Pitch Competitions around Central Florida
Keep in Mind for 2024
The annual Venture Plan Competition, hosted by the Crummer Graduate School of Business every year since 2015, is Central Florida’s largest, most prestigious, and comprehensive business plan and pitch competition for startups. Open to all regionally headquartered startups, the annual competition is where teams battle for funding, exposure, and mentorship in front of the region’s top entrepreneurs, leaders, and venture capitalists. Participants compete for prize money before multiple distinguished judges panels, all of whom are successful investors and entrepreneurs. The competition continues to serve as the platform for Central Florida startup companies to gain exposure and funding.
2023 Application deadline: Sunday, January 22, 2023.
Presented by Silicon Valley Bank + Synapse
Early-stage Florida technology companies are invited to compete for a chance to win a $100,000 investment on Center Stage at the annual Synapse Summit in Tampa, Florida on Tuesday, February 14th.
The competition named “Launch” will provide participating founders with three educational sessions followed by a two-stage pitch competition. Both founders and community members can take advantage of 3 educational sessions that take founders through the essentials of fundraising: storytelling, pitch decks and data rooms, and capital raise fundamentals.
Following the educational sessions top founders will be selected to pitch in front of investors, founders, and ecosystem participants, with the top three companies taking the main stage at Synapse Summit to compete for $100,000.
Application deadline: Tuesday, February 7, 2023.
A treasured NAWBO Orlando annual event, the PropelHER Pitch Competition is an exciting opportunity for women business owners to showcase their businesses or business concepts, as they compete for cash prizes and in-kind services. We invite Florida women entrepreneurs and business owners from all disciplines to participate in NAWBO Orlando’s PropelHER Pitch Competition to find out if they have a winning pitch!
Participants compete in two categories: Established (in business a minimum of 2 years with revenue of at least $100,000) and Emerging (new business or business concept). Participants will deliver their pitches and compete LIVE on March 30, 2023 at our Take Flight Business Conference at Full Sail University.
Application deadline: Friday, February 24, 2023.
Do you have a ground-breaking business idea? Have you developed a concept that would revolutionize aviation, aerospace, or engineering? Do you have what it takes to be the next Student-to-CEO? Bring your business idea to live with Launch Your Venture and win up to $10,000 in prizes!
We’re looking for university student-led startups with revolutionary ideas that will change the future of the aviation, aerospace and engineering industries. Successful projects will feature scalable transformative technologies led by strong management teams capable of launching disruptive innovation.
Eligible teams will have at least one full-time student, undergraduate or graduate, at an accredited university in Florida, enrolled during the academic year of the competition. The student must have a major role in the venture (founder, equity holder, C-level management) and will deliver the final pitch if selected as a finalist.
Six finalists will present their pitches online to a judging panel representing investors, industry and the military. Each competitor will receive seven minutes to pitch and a five-minute Q&A with the judges. Winners will be announced at the end of the event.
Application deadline: Monday, February 27, 2023.
The RTR pitch competition aims to offer grant capital to BIPOC startups for their growth and expansion. The competition entails specialized mentorship from BBIF’s business consultants to prepare finalists for the final pitch. Through BBIF’s Mentorship, finalists will receive crucial guidance to enhance their brand storytelling, pitch decks, data presentation, and capital-raising fundamentals. After completing the educational sessions, the finalists will confidently deliver their final pitch. All finalists will receive ongoing mentorship from BBIF’s business development consulting team and have access to other BBIF services.
Who Can Apply?
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Florida-based, early-stage companies
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51% Black-owned
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Are actively selling product or service (or ready to launch, and capital is all that is required)
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Annual revenue less than $100,000
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Business is less than 5 years old
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Finalists must be able to join in person winner announcement in Orlando, Florida in July. Official date TBD.
2023 Application deadline: Sunday, April 21, 2023.