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The 20 Best Business Plan Competitions to Get Funding

Business plan competitions can provide valuable feedback on your business idea or startup business plan template , in addition to providing an opportunity for funding for your business. This article will discuss what business planning competitions are, how to find them, and list the 20 most important business planning competitions.

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What is a Business Plan Competition?

How do i find business plan competitions, 20 popular business plan competitions, tips for winning business plan competitions, other helpful business plan articles & templates.

A business plan competition is a contest between startup, early-stage, and/or growing businesses. The goal of the business plan competition is for participants to develop and submit an original idea or complete their existing business plan based on specific guidelines provided by the organization running the contest.

Companies are judged according to set criteria including creativity, feasibility, execution, and the quality of your business plan.

A quick Google search will lead you to several websites that list business planning competitions. 

Each site has a different way of organizing the business planning competitions it lists, so you’ll need to spend some time looking through each website to find opportunities that are relevant for your type of business or industry.

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Below we’ve highlighted 20 of these popular competitions, the requirements and how to find additional information. The following list is not exhaustive; however, these popular competitions are great places to start if you’re looking for a business competition.

Rice Business Plan Competition

The Rice University Business Plan Competition is designed to help collegiate entrepreneurs by offering a real-world platform on which to present their businesses to investors, receive coaching, network with the entrepreneurial ecosystem, fine-tune their entrepreneurship plan, and learn what it takes to launch a successful business.

Who is Eligible?

Initial eligibility requirements include teams and/or entrepreneurs that:

• are student-driven, student-created and/or student-managed
• include at least two current student founders or management team members, and at least one is a current graduate degree-seeking student
• are from a college or university anywhere in the world
• have not raised more than $250,000 in equity capital
• have not generated revenue of more than $100,000 in any 12-month period
• are seeking funding or capital
• have a potentially viable investment opportunity

You can find additional  eligibility information on their website.

Where is the Competition Held?

The Rice Business Plan Competition is hosted in Houston, TX at Rice University, the Jones Graduate School of Business.

What Can You Win?

In 2021, $1.6 Million in investment, cash prizes, and in-kind prizes was awarded to the teams competing.

This two-part milestone grant funding program and pitch competition is designed to assist students with measurable goals in launching their enterprises.

Teams must be made up of at least one student from an institution of higher education in Utah and fulfill all of the following requirements:

• The founding student must be registered for a minimum of nine (9) credit hours during the semester they are participating. The credit hours must be taken as a matriculated, admitted, and degree-seeking student.
• A representative from your team must engage in each stage of Get Seeded (application process, pre-pitch, and final pitch)
• There are no restrictions regarding other team members; however, we suggest building a balanced team with a strong combination of finance, marketing, engineering, and technology skills.
• The funds awarded must be used to advance the idea.

The business plan competition will be hosted in Salt Lake City, UT at the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute at the University of Utah.

There are two grants opportunities:

• Microgrant up to $500
• Seed Grant for $501 – $1,500

Global Student Entrepreneur Awards

The Global Student Entrepreneur Awards is a worldwide business plan competition for students from all majors. The GSEA aims to empower talented young people from around the world, inspire them to create and shape business ventures, encourage entrepreneurship in higher education, and support the next generation of global leaders.

• You must be enrolled for the current academic year in a university/college as an undergraduate or graduate student at the time of application. Full-time enrollment is not required; part-time enrollment is acceptable.
• You must be the owner, founder, or controlling shareholder of your student business. Each company can be represented by only one owner/co-founder – student-preneur.
• Your student business must have been in operation for at least six consecutive months prior to the application.
• Your business must have generated US $500 or received US $1000 in investments at the time of application.
• You should not have been one of the final round competitors from any previous year’s competition.
• The age cap for participation is 30 years of age.

You can find additional   eligibility information on their website.

Regional competitions are held in various locations worldwide over several months throughout the school year. The top four teams then compete for cash prizes during finals week at the Goldman Sachs headquarters in New York City.

At the Global Finals, students compete for a total prize package of $50,000 in cash and first place receives $25,000. All travel and lodging expenses are also covered. Second place gets US $10,000, while third place earns US $5,000. Additional prizes are handed out at the Global Finals for Social Impact, Innovation, and Lessons from the Edge.

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The collegiate entrepreneurs organization business plan competition.

The Collegiate Entrepreneurs Organization Business Plan Competition (COEBPC) exists to help early-stage entrepreneurs develop their business skills, build entrepreneurial networks, and learn more about how they can transform ideas into reality. It also offers cash prizes to reward entrepreneurship, provide an opportunity for recognition of top student entrepreneurs around the world, and provide unique opportunities for networking.

To compete, you must:

• Be a currently enrolled student at an accredited institution
• Have a viable business concept or be the creator of an existing business that generates revenue.

If you are among the top three finalists of the business plan competition and successfully receive prize money, you will be required to submit a class schedule under your name for the current academic semester. Failure to do so will result in the forfeit of the prize money.

All competitions are held online. The finalist will receive a trip to the International Career Development Conference, where they have an opportunity to win additional prizes from CEO’s sponsors.

• First Place – $7,000
• Second Place – $5,000
• Third Place – $3,000
• People’s Choice Award – Collegiate Entrepreneur of the Year – $600

MIT 100k Business Plan Competition and Expo

The MIT 100K was created in 2010 by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to foster entrepreneurship and innovation on campus and around the world. Consists of three distinct and increasingly intensive competitions throughout the school year: PITCH, ACCELERATE, and LAUNCH. 

• Submissions may be entered by individuals or teams.
• Each team may enter one idea.
• Each team must have at least one currently registered MIT student; if you are submitting as an individual, you must be a currently registered MIT student.
• Entries must be the original work of entrants.
• Teams must disclose any funding already received at the time of registration.

Hosted in Cambridge, MA at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology beginning in October through May of each academic year.

Top finalists will have a chance to pitch their ideas to a panel of judges at a live event for the chance to win the $5,000 Grand Prize or the $2,000 Audience Choice Award.

20 Finalists are paired with industry-specific business professionals for mentorship and business planning and a $1,000 budget for marketing and/or business development expenses.

The 10 Top Finalists participate in the Showcase and compete for the $10,000 Audience Choice Award while the 3 Top Finalists automatically advance to LAUNCH semi-finals.

The grand prize winner receives a cash prize of $100,000 and the runner-up receives $25,000.

Florida Atlantic University (FAU) Business Plan Competition

The FAU business plan competition is open to all undergraduate and graduate student entrepreneurs. The competition covers topics in the areas of information technology, entrepreneurship, finance, marketing, operations management, etc.

All undergraduate and graduate students are eligible to participate.

The business plan competition will be held at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida.

• First prize: $5,000 cash
• Second prize: $500 cash

Network of International Business Schools (NIBS) Business Plan Competition

The Network of International Business Schools (NIBS) Business Plan Competition is designed to offer an opportunity to develop your business plan with the guidance of industry experts. It provides the opportunity for you to compete against fellow entrepreneurs and explore big ideas.

• Participants must be the legal age to enter into contracts in the country of residence.
• Participants may not be employed by an organization other than their own company or business that they are launching for this competition.
• The plan should be for a new business, not an acquisition of another company.

The Network of International Business Schools (NIBS) Business Plan Competition is held in the USA.

There is a cash prize for first, second, and third place. There is also a potential for a business incubator opportunity, which would provide facilities and assistance to the winners of the competition.

Washington State University Business Plan Competition

The Washington State University Business Plan Competition has been serving students since 1979. The competition is a great opportunity for someone who is looking to get their business off the ground by gaining invaluable knowledge of running a successful business. It offers a wide range of topics and competition styles.

• Any college undergraduate, graduate, or professional degree-seeking student at Washington State University
• The company must be an early-stage venture with less than $250,000 in annual gross sales revenue.

The Washington State University Business Plan Competition is held in the Associated Students Inc. Building on the Washington State University campus which is located in Pullman, Washington.

There are a wide variety of prizes that could be won at the Washington State University Business Plan Competition. This is because the business plan competition has been serving students for over 30 years and as such, they have offered more than one type of competition. The common prize though is $1,000 which is awarded to the winner of each class. There are also awards for those who come in second place, third place, etc.

Milken-Penn GSE Education Business Plan Competition

The Milken-Penn GSE Education Business Plan Competition is one of the most well-known competitions in the country. They have partnered with many prestigious institutions to provide funding, mentorship, and expertise for the competition.

Education ventures with innovative solutions to educational inequity from around the world are encouraged to apply, especially those ventures founded by and serving individuals from marginalized and historically underrepresented communities.

We encourage applicants working in every conceivable educational setting–from early childhood through corporate and adult training. We also welcome both nonprofit and for-profit submissions.

The competition is held at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

All finalists receive $1,000 in cash and $5,000 in Amazon Web Services promotional credits.

Next Founders Business Plan Competition

Next Founders is a competition geared towards innovative startups with a social impact, looking to transform society by addressing key global human needs. The competition inspires and identifies energetic, optimistic entrepreneurs who are committed to achieving their vision.

Next Founders is for Canadian business owners of scalable, high-growth ventures.

Next Founders is held at the University of Toronto.

You could win up to $25,000 CAD in cash funding for your new business.

Hatch Pitch Competition

The Hatch Pitch competition is one of the most prestigious business competitions in the US. The winners of the Hatch Pitch Competition are given access to mentorship courses, discounted office space with all amenities included, incubators for startups, tailored education programs, financial counseling & more.

The competition is for companies with a business idea.

• The company’s product/service must have launched within the past 2 years, or be launched within 6 months after the Hatch Pitch event.
• Founders must retain some portion of ownership in the company.
• Received less than $5 million in funding from 3rd party investors.
• The presenter must actively participate in Hatch Pitch coaching.

The Hatch Pitch Competition is located at the Entrepreneur Space in Dallas.

The grand prize for this business plan competition is access to resources like incubators and mentorships that could prove invaluable in bringing your startup company to the next level.

TechCrunch’s Startup Battlefield

The Startup Battlefield is a business plan competition that is sponsored by TechCrunch.  It awards the winner $50,000. There are two different rounds to this competition:

• First Round – 15 companies from all of the applicants that submitted their business plans for this round.
• Second Round – Two finalist companies compete against each other at TechCrunch Disrupt NY’s main stage.

At the time of the application process, companies must have a functional prototype to demo to the selection committee. In selecting final contestants, we will give preference to companies that launch some part of their product or business for the first time to the public and press through our competition. Companies that are in closed beta, private beta, limited release or generally have been flying under the radar are eligible. Hardware companies can have completed crowdfunding but those funds should have been directed to an earlier product prototype. Existing companies launching new feature sets do not qualify.

TechCrunch’s Startup Battlefield is held at different locations.

The Startup Battlefield rewards the winner with $50,000. In addition, the two runner-ups get a prize of $5,000 each.

New Venture Challenge

New Venture Challenge is a competition hosted by the University of Chicago. There are 3 main categories that will be judged:

• Innovative Concept – Arguably the most important category, this focuses on uniqueness, originality, and suitability.
• Market Fit/Business Model – Are you solving an actual problem for your target market? Does your project have the potential for profit?
• Presentation – Did you make a compelling, impactful presentation? Did you clearly communicate your goals and vision to potential investors?

You can find  eligibility information on their website.

The New Venture Challenge competition is held in Chicago, IL.

Finalists are awarded:

• First Place: $50,000 equity investment and access to industry mentors and other resources.
• Second place: $25,000 equity investment and access to industry mentors and other resources.
• Third place: $15,000 equity investment and access to industry mentors and other resources.

New Venture Championship

The New Venture Championship is hosted by the University of Oregon and has been since 1987. The championship brings new ventures and innovative business ideas to life and the competition offers plan writing as a service to those who need it.

The University of Oregon New Venture Championship is open to university student teams with 2-5 members that have at least one graduate student involved with their venture. Students should be enrolled in a degree program or have finished their studies in the current academic year.

The New Venture Championship hosted by the University of Oregon is held in Eugene, Oregon.

Every business plan has a chance of winning a cash prize from $3,000 to $25,000 and additional benefits like plan coaching and office space rental.

Climatech & Energy Prize @ MIT

The Climatech & Energy Prize @ MIT is a competition that focuses on companies that are involved in the area of energy, environment, and climate change.

• Participants must be a team of two or more people.
• At least 50% of formal team members identified in the competition submission documentation must be enrolled as half-time or full-time college or university students.

The Climatech & Energy Prize @ MIT is held in Cambridge, MA.

The grand prize winner receives $100,000 and other winners may receive other monetary prizes.

Baylor Business New Venture Competition

This competition has been offered by Baylor for the last 20 years. It is designed to help aspiring entrepreneurs refine business ideas, and also gain valuable insights from judges and other entrepreneurs.

Must be a current undergraduate student at Baylor University or McLennan Community College.

The Baylor Business New Venture competition will be held at the Baylor University, Waco, TX.

The grand prize winner will receive $6,000. There are also other prizes given out to the other finalists in each category which are worth $1,500 – $2,000.

13th IOT/WT Innovation World Cup

The 13th IOT/WT Innovation World Cup was organized by the 13th IOT/WT Innovation World Cup Association. It was organized to provide a platform for innovators from all over the world to showcase their innovative ideas and projects. The competition aimed at drawing the attention of investors, venture capitalists, and potential business partners to meet with representatives from different companies and organizations in order to foster innovation.

The revolutionary Internet of Things and Wearable Technologies solutions from developers, innovative startups, scale-ups, SMEs, and researchers across the world are invited to participate. Eight different categories are available: Industrial, City, Home, Agriculture, Sports, Lifestyle, and Transport.

Only those submissions that have a functional prototype/proof of concept will advance in the competition, mere ideas will not be considered. 

The competition is held in Cleveland, Ohio also an important center for innovation and cutting-edge technology.

Win prizes worth over $500,000, connect with leading tech companies, speed up your development with advice from tech experts, join international conferences as a speaker or exhibitor, and become part of the worldwide IoT/WT Innovation World Cup® network. 

The U.Pitch is a competition that gives you a chance to share your idea and for the community of budding entrepreneurs, startup founders, CEOs, and venture capitalists to invest in your enterprise. It also provides mentoring by experts in the field.

• Currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program
• Applicants may compete with either an idea OR business currently in operation
• Applicants must be 30 years of age or under

The U.Pitch is held in San Francisco, California.

Enter to win a part of the $10,000 prize pool.

At the core of CodeLaunch is an annual seed accelerator competition between individuals and groups who have software technology startup ideas.

If your startup has raised money, your product is stable, you have customers, and revenue, you are probably not a fit for CodeLaunch.

CodeLaunch is based in St. Louis, Missouri. 

The “winner” may be eligible for more seed capital and business services from some additional vendors.

New York StartUP! Business Plan Competition

The New York StartUP! is a competition sponsored by the New York Public Library to help entrepreneurs from around the world to develop their business ideas.

• You must live in Manhattan, The Bronx, or Staten Island
• Your business must be in Manhattan, The Bronx, or Staten Island
• All companies must have a big idea or business model in the startup phase and have earned less than $10,000

The New York StartUP! competition is held in New York, NY.

Two winners are chosen: 

•  Grand Prize – $15,000  
•  Runner-up – $7,500  

First, determine if the competition is worth your time and money to participate.

• What is the prize money?
• Who will be on the judging panel?
• Will there be any costs associated with entering and/or presenting at the competition (e.g., travel and lodging expenses)?

Once you’ve determined the worth of the competition, then shift to focusing on the details of the competition itself.

• What are the rules of the competition?
• Are there any disqualifying factors?
• How will you be judged during the different parts of the competition?

After conducting this research, it’s best to formulate an idea or product that appeals to the judges and is something they can really get behind. Make sure you thoroughly understand the rules and what is expected from your final product. Once you know what is expected from you, you’ll be able to refine and practice your pitch to help you move through the stages of the competition.

These competitions are a fantastic method to get new business owners thinking about business possibilities, writing business plans, and dominating the competition. These contests may assist you in gaining important feedback on your business concept or plan as well as potential monetary prizes to help your business get off the ground.  

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A hand-picked list of the 25 top startup pitch competitions of 2024

• Founder at GrowthMentor
• 12 Dec 2023

Pitching competitions are to startup entrepreneurs what skydiving is to most people: a bucket-list item that’s both exciting and terrifying. To take the skydiving analogy further, joining a Startup Pitch Competition may be the only way for your business to land where it’s supposed to.

During such an event, you get to pitch to multiple investors, gain some valuable exposure, and get some equally valuable feedback. You will network, you will potentially build partnerships, but, most importantly, you will get a chance to secure funding and accelerate your business. All you need to do is jump from the airplane… but which one?

To take the guesswork out of the process, we’ve compiled below a list of the best Startup Pitch Competitions you can attend this year. Do your research to decide which one (or ones) is the best fit for you and your startup idea/business. Check the qualifications for entry and prepare your best pitch deck yet — make sure to steer clear of too much text or super busy visuals/animations.

And when it’s time to stand in front of the judges, contrary to skydiving, remember that you should open your “parachute” right away. Usually, you’ll have only a few minutes to wow your audience, so don’t wait: Cut straight to the chase, using language that’s simple but captivating. Show them you are your brand’s biggest fan… and they will probably become its fans too. See you on the stage!

Does pitching your idea make you nervous?

This could be the single most important moment of your life and determine your entire future – no pressure though!

Hopping on 1:1 calls with vetted startup mentors who have already raised millions of dollars themselves is an excellent way to prepare for your startup pitch.

Suggested Mentors for Pitch Prep:

• Itay Forer: YC alumni, Founder, Entrepreneur, Investor & Advisor
• Frank M. Savine: Portfolio raised $100mn in VC money, 4 exists under the belt
• Felix Wong: Seed Investor. Community Manager for Techstars in Asia Pacific.
• Manish Balakrishnan: Pitched to raise pre-seed and seed funding of $1.3mn at various startups
• Martin Adams: 3 exits, £40m in investment and £100m in revenue
• Miguel Á. López Trujillo: Fundraising + Sales & Business Development Mentor
• Erik Bullen: Top-ranked VC advisor and investor, Judge at MassChallenge, Mentor at Techstars
• Satwik Govindarajula: Head of Products at Seedstars
• Ari Bencuya: 3x Founder, ex-partner at incubator/accelerator, multiple exits

Learn more about how to connect with fundraising mentors here .

1. Startup World Cup 2023

Why you should go:.

The cream of the crop of the startup world will be there. The Startup World Cup (SWC), powered by Pegasus Tech Ventures, comprises 60+ regional events which culminate in the Grand Finale event in Silicon Valley.

There, the finalists can compete for one million USD in investment and attendees can network with top industry players. The all-star cast of judges has in previous years included names such as Apple’s Steve Wozniak and Netflix’s Marc Randolph.

KEY INFORMATION

• Location: San Francisco, California, USA
• Date: November 29-December 1, 2023. On 30th November you can attend workshops led by industry professionals
• Cost: Tickets to attend the finale on December 1 are between $100 – $490. You can buy them on Eventbrite
• Industry focus: Geared towards improving lives and transforming industries — such as with healthcare, artificial intelligence, robotics, transportation, financial technologies, IoT, augmented reality, and agriculture
• Amount you can win: $1,000,000 in investment

Official Website

2. Collision 2024

Despite the change of venue last year (bringing its 36,000 attendees to Toronto after three years in New Orleans), Collision still remains the fastest-growing tech conference in North America.

Attend various startup workshops, get in-person advice from investors, and join the ultimate startup battle at PITCH, the contest section of the conference where you can compete for three days with the top 70 startups, in order to be crowned winner.

You can use the event as an opportunity to connect with top-tier investors from the world’s leading funds and use the matchmaking tools to identify the best investors in your industry.

• Location: Toronto, Canada
• Date: June 17-20, 2024
• Cost: They are releasing a limited number of discounted tickets for Collision 2024 in Toronto; you can save 50% by registering for their flash sale where tickets cost CA$446
• Industry focus: Broad
• Amount you can win: There is no money — but there is a ton of exposure, and a PITCH trophy

Want help with your pitch?

3. TechCrunch Disrupt 2024

With previous winners including companies such as Dropbox and Trello, you know this is an event (and a pitch competition) not to miss. The Startup Battlefield at the Disrupt SF is always the place to be for early-stage startups who dream of taking over the world and impressing the TechCrunch judges.

200 of the top startups from around the world get to battle it out for the prize. As part of the event, they get access to training, masterclasses, and investor meet and greets.

Of the top 200, 20 finalists are invited for the final pitch round on the Disrupt Stage to battle it out for a $100k equity-free investment. Probably doesn’t get more Silicon Valley than that.

• Application: Applications for 2024 entrants open soon
• Date: Dates still tbc, 2024
• Cost: TBD, but you can get a $500 discount by registering early
• Industry focus: Ranging from Artificial Intelligence, Robotics and VR, to HealthTech and FinTech
• Amount you can win: A $100,000 equity-free prize

4. Web Summit PITCH 2024

If you haven’t had a major change in your business model in the last three years and your overall funding still amounts to less than five million euros… well it’s time to change all that.

Prepare to battle live with the world’s leading early-stage startups in front of more than 2,500 global journalists — and the CEOs and founders of some of the biggest companies in the world.

• Location: Lisbon, Portugal
• Date: November 11-14, 2024
• Cost: €950, but by pre-registering, you can get one extra ticket for free
• Industry focus: Technology
• Amount you can win: There is no monetary prize, but ask every previous winner and they will tell you the exposure is priceless

5. Slush 2023

This is the cool kids table. Or tables, given that Slush events take place in Tokyo, Shanghai, Singapore, and Helsinki, where the festival/conference first started. Slush is all about community building and facilitating founder and investor meetings run by successful entrepreneurs such as Nokia’s Risto Siilasmaa.

• Location:  Helsinki
• Date: November 30 – December 1, 2023
• Industry focus: Tech
• Amount you can win: There is no monetary prize, but you can take advantage of the Slush community; get speed mentoring and resources

6. South Summit Startup Competition

If you think your startup belongs among the world’s 100 most innovative, the South Summit Startup competition gives you the chance and the tools to prove it. You get the opportunity to attract the investment you need to take your business to the next level. Mentoring, exposure, and networking are all included for the 50 finalists who get to pitch at the event.

Taking place in Madrid, Spain, and Porto Alegre, Brazil, and with almost half of the projects having a Spanish origin, South Summit is a great place for all entrepreneurial voices to be heard.

• Locations/Dates: Porto Alegre, Brazil March 20-22 2024, Madrid, Spain, June 5-7 2024
• Keep in mind: Applications for Brazil close on 20 December 2023, and applications for Madrid close on January 31, 2024
• Cost: Prices range from €153-€1,364, depending on the types of ticket and areas of access, it’s free for startups to apply to pitch
• Industry focus: Any sector at any stage in development

7. Demo Day 2024

Demo Day is less of a startup competition and more of a culmination of a “slower” process. It starts with applying to Y Combinator for seed funding — they do two batches of mass funding per year, in return for a small equity in the funded companies — and relocating to the Bay Area if you are selected.

Demo Day takes place about 11 weeks after so that you can present your startup to an invite-only audience of approximately 1,500 investors and media, which can help you find later-stage investors.

• Location: Virtual
• Date: Applications for Winter 2024 are officially closed, but they accept applications until the end of Jan 2024; you can also apply for the Summer 2024 batch — Demo Day dates TBC
• Cost: There is no cost, but the event is private and attendance is invitation-only. You just need to snag that invite!
• Amount you can win: No monetary prize in Demo Day, but to even be in the process means you’ve already gotten funding from Y Combinator

8. Next Founders 2024

Another slower and more immersive option — this one geared to the Canada startup ecosystem. Next Founders accelerates your startup’s growth and your personal growth as a founder through mentoring and access to capital… You will also get your chance to present your startup during various events and attend many workshops before the big presentation on Venture Day.

• Location: Toronto, Ontario
• Date: The 2024 cohort runs from May 1 until August 8. Applications are open from February 1 – March 19, 2024. Get notified when applications open by filling out this form .
• Cost: There is no cost to participate in the program
• Industry focus: Broad, but you need to have a product in the market with existing customers

9. Utah Entrepreneur Challenge 2023-2024

This statewide business model competition is an excellent opportunity for students at one of Utah’s universities to compete for a cash prize — and also get valuable feedback and coaching.

• Location: Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
• Date: The application period for the 2024 UEC is September 18, 2023, to February 21, 2024. The competition final is on March 23, 2024
• Cost: Free — but you can only join if you are a university student in Utah
• Amount you can win: $100,000 in cash, prizes, and awards to the top 20 finalists

10. Jacob Startup Competition 2024

JSC is one of the biggest startup competitions in Germany and brings together pre-seed startups from universities around the world with investors, speakers, mentors, their business partners, and more representatives from the German Startup scene. Each team or individual can benefit through the one-to-one mentoring process and win up to €3,000 in prizes.

To enter, at least half of your team needs to be bachelor’s or Master’s students enrolled in university.

• Location: Bremen, Germany
• Date: Applications are open until December 4, 2023, the second application round is between December 10 and January 8, followed by online mentoring for selected participants to meet their mentors. The final event, where the final 10 pitch their ideas takes place between 14th-16th March 2024
• Cost: Free. They cover parts of the travel cost and accommodation in Bremen for two of each team member at the final event. More members can attend without financial assistance
• Amount you can win: Prizes of up to 3,000€

11. SXSW EDU Launch Competition 2024

The Launch Startup Competition has a great impact on the future of teaching and learning. By attending, you can seek feedback, investment, strategic partnerships, and exposure.

Finalists have additional opportunities to showcase their ideas in front of the SXSW EDU community.

• Location: Austin, Texas
• Date: Applications to participate in the 2024 competition are now closed. The event takes place March 4-7, 2024.
• Cost: Free for the participants of the competition, but you can get SXSW EDU Badge which includes primary access to all EDU Events for $645 if you register early
• Industry focus: EdTech
• Amount you can win: No cash prize is awarded for winning the competition. Finalists receive a number of benefits, such as the opportunity to win one out of several awards, participate in Startup Spotlight, a cocktail-style reception where teams can connect one-on-one with attendees, demo products and receive valuable, real-time feedback, and many more

12. WMF Startup Competition 2024

With more than 4,300 startups applying, the WMF Startup Competition is one of the largest international competitions for innovative projects in Southern Europe, with attendees and international delegates from 89 countries.

Companies have a chance to present their reality to an audience of major players in the digital sector, investors, entrepreneurs, and experts in innovation, an audience who may actually decide to support the growth of a great business idea.

For the final 3-minute pitch, 6 finalists will be chosen to present, and then votes cast to decide the winner. One of the criteria for entering is that startups need to prove how they are accepting the challenges of the future.

• Location: Rimini EXPO Centre, Italy
• Date: June 13-15, 2024
• Cost: €549+VAT
• Industry focus: Broad, but requires innovative projects or ideas regarding the digital/technological sector
• Amount you can win: There isn’t a specific cash prize but the total value of prizes (services from the event’s partners) to date has been more than 3,300,000€

13. AWE USA Startup Competition 2024

The AWE USA Startup Pitch Competition is part of the AWE USA Event, which includes more than 6,500 attendees and 500 speakers. Since 2010 over 5,000 companies and 60,000 professionals have trusted AWE to connect, learn, and grow their business in the XR ecosystem.

By joining the Competition or attending the Event, you get the chance to present your company to a huge audience. You also get to be a part of a community that includes end-users and solution providers, investors and startups, brands, and creators and developers, job seekers, and recruiters.

• Location: Long Beach, California
• Date: June 18-20, 2024 (The deadline for pitch submissions is May 8 and pitching is on June 19)
• Cost: Prices range from $695-$2499, depending on types of ticket and areas of access. For finalists attending the final event is free. Early bird pricing ends on March 14
• Industry focus: Attendees are from a broad variety of industries, the startups pitching need to have an AR/VR-focused startup
• Amount you can win: No cash prize is awarded for winning the competition. The winning startup takes home a grand prize and is honored on the main stage at AWE USA 2024 with the winning title of “Start-up to Watch”

14. Inventures Startup Pitch Event

Inventures Startup Pitch finalists will have the opportunity to pitch their product or service to the program’s audience of venture capitalists, angel investors, entrepreneurs, early adopters, business educators, and service providers.

Moreover, anyone attending will be able to network one-on-one with the audience members. There is free registration to all Inventures programming, access to professional coaching and on-site mentoring opportunities, and a chance to win $10,000 in funding.

• Location: Telus Convention Center, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
• Date: May 29-31 2024 (Deadline for pitches March 15)
• Cost: There is no fee to apply when attending the program. Tickets for visitors are $749
• Industry focus: Any ALPHA and BETA startup in food tech, earth, tech, Quantum, AI, or IoT
• Amount you can win: $10,000 in funding, along with coaching and mentoring opportunities

15. Elevator Pitch Competition 2024

EPiC 2024 is a unique, worldwide competition for global startups to expand their footprints into Asia, giving both global and local mid-late-stage startups a chance to expand further, accelerate faster, and make a mark in Hong Kong and beyond.

Join EPiC 2024, challenge yourself with a 60-second pitch, and see how far you can reach!

Through the event, you get access to 1,000 potential investors and 350+ corporate partners.

• Location: Hong Kong Science Park
• Date: April 26, 2024
• Cost: There is no fee to apply when attending the program; they also offer sponsored air and accommodation to Hong Kong
• Industry focus: FinTech and PropTech
• Amount you can win: Up to $5,000,000.00 in investment and cash prizes worth a total of $240,000.00

16. Green Alley Award

The Green Alley Award is the first startup prize for the circular economy and, in 2024, will celebrate its 10-year anniversary. With 1,600 applications from more than 30 countries till today, the Green Alley Award’s purpose is to help realize ideas that make the most efficient use of resources and reduce waste drastically – from products to services and technologies.

Six startups will make it to the Grand Finale in Berlin, 5 selected by the judges and 1 by a public vote.

Applications to be in the 2024 Grande Finale are now closed.

• Location: Berlin, Germany
• Date: April 2024
• Cost: There is no fee to apply when attending the program
• Industry focus: Circular Economy – you need to have a product that focuses on recycling, waste prevention and digital solutions
• Amount you can win: 25,000€

17. Global Startups Awards

The Global Startups Awards has been running for 12 years in over 120 countries. The awards have produced 12 unicorns worth more than $47 Billion.

You first need to apply on a regional level; if you succeed you can make it to the global final. You need to apply in your region before 31st December 2023.

Even if you don’t make it into the competition, the GSA has a vast global network, and they can help introduce you to potential investors or help you get investment-ready.

• Location: Worldwide
• Date: Announcements for the finale will be made after regional events take place
• Cost: Free to enter, you need to buy tickets to attend the finale event
• Amount you can win: Undisclosed

Based in Slovenia, Podim has become the most influential startup event for businesses in the CEE region.

Get the chance to learn from world-class entrepreneurs, mingle with investors, and get inspired by other innovators. The conference also isn’t super-sized, which makes networking and connecting with relevant people much easier.

If you want to pitch your startup, you need to apply by March 15th, 2024; the Demo day is on May 7th, followed by the summit event in mid-May.

• Location: Maribor, Slovenia
• Date: 13-15th May 2024
• Cost: Between €145 – €590 depending on the level of access
• Amount you can win: The main prize is a 3-day accelerator event in London organized by Fundraising Bootcamp

19. Tech Chill Fifty Founders Battle

Fifty of the most promising startups from across Central and Western Europe, the Nordics, and the Baltics battle it out on the Tech Chill stage to impress the 200 investors in attendance at the event.

You can only apply if your startup hasn’t received more than €300,00k in equity investments.

Attending the event gives you media exposure and the chance to impress potential investors if you make it to the final pitch.

• Location: Riga, Latvia
• Date: April 19, 2024
• Cost: Between €79 – €259 (€700 if you want an expo package)
• Industry focus: Broad: you will be split into categories based on industry
• Amount you can win: €10,000 no-strings investment

20. Hello Tomorrow

With over 3,000 attendees and €150k given in past prizes, this competition is a great opportunity for emerging startups in the deep tech sector to get visibility.

This event is for you if you want to connect with relevant industry professionals, showcase your technology, and secure 1-1 meetings with potential VCs.

Finalists pitch in front of an audience of 400 and a jury of deep tech experts.

• Location: Paris, France
• Date: March 21-22 2024
• Cost: Between €370- €1,290
• Industry focus: Broad, but you need to be an early-stage deep-tech startup to compete
• Amount you can win: €100K Grand Prize, €30K 2nd prize and €20K 3rd prize – all equity-free, no strings attached

The Next Web is one of Europe’s biggest tech conferences, with attendees from the world’s biggest companies and investment funds.

If you’re actively looking to scale your business, being part of this event can help elevate your visibility.

Joining the TNW for Startups program gives you the opportunity to compete in the Pitch Battle Competition. Your deck will get reviewed by a jury of sponsors and investors, and if they like your idea, you’ll be able to pitch on stage in front of media, industry experts, and investors.

To be eligible, your company needs to be founded between 2016-2024, build or market software or hardware products and employ under 100 people.

• Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands
• Date: June 20-21, 2024
• Amount you can win: No cash prize, but you get free press, free tickets, and a booth at the next TNW conference

22. EU Startups Summit

A gathering of more than 2,000 founders, angel investors, VCs, and media gather for two days of showcases, talks, and a pitch competition.

The 15 finalists (selected from over 1,500 applicants) get the opportunity to give a 3-minute pitch in front of a panel of judges and the event attendees. The winning team gains international visibility, new investor connections, and a prize package.

• Location: Valletta, Malta
• Date: May 9-10, 2024
• Cost: Between €169 – €600
• Amount you can win: Not disclosed

23. START Summit

A student-powered conference where future founders and leaders can connect with industry titans.

With over 6,000 participants and 160+ speakers, you can meet potential collaborators, and investors, and find opportunities in whatever industry you’re interested in.

Thirty early-stage startups (founded no later than 2021) can virtually present their venture to renowned VCs and industry leaders. The startups who make it to the final four will pitch in real life at the event in March.

• Location: Gallen, Switzerland
• Date: March 21-22, 2024
• Cost: Tickets go on sale December 5, 2023
• Amount you can win: 10,000 CHF

24. Venture Z

An exciting startup competition for Gen-Z entrepreneurs, this competition offers a platform for young founders to present their business ideas to a panel of expert judges.

Organized as part of the International Conference on Sustainability, this competition is for founders who want to build a lasting impact on society through a sustainable future.

If you are successful at getting into the program, you will get the opportunity to be part of the mentorship scheme.

• Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
• Date: February 18-22, 2024
• Cost: Free to enter
• Industry focus: Sustainable businesses
• Amount you can win: First prize wins 30,000 SAR, second place 20,000 SAR, third place 10,000 SAR

25. Startup Day

If you’re looking for funding and already have traction and a scalable business model, you can compete for up to €200k in investment.

The final 40 startups will receive pitching training, showcase their product on the main stage, and potentially receive equity-free cash.

Dozens of workshops will help you fill your skills gaps and meet potential collaborators. Get involved in the matchmaking service and attend networking events.

• Location: Tartu, Estonia
• Date: January 26, 2024
• Amount you can win: Up to €200k syndicate investment

Think you can win a startup competition?

Now that you know which startup pitch competitions are worth your time, here are a few tips on how to prepare for your startup pitch.

But if you need more 1:1 help, a mentor can help.

Talking to startup mentors that have “been there done that” and successfully raised funding from investors is a great way to soundboard your pitch and increase your confidence.

Get help with your pitch

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The Best 20 Business Plan Competitions to Get Funding in (2024)

Free Business Plan Template

• October 2, 2024
• 12 Min Read

Brilliant business ideas deserve 2 things—feedback and funding.

If yours is a good business idea that can benefit from funding and mentorship, you may want to look into business plan competitions. After all, these competitions can be beneficial for your networking, growth, and business launch.

So, what is a business plan competition and which ones should you participate in?

Let’s discuss that in this blog post.

What is a business plan competition?

A business plan competition is an event that allows small businesses and startups to compete with each other and get feedback or advice on their business. Such competitions can also help you get your business funded.

In a business plan competition, businesses are judged on several factors including execution, feasibility, and innovation of a business idea.

How to find a business plan competition?

There are several business plan competitions listed on Google that you can look through. Different competitions have different eligibility criteria and guidelines. Go through all of that to know if it fits your business or not.

At the same time, it is important to check the credibility and check for any scams or illegitimate sites.

To make finding business plan competitions a little easier we have compiled a list of 20 popular and credible competitions that you can apply for.

• Global Student Entrepreneur Awards
• tecBRIDGE Business Plan Competition
• HATCH Pitch
• Rice Business Plan Competition
• New York StartUP! Business Plan Competition
• MIT 100k Business Plan and Expo
• FAU Business Plan Competition
• NIBS Business Plan Competition
• Pistoia Alliance President’s Startup Challenge
• College of New Jersey’s Mayo Business Plan Competition
• Next Founders Business Plan Competition
• TechCrunch’s Startup Battlefield
• New Venture Challenge
• New Venture Championship
• Climatech & Energy Prize @MIT
• Baylor New Venture Competition
• 13th IOT/WT World Cup

1. Global Student Entrepreneur Awards

To encourage students across the globe to become entrepreneurs GSEA organizes this competition for students from all disciplines and countries. The main aim of the awards is to draw people towards entrepreneurship, shape their ideas, and become a catalyst for their business’s growth.

Eligibility

• The student must enroll in a part-time or full-time undergraduate or graduate course.
• The student should own or work as a founder or co-founder of the startup.
• Only one person from the startup can represent it.
• The person should be between 18- 30 years of age.
• The startup should be running for at least 6 months from the date of application.
• The startup should either generate $500 or get $1000 as investments at the time of application.
• The startup shouldn’t have reached the final round of the competition in previous years.

For more details check out their website.

The competition is held at several locations across the world over months during a school year. The finals among the Top 4 teams are held at Goldman Sachs New York.

• First Prize: $50,000
• Second Prize: $25,000
• Third Prize: $15,000

Lodging and travel expenses are covered and additional prizes are handed out at the event.

2. tecBRIDGE Business Plan Competition

The tecBRIDGE competition is divided into two parts, with one for college students across 14 colleges and universities and a non-collegiate one for early-stage entrepreneurs.

( For Collegiate )

• At least one member as a college student
• The product must identify commercial solutions through technical processes.

( For Non-Collegiate )

• The startup must gross less than $250k in revenue from its start date up to the last tax filing date.

It is held in Northeastern Pennsylvania every year. The businesses that win have to establish their headquarters there as well.

Prizes worth $100,000 and share in over $100,000 of in-kind services to help launch their businesses.

3. HATCH Pitch

Through the Hatch Pitch program, you get access to mentorship courses, discounted spaces, funds, education programs, financial consulting, and so on.

• The company’s product/service must have been launched within the past 2 years or is expected to launch within 6 months after the event.
• Founders should retain some part of the ownership.
• Must actively participate in Hatch Pitch coaching.
• Must have received less than $5 million in funds from third-party investors.

The competition is held at Entrepreneur Space in Dallas and some programs are held online.

Access to high-level incubators and mentorship.

4. Rice Business Plan Competition

The Rice University business plan competition is specially designed for college students to present their ideas to investors , get mentorship and help shape their ideas and business journey better.

• Students managed or created businesses.
• Consists of at least 2 college students, and one student pursuing a graduate degree.
• Have raised less than $250k in equity capital.
• Have generated less than $100k in any 12-month period.

The competition is held at Rice University’s Graduate School of business in Houston, Texas.

In total, more than $1 million in investment and cash prizes are expected to be awarded at the 2024 Rice Business Plan Competition. Each of the 42 startups will walk away from the 2024 Rice Business Plan Competition with at least $950 in prizes, no matter how you place in the competition.

5. New York StartUP! Business Plan Competition

New York Public Library sponsors this competition to help entrepreneurs from around the world. They give wings to their ideas.

• Must live in Manhattan, Staten Island, or The Bronx.
• Your business should be in any of the above places as well.
• The idea or business model is in the startup phase and shouldn’t have earned more than $10,000.

The competition is held in New York.

A grand prize worth $15000, a runner up prize worth $10,000, and $7,500 for the third position.

6. MIT 100k Business Plan and Expo

MIT organizes this competition to promote innovation in the university as well as the world. It consists of 3 competitions throughout the year namely Pitch, Accelerate, and Launch.

• Teams must consist of at least one current MIT student (undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral).
• Each team should enter one idea.
• Participants must have original work ideas
• Should disclose the received funding. The maximum non-equity funding limits are $100,000 for Pitch, $150,000 for Accelerate, and $250,000 for Launch.

Hosted in Cambridge MA MIT campus from October to May through the academic year.

• Pitch: $5000 jury award and $2000 audience choice award.
• Accelerate: 20 finalists get industry-specific mentorship programs with a budget of $1000 each. The top 10 finalists compete for the Audience Choice award worth $10,000. The top 3 finalists immediately get into the finals of the launch.
• Launch: The winner gets a whopping amount of $100,000 while the runner gets $25000.

Official Website MIT 100k

7. FAU Business Plan Competition

The Florida Atlantic University Business Plan Competition is for graduate and undergraduate students spanning all continents.

Undergraduate or graduate participants.

The competition is held at Florida Atlantic University, in Boca Raton, Florida.

First Prize: $5000 and Second Prize: $500

8. NIBS Business Plan Competition

The NIBS Worldwide Business Plan Competition is a virtual event open to teams of students who develop business plans with entrepreneurial vision and an international focus. The competition typically begins with registrations in November and requires submissions by early March.

• Entrants of legal age to have contracts as per the rules of their country of residence.
• Should not hold any employment apart from their own company.
• The plan must stand for a startup business and not an acquisition.

It is held in the USA.

There’s a cash prize for the first three places as well as an opportunity to get an incubator program for the winners.

9. Get Seeded

Get Seed is a two-part funding program for students to launch their businesses.

• At least one student from a higher education institution in Utah is a must.
• Should be enrolled for nine credit hours during that semester.
• Utilization of funds to take the idea further.

Salt Lake City in Utah hosts the business plan competition.

A micro-grant worth $500 and a seeded grant from $501 to $1500

10. Pistoia Alliance President’s Startup Challenge

This competition was designed for startups focusing on digital and health technology.

• Legally formed entities
• The company must have less than 50 people.
• Annual sales under $5 million.
• The product should have been launched within 3 years.
• Your country should not have the USA’s trade restrictions imposed.

You can submit your ideas from anywhere.

2 winners receive $20,000 and 6 months of mentorship from one of our members. All the five finalists win $5,000.

Official Website

11. College of New Jersey’s Mayo Business Plan Competition

This competition is held for students to appreciate new challenges.

The teams must consist of two to four students from the College of New Jersey.

The College of New Jersey hosts this event.

The monetary reward of $30,000 followed by $20,000 and $10,000 rewards to second and third positions.

Check Official Website

12. Next Founders Business Plan Competition

This competition focuses on startups with an innovative approach to solving social problems and global needs.

It is for Canadian entrepreneurs with scalable, high-potential ventures.

The University of Toronto.

There is no direct cash prize. Participants receive mentorship, access to a network of investors, and entrepreneurial education.

13. TechCrunch’s Startup Battlefield

TechCrunch sponsors this competition which comprises two levels.

The companies must have a functional prototype of their product or service to present to the committee.

Different locations.

The winner gets $100,000 in equity prize money.

Check Competition Website

14. New Venture Challenge

This competition is held at the University of Chicago. Three evaluation points for participants are – Innovation, Product Market Fit , and presentation.

The eligibility information is available on their website.

Chicago, IL

1st Place: $50,000; 2nd Place: $25,000; 3rd Place: $15,000. In addition to that, the winners get access to mentorship and resources.

15. New Venture Championship

This competition is for those with a good business idea. Even if you don’t have a business plan, you can participate as the competition provides optional plan writing services.

The team should have 2-5 members.

Should have at least one graduate student.

The students should be pursuing their undergraduate or graduate degrees.

Eugene, Oregon.

Get up to $10,000 in funding

16. Climatech & Energy Prize @MIT

This competition is ideal for companies with a core focus on energy, climate change, and the environment.

The team must have more than 2 members.

At least 50% of part-time or full-time university students.

Cambridge, MA hosts this competition

The winner gets a sizable sum of $1,00,000.

17. U.Pitch

This competition gives entrants a chance to present their ideas to people from different levels and spectrums in the business space and get an opportunity for investments and mentorship programs.

• Undergraduate or graduate program students.
• Functioning Business
• Age up to or below 30

San Francisco, California hosts this competition. However, program doesn’t require you to relocate and is hosted virtually.

Prizes worth $10,000 are given.

18. CodeLaunch

It is a seed accelerator competition for entrepreneurs who have technology startups.

The detailed eligibility criteria can be found here .

St. Louis, Missouri hosts these competitions, usually.

The winner gets seed fund capital and access to other additional resources.

19. Baylor New Venture Competition

Baylor launched this competition to help entrepreneurs discuss their ideas and get advice from judges.

An undergraduate student at Baylor University and McLennan Community College.

The competition is hosted at Baylor University, Waco, Texas.

The first prize winner receives $50,000 while the second and the third finalists win $25,000 and $10,000 respectively. There are prizes for each participant, information for which can be gathered from their official website.

20. 13th IOT/WT World Cup

The Innovation World Cup was started to give startups a chance to display their ideas and business. The competition aims to attract venture capitalists, investors, and potential business partners .

The startup should have a concept of innovative technologies.

You should have a functional prototype of the product.

Cleveland, Ohio hosts this event.

You get a chance to win prizes worth $500,000 and connect with leading tech companies in your field.

Business plan competitions offer excellent opportunities for emerging entrepreneurs to get their businesses funded.

Even if you don’t acquire the funds, you gain a lot more in the form of networking and mentorship from industry veterans.

It’s without a doubt the most fantastic way for entrepreneurs to solidify their business ideas and learn the ropes of the trade.

So go ahead and identify the business plan competitions suitable for your business. Understand the guidelines, write your business plan with Upmetrics , and submit your applications before the deadline hits.

Build your Business Plan Faster

with step-by-step Guidance & AI Assistance.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should be included in a business plan for a competition.

A business plan for a competition should include

• Executive summary
• Market analysis
• Product or service description
• Business model
• Marketing strategy
• Financial projections
• Team overview

Do I need to have a complete business to enter a business plan competition?

No. Many competitions allow early-stage ideas and startups to present their business idea in a competition. Such competitions also offer support to launch your business ideas successfully.

What are the benefits of participating in a business plan competition?

One of the many benefits of participating in a business plan competition includes mentorship and feedback from industry veterans to enhance and solidify your business idea. Not to mention, the benefits of getting funded by prominent VC firms that would give your business a stellar kickstart.

How do I prepare for a business plan competition?

To prepare for a business plan competition, firstly prepare a business plan relevant to the rules. Then practice your pitch, repeatedly, and research the judging committee to perfect your preparation.

Can business plan competitions help me get investors?

Absolutely. Prestigious business plan competitions are hosted and judged by prominent VC firms and investors. Participating in these events helps you increase your network and attract more investors.

About the Author

Upmetrics Team

Upmetrics is the #1 business planning software that helps entrepreneurs and business owners create investment-ready business plans using AI. We regularly share business planning insights on our blog. Check out the Upmetrics blog for such interesting reads. Read more

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Rice Business Plan Competition

Applications for the 2025 RBPC open November 4!

Showcasing The Best University Startups from Around the US and the World

The competition, having completed its 24th year, gives collegiate entrepreneurs real-world experience to pitch their startups, enhance their business strategy and learn what it takes to launch a successful company. Hosted and organized by the Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship —which is Rice University's internationally-recognized initiative devoted to the support of entrepreneurship—and Rice Business . Over 23 years it has grown from nine teams competing for $10,000 in prize money in 2001, to 42 teams from around the world competing for more than $1 million in cash and prizes. It is the largest and richest student startup competition in the world.

Get ready for RBPC 2025--April 10-12!

Stay up to date with rbpc, shaping the future.

Congrats to the winners

Read About the Prizes

Watch 2024 Elevator Pitches and Final Round

Funding. mentorship. connections..

Billion In funding raised by startups

Still in business or with successful exits 

Jobs created

Explore the Rice Business Plan Competition

Get involved, explore the judge network, learn more about the $1.5 million in prizes, hear about successful rbpc competitors, meet our alumni—the 2022 competitors.

The RBPC is unique in its stature, size, format, participants—and especially, our judges. RBPC judges act as (and often are) early-stage investors, evaluating startups investment potential.

In total, more than $1.3 million in investment, cash and in-kind prizes was awarded to the teams at the 2020 Rice Business Plan Competition—with seven teams winning $100,000 or more in prizes. 

From our first startup going public to IPOs, grants and more than $4.6 in funding, our startups are progressing and achieving success. 

The 2022 competition provided the mentorship, guidance and access to capital that RBPC is known for and brought everyone back together on campus at Rice University! Check out the startups for the 2022 competition. 

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10 Best Startup Pitch Competitions in 2024

| Written by

Startup pitch competitions are as valuable as they are terrifying. For entrepreneurs who choose to take the plunge, the opportunity that is possible is an undeniable game-changer. If you aren’t already familiar with what a startup pitch competition is, it is a competitive event where entrepreneurs pitch their startup idea, typically to a group of investors. The lucky winner gains investment capital, networking opportunities, and often valuable business resources as well.

If you think you have what it takes to give a pitch competition your best shot, the next step is to figure out the right startup pitch competition for you. And, you’re in luck! We have researched the best startup pitch competitions for you in this guide.

Best Startup Competitions for Entrepreneurs

Whether you’re an established tech startup or a college student with a great startup idea, there is most likely a startup pitch competition for you. We researched the top startup pitch competitions with submissions that are later in the year as well as who they are best suited for.

1. TechCrunch Disrupt 2024

TechCrunch Disrupt is a startup conference and pitch competition built for founders and investors, such as venture capitalists, to connect and reach new heights. The event is more than just a chance to showcase a startup pitch deck, however. During the event, startups are able to network among founders and investors, gain valuable insight into tools and tech, and learn from disruptive founders.

To participate in the pitch competition, startups must go through Startup Battlefield 200 . This precursor event connects startups with potential investors, provides mentorship opportunities, and grants the company a chance to exhibit during TechCrunch Disrupt in order to win a $100,000 equity-free cash prize.

• Prize: $100,000
• Location: San Francisco, California
• Date: October 28-30, 2024
• Applications: Applications open soon here
• Best For: Early-stage startups, tech startups

2. Startup World Cup

Startup World Cup is the largest startup competition across the globe, hosted by Pegasus Tech Ventures. To compete, startups must participate in one of over 50 regional competitions. The winner of each region will move on to compete at the grand finale.

Outside of the pitch competition, startups gain valuable networking opportunities by attending the event to develop partnerships and relationships as well as insights from industry leaders.

• Prize: $1 Million
• Date: October 4, 2024
• Applications: Apply in your region here
• Best For: Startups of all stages and industries

3. Collision 2024

Collision is an annual conference focused on tech in North America. The event incorporates startup workshops, investor networking, and a startup competition, PITCH.

You can participate in the pitch event by joining Collision’s startup program, ALPHA, granting access to the PITCH application, investors to startup meetings, mentor hours, and the event’s startup showcase. Otherwise, you can opt to attend the conference to take advantage of the networking and educational events as well as seek investment opportunities.

• Prize: No cash prizes
• Location: Toronto, Canada
• Date: June 17-20, 2024
• Applications: Apply for ALPHA here

4. Web Summit PITCH 2024

Web Summit’s PITCH is a competition for early-stage startups to present in front of investors and global partners. By the same organization that hosts Collision, Web Summit is a global startup event built to bring startups and industry leaders together to increase visibility for inventive, disruptive companies.

To participate in the pitch competition, startups are required to join Web Summit’s program, ALPHA, and have less than €5 million in funding. Startups must also have no discernible change to their business model within the last three years. The program includes access to investor meetings, mentorship opportunities, and startup masterclasses.

• Location: Lisbon, Portugal
• Date: November 11-14, 2024
• Best For: Early-stage startups

5. Slush 2024

Slush is a giant founder-focused startup event composed of over 20,000 meetings, workshops, notable speakers, and founder events. The event’s startup competition, Slush 100, is a competition between 100 startups that were launched in 2020 or later. The prize is €1 million from some of the most noteworthy early-stage VC funds in Europe: Accel, NEA, Northzone, Lightspeed Venture Partners, and General Catalyst.

In addition to this, founders can apply to present at the Startup Studio, a showcase of 80 companies in fast-growing sectors such as AI and deep tech.

• Prize: €1 million
• Location: Helsinki, Finland
• Date: November 20-21, 2024
• Applications: Fill out a startup profile on the website
• Best For: Established European and North American startups

6. South Summit Startup Competition

South Summit Startup Competition serves as an opportunity for startup founders to share ideas and gain exposure for their startups. To participate in the competition, startups must apply for an open call. Judges then review business ideas and select up to 100 finalists to participate.

Eligible startups gain mentoring and training as well as the opportunity to pitch in front of investors and corporations to receive funding and awards.

• Prize: Access to funding and partnerships
• Location: Brazil and Madrid
• Date: Varies by location
• Applications: Apply by registering here
• Best For: Startups based in Europe

7. Inventures Startup Pitch Event

Inventures Startup Pitch Event is an industry-specific startup pitch competition based in Canada. To qualify, startups must have a product or service in one of the specified areas, including food tech, AI, and healthtech, and cannot have more than $10 million in funding already.

Startups will pitch in front of venture capitalists, angel investors, early adopters, and more. Prizes include more than cash prizes – finalists also receive free registration to Inventures programming and mentorship opportunities.

• Prize: $10,000
• Location: Calgary, Canada
• Date: May 29-31, 2024
• Applications: Apply online before March 15
• Best For: Food tech startups, generative AI startups, healthtech startups, cleantech startups

8. Demo Day 2024

While Y Combinator’s Demo Day isn’t necessarily a startup pitch competition, it is a presentation for an invitation-only audience composed of over 1,500 investors and media companies. The event is held twice a year, in April and September, online over two days.

The process starts by applying for seed funding from Y Combinator. Therefore, accepted startups do not gain cash prizes from participating in the event alone.

• Prize: Seed funding from Y Combinator
• Location: Virtual
• Date: April and September
• Applications: Apply online before April 22
• Best For: Seed-stage startups

9. SXSW Pitch

A part of the famous South by Southwest (SXSW) festival and conference, SXSW Pitch is a three day long event. With startups pitching by industry throughout the event. For 2024, qualifying startups must be a part of a designated industry, a few of which are artificial intelligence, voice and robotics, enterprise and smart data, and smart cities. Startup founders will be pitching in front of industry experts, media professionals, angel investors, and venture capitalists.

• Prize: Undisclosed cash prize
• Location: Austin, Texas
• Date: March 9-10, 2024
• Applications:  Apply here
• Best For: Industry-specific, early-stage startups

10. Hello Tomorrow Global Challenge

Hello Tomorrow’s Global Challenge is a global startup competition dedicated to deep tech startups innovating across a variety of industries and technologies, such as biotech, energy, and agriculture. The competition is a part of the organization’s Global Summit event that brings investors, startups, and industry experts together.

Qualifying startups must be in the early stages, up to Series A funding, with a team of at least two members. Applications are closed for 2024; however, applications typically open for the following year’s event in June.

• Prize: Up to €100,000
• Location: Paris, France
• Date: March 21-22, 2024
• Applications: Apply on the website
• Best For: Deep tech startups, early-stage startups

Further Reading

• What Is a Startup? November 22, 2024
• Startup Ideas July 3, 2024
• How to Start a Startup in 10 Steps (2024 Guide) October 30, 2024

Topics to Explore

• Startup Ideas
• Startup Basics
• Startup Leadership
• Startup Marketing
• Startup Funding

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Business Pitching Guide — Elevator Pitch, Pitch Deck, & More

2 min. read

Updated April 8, 2024

Can you describe the value of your business in just a few sentences? Do you have a story for why you started in the first place? If not, then you need to work on your business pitch.

In many ways, the pitch is your passport to funding. It’s more than just a speech and a fancy PowerPoint—it’s a story that needs to resonate, convince, and compel. Crafting a quick but captivating elevator pitch, designing a pitch deck, facing investors; these aren’t just tasks, they’re opportunities on your path to business growth.

This comprehensive pitching guide will ease you through the process, offer tried-and-true strategies, and help you better understand what makes a good pitch. We’ll delve into alternative methods, show you how to shine in pitch competitions and share the secrets of winning over investors.

It’s time to pitch with confidence.

• Guide to pitching your business

There are many ways to pitch your business and different aspects of the pitch you’ll need to nail. Check out the resources below for in-depth guides on developing an elevator pitch, creating a pitch deck, and participating in pitch competitions.

How to craft the perfect business pitch

You have very little time to convince potential investors that your idea is worth funding. That’s why you need to create, practice, and refine your presentation until you have a tight and captivating elevator pitch.

How to create your pitch deck

While it’s crucial that you nail what you say during an investor pitch, it’s just as vital to have something to show. Learn how to transform your business plan into a visual deck that compliments your verbal pitch.

Business plan and pitch competitions

A great way to practice your pitch is by participating in business plan pitch competitions. Learn the basics and how to successfully win one of these events.

• Elevator pitch and pitch deck resources

Resources and templates to help you successfully pitch your business idea.

Free investor pitch deck template

Visualize your business pitch and wow investors with this free pitch deck template.

Download Template

Free business plan template

Back up your pitch with a detailed and investor-ready business plan. Get started with our fill-in-the-blank business plan template.

Pitch and plan with a single powerful tool

Create and share your investor-ready plan, pitch, and financial forecasts with LivePlan.

Kody Wirth is a content writer and SEO specialist for Palo Alto Software—the creator's of Bplans and LivePlan. He has 3+ years experience covering small business topics and runs a part-time content writing service in his spare time.

Table of Contents

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