HaptonTech Wins LEVEL UP Award 2026

and secures a place at CES Las Vegas

The fifth edition of LEVEL UP took place once again at the iconic Evoluon in Eindhoven. The LEVEL UP Award 2026 was awarded to HaptonTech, marking the grand finale of a day packed with startup ambition, innovation and entrepreneurial energy.

Mert Orhan Astam, CEO and Founder of HaptonTech, convinced the jury with technology that brings the sense of touch to digital interfaces. HaptonTech’s ambition is clear: to make the virtual world accessible through touch, enabling people to physically experience digital content on their devices.

This year’s LEVEL UP Awards featured an expanded format, giving startups visibility throughout the entire day. Ten companies were selected as official nominees: HaptonTech, Keiron Technologies, ATA Mute, INNER, Avendar, Integer Technologies, Kyvvu, Nuclivision, Sensaplant and eyeo imaging.

As the day progressed, anticipation continued to build. In front of a packed audience, only five companies earned a place on the main stage for a live pitch: ATA Mute, HaptonTech, Kyvvu, Keiron Technologies and eyeo imaging. Following their pitches and questions from the jury, the competition narrowed further to three finalists: ATA Mute, Kyvvu and HaptonTech.

The final took place during the closing programme, following a vision talk by Constantijn van Oranje. The finalists were challenged one last time before the jury announced its verdict.

This year’s jury consisted of Gilbert Gooijers of CM.com, Maja Schmitt of the Netherlands Patent Office (RVO) and Hubert Martens, founder of Salvia BioElectronics and winner of the LEVEL UP Award 2025.

According to jury chairman Gilbert Gooijers, HaptonTech stood out for its combination of breakthrough technology, a compelling user experience and strong market potential.

"What stood out to us about HaptonTech is the combination of truly innovative technology, a very tangible user experience, and significant market potential. They are making digital interfaces something you can actually feel, which is not only technically impressive, but can also make technology more accessible and intuitive for many people."
Gilbert Gooijers, CM.com

The jury was impressed by the company’s technological depth, the strength of its team and the number of markets this technology could potentially impact, from accessibility and wearables to automotive and next-generation digital interfaces.

With cool visuals and high-energy music, the LEVEL UP Awards went out with a bang. During a live performance by Flowmies, the HaptonTech logo appeared as part of the act moments before the official reveal, creating a memorable finale to the competition.

"It feels like someone put sparkling water into my blood"
Mert Orhan Astam, CEO & Founder, HaptonTech

A visibly excited Mert took to the stage to receive the award. “It feels like someone put sparkling water into my blood,” he said moments after being named the winner.

Alongside the LEVEL UP Award 2026 title, HaptonTech secured one of the most exciting prizes in the LEVEL UP’s history that is powered by 4TU: a fully facilitated spot in the Dutch Startup Mission to CES 2027 in Las Vegas, including travel, accommodation, access to the Netherlands Lounge and participation in the complete mission programme.

Beyond celebrating a single winner, the LEVEL UP Awards showcased the strength and ambition of the startup ecosystem. From the nominee announcement in the morning to the final reveal at the end of the day, the competition put ten promising startups in the spotlight and became one of the defining storylines of LEVEL UP 2026. With the award, HaptonTech joins a growing group of founders using LEVEL UP as a springboard for international growth and global ambition.

Photos: Bram Saeys