TAGBASE at SelectUSA Startup Pitch Competition 2026 — Building the Trust Infrastructure for Physical Objects

On February 25, 2026, our CEO & Co-Founder Manuel Mertl had the honor of presenting at the SelectUSA Startup Pitching Competition at Science Park Graz.

The format was simple and powerful: 5 minutes to pitch. 5 minutes of Q&A. High intensity. High quality. High impact.

A Strong Innovation Ecosystem in Action

The event brought together outstanding startups, experienced jury members, ecosystem leaders, and international partners. The energy in the room reflected what we strongly believe:

Innovation thrives where collaboration, ambition, and global thinking meet.

A special and sincere thank you to the jury for their time, expertise, and valuable feedback:

• Martin Mössler — Science Park Graz (SPG)
• Emma Somerville — Enterprise Europe Network Austria
• Valentin Vodev — VELLO BIKE
• Timon Theurl — Silicon Alps Cluster

Your insights and questions made the discussion both challenging and inspiring.

We also want to thank:

• Ken Walsh and Robee Sallegue from the U.S. Embassy for their continued support
• Craig Matthews for organizing and professionally moderating the event
• Science Park Graz (SPG) for hosting such a high-quality platform for innovation

These events are more than pitch competitions — they are catalysts for international growth.

TAGBASE: The Trust Infrastructure for Physical Objects

At TAGBASE, we are building something fundamental:

An uncopyable digital identity for every physical object.

Physical products today cannot prove who they are. They cannot independently verify authenticity. They cannot securely connect to digital systems.

We solve this by combining:

• Cryptographically secure NFC identity
• Real-time smartphone authentication
• A platform for authenticity, supply chain transparency, and ownership verification

Our mission is clear: To become the global trust layer for physical objects.

A Step Toward Global Expansion

The SelectUSA platform opens doors to the U.S. market and connects high-potential startups with global investors, partners, and customers.

For TAGBASE, this is not just about pitching. It is about scaling a new infrastructure layer for the physical world.

Gratitude & Momentum

We are grateful to be part of such a strong and forward-thinking ecosystem.

The journey to making physical objects verifiable, connected, and trustworthy has only just begun — and we are excited about what comes next.

📍 Learn more about TAGBASE: https://www.tagbase.io

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