The most overwhelming and difficult part of launching a startup is funding. Even if you believe that your startup is unique and has the potential to grow big, convincing the same to an investor can be a very challenging task. This is why most of the startups enter competitions to pitch their startups. The networking and exposure that is gained is totally worth it, even if they don’t win it.
Entering into a startup pitch competition is the same as investing in your startup. It opens doors of opportunities, makes your startup more visible. Thus, allows you to build strategic partnerships that can be of help in the future.
Here is a list of startup pitch competitions that are extremely reputed and worth giving a shot:
1. TechCrunch Disrupt
TechCrunch Disrupt is one of the most anticipated technology conferences of the year. It’s typically known for startup launches but in reality, it is much more than that. Participating in Disrupt is an opportunity to meet like-minded people. TechCrunch Disrupt is held twice a year in the US aand in different parts of Europe and Asia. The winning startup receives US$ 100,000 grand prize and exposure to crucial investors through the TechCrunch blog and other reputable websites.
Location: San Francisco, California
Winning Amount: US$ 100,000
Website: https://techcrunch.com/events/
2. Y Combinator Demo Day
The Y Combinator Demo Day is a startup pitching competition that features the latest cohort of startups that made it to the Y Combinator accelerator program. It is held twice a year.
The event actually spans three whole days. In the first two days the startups have to pitch their ideas to about 450 investors as well as members of the press. The third day is the “Investor Day” wherein the startups get the opportunity to pitch directly to the interested investors for a few minutes about their business, and even possibly close a funding agreement.
Location: San Francisco, California
Winning Amount: Variable
Website: https://www.ycombinator.com/demoday/
3. Flash Pitch
It is a monthly startup pitch competition held in New York where six startups are selected. They have only two minutes to pitch their products or services to potential investors. After the pitch, they are given three minutes for Q&A, and more three minutes to receive feedback from investors.
Since their inception, they have received 750+ applications and selected 125 startups to pitch. Out of which 20 companies featured in major publications including the NY Times, Forbes, TechCrunch, Inc and InStyle.
The winning amount varies depending on the monthly sponsors. For example, the winner of the November 2017 startup pitch competition got a free workspace at Future Labs for a month, AWS credits, legal services, and US$ 3,000 sponsorship.
Location: New York City
Winning Amount: Variable
Website: https://www.flashpitch.nyc/apply-to-pitch
4. SevenVentures Pitch Day
If you want your startup brand to receive primetime TV exposure and the help of leading TV media investor worldwide, SevenVentures, this is the right place to be. Their signature event, 7VPD (SevenVentures Pitch Day) is considered to be “one of the major start-up competitions worldwide” by Forbes magazine.
Four finalists are selected, who get an opportunity to win 3 million euros towards TV advertising, online marketing and mentoring from companies such as Procter & Gamble.
Location: Previous 7VPD events have taken place in Germany, the UK and the US.
Industry focus: B2C industries.
Winning Amount: €3,000,000 in TV media package (specific offerings change every year).
Website: https://www.sevenventures.de/en/7vpden
5. Startup World Cup
The Startup World Cup (SWC), powered by Fenox Venture Capital, comprises 40+ regional events in North and South America Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, which culminate to the Grand Finale event in Silicon Valley. It is one of the most coveted competitions world-wide.
The finalists compete for US$ 1 million in investment and a chance to network with top industry players. Some of their previous judges include names such as Apple’s Steve Wozniak and Netflix’s Marc Randolph.
Location: San Francisco, California, USA
Industry focus: Inclined towards improving lives and transforming industries – healthcare, artificial intelligence, robotics, transportation, financial technologies, IoT, augmented reality and agriculture.
Winning Amount: €1,000,000
Webiste: https://www.startupworldcup.io/
6. Collison
Collision is one of the fastest-growing tech conferences in the US. It provides an opportunity to attend various startup workshops, get in-person advice from investors and join the startup battle at PITCH, the contest section of the conference that goes on for a span of three days with top 70 startups.
Some of the speakers at Collison this year were Tedros Adhanom (Director-General WHO), Justin Trudeau (PM of Canada), Paras Agarwal (CTO of Twitter), Margaret Atwood (Author), Brad Smith (President of Microsoft) and many more.
Location: Toronto, Canada
Winning Amount: No monetary prizes, but a ton of exposure and a PITCH trophy.
Website: https://collisionconf.com/
7. European Social Innovation Competition
This competition is for EU citizens who believe that their project/business idea can impact the society. European Commission runs ESIC in all European countries. It focuses on innovative projects, products and services with a social impact. Now in its eighth year, the competition aims to empower young people. It was launched in memory of social innovation pioneer Diogo Vasconcelos.
Location: Brussels, Belgium.
Industry focus: Broad. The theme changes every year. The prime focus is on ideas which “come up with solutions to the problems affecting our society”. The theme for 2020 was – ‘Reimagine Fashion’.
Winning Amount: €50,000
Website: https://eusic.challenges.org/
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