Top 10 Startup Competitions for Early-Stage Startups in North America in 2025
The startup ecosystem in North America continues to flourish, presenting an array of competitions designed specifically for early-stage startups. These events not only provide a platform for showcasing innovations but also facilitate networking and potential funding opportunities.
Here’s a detailed look at the Top 10 Startup Competitions for Early-Stage Startups in North America in 2025, featuring essential details such as prize offerings, eligibility, and event dates.
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1. Startup World Cup
Description: A prominent global conference and competition connecting startup ecosystems worldwide.
Prize: $1,000,000 investment prize at the Grand Finale.
Regional Events: Over 100 regional competitions across North America, South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia.
Grand Finale Date: October 17, 2025, in San Francisco.
Organizer: Hosted by Pegasus Tech Ventures, a global venture capital firm.
2. Tech of Tomorrow Startup Competition
Description: A competition for early-stage technology startups to showcase innovative tech solutions and gain investor connections.
Prizes: The top 3 startups receive a free booth at the Tech of Tomorrow conference.
Application Period: November 4, 2024 - January 31, 2025.
Public Voting: Pitches will be posted on LinkedIn for public voting from February 3 to March 5, 2025.
Eligibility: Open to early-stage startups with innovative tech solutions, an MVP or later, and a team of at least 2 people.
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3. EPIC Pitch Competitions
Description: Organized by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), focusing on funding innovative energy hardware technologies.
Prize Pool: A minimum of $105,000 per pitch competition, including 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prizes.
Number of Competitions: At least two national pitch competitions will be held in 2025.
Nomination Process: Startups must be nominated by previous EPIC Prize incubators.
Focus Area: Dedicated to startups in the energy sector.
4. SXSW Pitch Competition
Description: A startup competition hosted during the SXSW festival in Austin, TX.
Event Dates: March 8-9, 2025.
Categories: Nine categories, including AgTech & Food, Enterprise, HealthTech, and more.
Historical Success: Over 93% of past participants have secured funding, totaling over $23.2 billion.
Notable Alumni: Includes companies like Klout, Hipmunk, and Siri.
5. Purina Pet Care Innovation Prize
Description: A competition aimed at early-stage pet care startups, focusing on innovative products or services.
Prize: $25,000 in non-dilutive prize money along with mentorship opportunities, plus a chance to win an additional $25,000 grand prize.
Finals Event: Pitch competition held at Global Pet Expo in March.
Mentorship: Participants attend an accelerator boot camp at Purina's headquarters.
Focus: Emphasis on novel solutions in pet health, wellness, technology, food, and litter.
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6. Startup Grind Chapter Pitch Battles
Description: Local chapter pitch battles for tech-driven and scalable companies.
Event Dates: Scheduled between January 13-16, 2025.
Focus: Targeted at tech-driven startups.
Selection: Selected startups will be notified by their respective Chapter Director.
Global Presence: Startup Grind hosts chapters around the world.
7. Velocity Pitch Competition
Description: An annual pitch competition focused on startups in Waterloo.
Location: Waterloo, Canada.
Timing: To be determined (TBD).
8. TechChill Fifty Founders Battle
Description: An annual pitch competition for seed and early-stage startups.
Prize: €300,000 in prizes distributed among winners.
Focus: Caters to startups from various fields.
Networking Opportunities: A platform for learning and connecting with industry leaders.
Attendees: Features executives from prominent organizations like Oura, AWS, and LinkedIn.
9. Venture Capital Investment Competition (VCIC)
Description: A competition tailored for aspiring venture capitalists.
Regional Competition Date: January 31, 2025, at Fordham University, New York, NY.
Global Competition Date: April 11-12, 2025, at University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC.
Focus: Specifically designed for aspiring venture capitalists.
Organizer: Managed by the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
10. RSAC Innovation Sandbox Contest
Description: A contest focused on startups in the cybersecurity space.
Event: Conducted as part of the RSA Conference.
Focus: Emerging companies providing innovative security solutions.
Features: Live demos and participation in the Early Stage Expo.
Purpose: Designed to display new approaches in cybersecurity innovation.
These competitions offer a myriad of opportunities for early-stage startups across various sectors. Be sure to check each competition's website for the most current details and application deadlines.
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FAQ
Q: What is the Startup World Cup?
A: The Startup World Cup is a global conference and competition connecting startup ecosystems worldwide, featuring over 100 regional events and a $1,000,000 investment prize. Learn more about Startup World Cup.
Q: What are the prizes for the Tech of Tomorrow Startup Competition?
A: The top three startups in the Tech of Tomorrow Startup Competition win free booths at the Tech of Tomorrow conference. Discover more about the Tech of Tomorrow Startup Competition.
Q: Which competition focuses on energy-related startups?
A: The EPIC Pitch Competitions, hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy, focuses on funding innovative energy hardware technologies. Learn more about EPIC Pitch Competitions.
Q: When does the SXSW Pitch Competition take place?
A: The SXSW Pitch Competition is scheduled for March 8-9, 2025, during the SXSW festival in Austin, TX. Explore SXSW Pitch Competition.
Q: How does the Purina Pet Care Innovation Prize support startups?
A: The Purina Pet Care Innovation Prize provides $25,000 in non-dilutive prize money, mentorship, and a chance to win an additional $25,000 grand prize during the finals event at Global Pet Expo. Learn more about the Purina Pet Care Innovation Prize.
Q: What types of companies are considered in the Startup Grind Chapter Pitch Battles?
A: The Startup Grind Chapter Pitch Battles consider tech-driven and scalable companies, with events held across various local chapters. Explore Startup Grind.
Q: Where is the Velocity Pitch Competition held?
A: The Velocity Pitch Competition is held in Waterloo, although timing details for the 2025 competition are yet to be announced. Learn more about the Velocity Pitch Competition.
Q: What kind of startups can enter the TechChill Fifty Founders Battle?
A: The TechChill Fifty Founders Battle is open to seed and early-stage startups from various fields, featuring a prize pool of €300,000. Discover more about TechChill.
Q: How can aspiring venture capitalists participate in the VCIC?
A: Aspiring venture capitalists can participate in the Venture Capital Investment Competition (VCIC) at designated regional events, with the next competition taking place on January 31, 2025, in New York City. Learn more about VCIC.
Q: What is the focus of the RSAC Innovation Sandbox Contest?
A: The RSAC Innovation Sandbox Contest is aimed at startups in the cybersecurity field, showcasing new and innovative security solutions at the RSA Conference. Learn more about RSAC Innovation Sandbox Contest.
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond and launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks.
