2021 Hardware Cup + Healthcare Safety Challenge offer $50K+ in cash prizes
January 12, 2021
AlphaLab Gear’s Hardware Cup is back with a slightly new format for 2021.
The Hardware Cup is a pitch competition for early-stage hardware startups. This year, it will be run entirely virtually.
To be eligible, you must be an early-stage hardware startup with at least one physical product component.
While previous iterations of the Hardware Cup did a tour of 6 US regions, the 2021 Hardware Cup has a new format: the competitions are divided by industry vertical. The verticals include: AI/robotics, life sciences, cleantech, consumer products, smart home/connected devices, and smart cities/autonomous vehicles.
Six teams will be selected in each industry vertical to pitch at a semi-final event. Each team will give a 3-minute pitch followed by about 3 minutes of Q&A with the panel of judges made up of VCs and investors.
The winning company from each vertical, in addition to a possible wild card finalist chosen by our judges, will pitch at the online Hardware Cup International Finals event in May 2021.
The winner of the Hardware Cup International Finals event will take home the $50,000 cash grand prize.
Additionally, all finalists will be featured online as part of a private AI/Robotics investor event with top hardware investors from around the country.
Applications Opened: January 5, 2021
Cleantech Application Deadline: January 26, 2021
Application Deadline for remaining 5 Verticals: February 21, 2021
Semi-finals: February – April 2021
International Finals: May 2021
NEW THIS YEAR: AlphaLab Gear is collaborating with the Jewish Healthcare Foundation to launch the Healthcare Safety Challenge with over $60,000 in cash prizes for both software and hardware startups with patient/healthcare safety innovations.
Medical error is one of the most persistent problems in healthcare. Alphalab is looking for the most exciting healthcare safety innovations to solve this massive problem. We need innovative ideas to improve outcomes, and save time, money, and lives.
The Healthcare Safety Challenge features:
- $60k in cash prizes
- Open to hardware and software companies
- Mentorship opportunities for applicants
- Panels, speakers and a pitch competition
Applications are open until March 7. Click here to apply.
