders from Google, Meta, Amazon, and StartX, introduces a 6-minute Pitch in a Ferris Wheel format on December 5.
Despite the exclusive one-on-one setting inside the cabin, each pitch will be covered on GTW’s official channels, giving participating startups a broader platform. The winning startup will be revealed and celebrated at an exclusive awards ceremony later that evening. Organizers say the experience is specifically designed for venture capital funds, angel investors, and corporate investors who want direct access to emerging markets and early-stage opportunities.
“In previous years, we connected different tech ecosystems from San Francisco to Tashkent and Tbilisi, bringing together emerging innovators alongside top global executives,” adds Mariam Chikadze, Head of Marketing at GTWT. “Now, we are elevating the startup experience. We are building an international network whose value lies in continuous connection between partners, knowledge exchange, and access to new markets.”
Following the Ferris wheel session, the event moves to Mtatsminda Hall for the official presentation of Global Tech Weekend 2027. Organizers will reveal the full calendar for the upcoming year, lay out the movement’s vision, and announce international expansion plans alongside new strategic partnerships.
Applications for the ‘Pitch in a Ferris Wheel’ session are now open to startups worldwide seeking international capital, as well as to investors looking for new opportunities. Attendance for the broader GTWT 2027 Official Launch Event at Mtatsminda Hall requires prior registration. More information is available at https://gtwt.ge/.
Why it matters: By turning a tourist attraction into an investor meeting room, Global Tech Weekend is betting that unconventional settings can forge the kinds of personal connections that traditional pitch events often fail to deliver. If successful, this could become a model for how emerging-market startups capture the attention of global capital in an increasingly crowded funding landscape.
Mariam Chikadze
Global Tech Weekend
welcome@gtwt.ge
Visit us on social media:
LinkedIn
Instagram
Facebook
YouTube
TikTok
Other
