Startup competitions can be a great way to gain exposure and funding for your startup. While every founder should primarily focus on getting customers, competitions can help build momentum and credibility.
I remember one of the first competitions I participated in—it was for FoundersBeta at Sheridan College. FoundersBeta ended up taking first place! Fast forward to today, many of the startups from that competition no longer exist—only one or two are still around.
If you’re planning to participate in a startup competition, consider the following:
1. Apply to Relevant Competitions
Some competitions offer non-dilutive funding, which can be a huge help in the early days—covering things like server costs or development expenses. Where can you find these competitions? Sign up for FoundersBeta’s free weekly startup newsletter.
2. Prepare with a Time Limit
Yes, it’s important to get your pitch deck ready—but don’t forget that customers come first. Balancing preparation and traction is key to your startup’s success.
3. Keep Your Booth Simple
None of the startups with fancy booths survived the competition where I pitched, so keep it minimal.
Tip: Have a tablet at your booth showing your landing page and ask interested people to subscribe to your newsletter. It’s a great way to build your audience.
4. Leverage It for Credibility
Add any competition participation or wins to your press or media page. Remember, PR that isn’t leveraged is just a missed opportunity. If you win, ask the organizers if they’re getting media coverage—if not, pitch your win to relevant startup and tech news sites. (You can always submit stories to The FoundersPress!)
Met interesting people—investors, potential users, or fellow founders? Send them a quick follow-up note. Continue the conversation on LinkedIn and keep the momentum going.
Some major startup competitions to check Out
1. FoundersBeta Top 100
The FoundersBeta Top 100 is an annual editorial list spotlighting some of the most promising and innovative startups from around the world. It’s not a traditional pitch competition, but being featured can give your startup massive visibility in the tech ecosystem. Companies are selected based on innovation, traction, and potential, and being on the list can lead to investor interest, partnership opportunities, and media coverage. If you’re building something game-changing, this is a great opportunity to get noticed early.
2. Athena AI Startup Competition
If you’re building an AI startup, check out the Athena AI Startup Competition. This is a new competition with judges from Amazon, Google, and others.
3. Startup Battlefield
Startup Battlefield is one of the most prestigious and competitive startup events in the world. Hosted by TechCrunch since 2007, this competition has helped launch notable companies like Dropbox, Mint, Cloudflare, and Yammer. Startups pitch on a global stage in front of top-tier investors, journalists, and industry experts for a chance to win $100,000 in equity-free prize money. The competition is fierce, but the exposure is unmatched—TechCrunch covers your story, and you get access to a powerful alumni network.
4. Web Summit PITCH
At Web Summit, one of the largest tech conferences in the world, PITCH is the official startup competition. It brings together the world’s leading early-stage startups to battle it out in front of investors and media. The exposure can be incredible—finalists pitch in front of thousands of attendees and get featured across the Web Summit platform. It’s also a fantastic opportunity to network with VCs, journalists, and fellow founders. Plus, the event itself is full of top-tier content, talks, and workshops.
5. Dragons’ Den
A household name in Canada, the UK, Australia, and other countries, Dragons’ Den is a televised startup pitch show where entrepreneurs present their businesses to a panel of wealthy investors (the “dragons”) in hopes of securing funding. In Canada, the show has been running on CBC since 2006. While it’s more public-facing and entertainment-driven than other competitions, it offers immense visibility and the chance to land real investment deals. It’s especially ideal for startups looking to break into consumer markets. Just be ready for tough questions and candid feedback!
For complete list of Startup Competitions Check out Startup Competitions List and Top 100 Startup Competitions.
Are you planning to participate in an upcoming startup competition? Let me know—I’d love to hear about it!
