Pitch Comp Drops
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Big Pitch $1M, Pitch Slam $700K, ChangeNOW, Web Summit Rio - Weekly Pitch Comp Drop

Big Pitch $1M, Pitch Slam $700K, ChangeNOW, Web Summit Rio - Weekly Pitch Comp Drop

Check out the newest pitch competitions, awards, grants and summits you need to know about

Diane Bailey
March 24, 2025

Hello startup people! Here’s the latest drop on Pitch Competitions, Awards, Summits, grants and other hidden opportunities for non-dilutive capital. When crafting your pitch, keep in mind, a great team with a good idea will out-execute a weak team with a great idea. Don’t bury the team!

~Diane

💪 The Biggies

The Big Pitch 2025 - SCZA - $1M

Be part of the biggest startup pitch event in South African history, with the winner securing a $1,000,000 investment, subject to due diligence.

Africa's Business Heroes - $1.5M

Prize Competition: To strengthen the African entrepreneur ecosystem by identifying, telling the stories of, training, and awarding grant-funding to 100 Africa's Business Heroes across Africa over the next 10 years.

NIQ Founders Pitch Slam - $700K

The NIQ Founders Pitch Slam will bring together the most innovative emerging CPG brands, challenging an elite set of founders to pitch their companies to industry insiders and business leaders.

ChangeNOW - Paris - Apr 24-26

ChangeNOW mission is to accelerate change by connecting innovators, investors, companies, media, and cities all around the globe so they can join forces in finding solutions to the greatest challenges of our century.

Web Summit Rio | April 27-30, 2025

In 2024, Web Summit Rio brought together 34,000-plus people and the companies redefining the tech industry. Next April, we’ll return to Rio de Janeiro for another incredible event. Meet you there?

🐣 Newly Added

What	For	Prize/Why Attend	Closes
The Next Stage by Kitsilano	East Africa; early-stage	$60,000 cash & AWS credits	Mar 24
NIQ Founders Pitch Slam	CPG; emerging brands	$700,000 cash + prizes	Mar 29
NorthSTARtup Pitch Competition	Minnesota; scalable ideas	$5,000	Apr 1
BLDC-EAP Business Plan Competition	New York; any business	$10,000 total pool + services	Apr 2
The Hustle Big Break	Any unique idea; industry agnostic	$5,000 plus feature in The Hustle newsletter	Apr 4
Naturally Good Pitch Fest 2025 & Expo	Australia; FoodTech; Food & Bev; Sustainable living	$10,000	Apr 4
The Big Pitch 2025	South Africa; disruptive innovation	$1,000,000 investment	Apr 8
Global Startup Summit 2025 - Bengaluru; Apr 12	India; All entrepreneurs; SaaS; D2C	450+ attendees; Networking	Apr 11
Bronx EDC Pitch Competition	New York; any business	$10,000	Apr 18
ChangeNOW - Paris; Apr 24-26	Sustainability; impact	40,000+ attendees	Apr 23
Famous Amos Ingredients for Success	Black founders; early-stage	$150,000 total pool	Apr 23
Web Summit Rio; Rio de Janeiro; Apr 27-30	Anything tech	34,000 attendees; world’s premier tech conf	Apr 26
Good Soil Seed Capital Competition	Underrep founders	$500,000	May 1
DMV Veteran Shark Tank	Veteran	$5,000	May 1
Prize Competition - ABH	Africa; community impact; sustainability	$1,500,000 total pool	Jun 1 (my guess)

😨 Closing Soon

What	For	Prize/Why Attend	Closes
Miami MusicTech Summit; Mar 25	Music technology	One day conf; deal making environment	Mar 24
Momentum Business Plan Competition	Michigan; early-stage businesses	$25,000 cash and services	Mar 24
Shoptalk Spring - Las Vegas; Mar 25-27	Consumer brand; Retail	10,000+ attendees; industry speakers	Mar 24
The Next Stage by Kitsilano	East Africa; early-stage	$60,000 cash & AWS credits	Mar 24
CIX Powered by Elevate, Toronto - March 26	Canada; early-stage and scaling	Canada’s largest startup awards program; 200+ investors, 200+ startups	Mar 25
Mashup - Sweden; May 27-28	Europe; startups; investors	300+ VCs; side events	May 26
Michigan Good Food Fund Pitch Competition	Michigan; packaged foods	$5,000	Mar 26
2025 SelectUSA Tech Pitch Comp & Summit	Early-stage; Fundraising stage; AgTech; CleanTech; HealthTech; Open Tech	Pitch at Investment Summit	Mar 27
UNLEASH Startup Award & Conference	HR Tech	$50,000	Mar 28
Startup Global Pitch Competition	Canada; international expansion plans	$70,000 total pool	Mar 28
Olga Loizon Foundation	Michigan; women founders	$10,000	Mar 29
NextMed Health 2025 - San Diego; Mar 30-Apr 2	MedTech; HealthTech	Speakers; breakout sessions; Innovation Lab	Mar 29
NIQ Founders Pitch Slam	CPG; emerging brands	$700,000 cash + prizes	Mar 29
One ASEAN Startup Award	ASEAN, Cambodia; CleanTech; AI; pre-seed to Series B	$10,000	Mar 30

👀The Full List

Gmail keeps chopping my list!! Find the Full List here.

Another thing 😀 Make sure your deck is investor fabulous with this 30-page report. It’s the same AI tool investors are using to screen pitch decks these days. Talk about a competitive advantage.

Let me know if you apply to any of these opportunities, and especially when you WIN!

Want me to feature your pitch competition, grant, or event? Reply to this email!

Who am I? Your biggest cheerleader. Connect with me on LinkedIn.

Disclaimer: I receive no compensation for promoting any of these events. While I try to be as accurate as possible when posting requirements such as deadlines, it’s your responsibility to confirm all requirements.