Pitch to win $2.5K + services at Techstars Startup Week Dayton

September 2, 2020

You have one week left to apply to pitch at the Startup Week Early Risers Pitch Competition for your shot to win $2,500 + $750 in services!

This year’s pitch competition is sponsored by The ONEIL Center at Wright State University, which provides services to small businesses ranging from proposal writing support to graphic design and basic web design.

We’re looking for up to 10 startups — five tech cos & five main street businesses — to pitch for cash prizes this year. First place winners in each category will receive $2,500 cash + $750 in services from The ONEIL Center; second place winners will receive $500 in services; and all finalists who pitch will receive $200 in services.

Companies must be:

• less than four years old
• under $50K in revenue or investment
• connected to the Dayton region

The innovation track is geared for tech-enabled startups or companies developing intellectual property that want to scale their business broadly & sell beyond the greater Dayton region. The main street track is geared for companies that serve the local population such as restaurants, marketing firms, coffee shops, etc.

So whether you’re building software or baking cupcakes, we want to hear from you! 

“Winning the pitch competition during Startup Week Dayton was by far one of the most exciting milestones yet for Baba Love Organics. It was my first time to compete among other small business owners and share the Baba Love vision in front of so many guests.”

— Vaniti Byrd, Founder, Baba Love Organics, & winner of the 2019 Startup Week Early Risers Pitch Competition

“It was a good day that honestly was a springboard for us. We made some great introductions. We learned about resources available in the area, and that was amazing and took us on a new trajectory.”

— Carlos Portis, Cofounder, Soft Cards, & winner of the 2018 Startup Week Early Risers Pitch Competition

APPLY BY SEPT. 8. Finalists will be notified the week of Sept. 15. The pitch will be Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 6p. Finalists will have four minutes to pitch. A diverse panel of experts will judge the competition and select the winners.