Deadline: 18 February 2024
Calling all women early-stage tech founders! Get the funding & support you need to drive your business forward by pitching your startup for the 3-round pitching competition.
Top 5 finalists will pitch for the chance to receive investments and services from some of the leading venture firms and corporations in the nation.
The WMNtech initiative supports women-identifying entrepreneurs & leaders with regular programming, tailored resources, mentorship, & community events designed to help them embrace their unique strengths & break down the barriers they face.
This event activates the community of early-stage startups, corporate partners, venture capitalists and the wider tech ecosystem. As a collective they aim to deepen the pool of funds that women-identifying founders can access and receive.
Funding and Awards
- $30k minimum committed prize money, which will be distributed between finalists at the final event, consisting of both cash & equity investments from the sponsoring VC partners.
- $20k in development credits from Aloa, which will be distributed between finalists and the final event.
- 6 months of virtual membership to 1871 for each finalist.
Pitch Competition Breakdown
- The applicants are screened and the top 20 are notified if they will move to the semi-finals. The competition is open to 1871 members & non-members across the US.
- Semi-final: The top 20 founders will virtually pitch to a panel for a chance to win a finalist spot in the final phase. Only the top 5 will advance to the final event. This round will be closed to the public.
- Finals: the Top 5 finalists will participate by pitching to a panel of judges consisting of business leaders and major VC’s in the network for funding & awards. Hybrid options will be available for those pitching as a finalist and attending as audience members.
Eligibility Criteria
- Need to have a deep understanding of the problem they seek to solve and for whom
- Clear definition of their user and key value propositions
- Have developed a highly effective go-to-market strategy and have tested and verified these strategies
- Clear and defined business model that ties into the overall strategy of the business
- Need to show some traction with your business through customer success
- Applicants are no longer eligible if you have already closed a series a funding round.
For more information, visit 1871.
