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Top 25 Startup Competitions for Early-Stage Startups in North America in 2025

Top 25 Startup Competitions for Early-Stage Startups in North America in 2025

The year 2025 is shaping up to be an exciting period for early-stage startups in North America, with numerous competitions offering substantial rewards, networking opportunities, and exposure. Here’s a comprehensive guide to the top 25 startup competitions for early-stage startups happening this year.
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1. Startup World Cup 2025

Description: A global series of regional events culminating in a Grand Finale in Silicon Valley.
Prize: $1 million USD in investment.
Networking: Opportunity to connect with top industry players.
Judges: Includes prominent figures such as Steve Wozniak (Apple) and Marc Randolph (Netflix) in the past.
Location: Silicon Valley, USA (Grand Finale).
Learn more about Startup World Cup

2. TechCrunch Disrupt 2025

Description: A competition for early-stage startups.
Selection: 200 startups from around the world participate.
Benefits: Access to training, masterclasses, and investor meet-and-greets.
Previous Winners: Past winners include Dropbox and Trello.
Focus: Early-stage startups with high growth potential.
Learn more about TechCrunch Disrupt

3. CES 2025 Startup Pitch Competitions

Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Date: January 7-10, 2025
Cost: Application fees vary; early bird tickets start at $4,100 (startups may get reduced rates)
Industry Focus: Consumer technology, AI, robotics, IoT, patient safety, and more.
Prize: Up to $25,000 in prize money and potential partnership opportunities.
Learn more about CES 2025 Startup Pitch Competitions
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4. Global Pitch Battle - Startup Grind

Description: A multi-stage pitch competition with local, regional, and global levels.
Semi-Finals: Virtual Semi-Finals on January 21, 2025
Global Finals: January 28, 2025, 10 startups compete.
Prizes: Tickets to the Startup Grind Conference in Silicon Valley, exhibition packages
Eligibility: Tech-driven startups with a scalable business model and MVP.
Learn more about Global Pitch Battle - Startup Grind

5. SBA Growth Accelerator Fund Competition

Description: Competition for entrepreneur support organizations, not for individual startups, but can provide support to early-stage startups.
Prize: $75,000 to $150,000 in prize awards.
Stages: Two-stage competition.
Application Open: January 8, 2025
Focus: Accelerating innovation ecosystems, addressing topics like lab-to-market and capital formation.
Learn more about SBA Growth Accelerator Fund Competition

6. Heartland Challenge Startup Competition

Location: Bentonville, AR
Dates: April 3-5, 2025
Application Deadline: January 17, 2025
Focus: Early-stage ventures seeking outside equity capital.
Eligibility: For-profit entities.
Learn more about Heartland Challenge Startup Competition

7. SXSW Pitch

Location: Austin, TX
Dates: March 8-9, 2025
Description: A startup competition showcasing innovative technologies.
Audience: Global audience.
Early Entry Deadline: September 8, 2024
Learn more about SXSW Pitch

8. EPIC Pitch Competitions

Organizer: U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Technology Transitions
Focus: Innovative energy hardware technologies.
Prize: Minimum $105,000 per competition (at least two will be held in 2025).
Participants: Startups are nominated by previous EPIC Prize winners.
Timeline: Specific dates to be announced in early 2025.
Learn more about EPIC Pitch Competitions

9. RSAC Innovation Sandbox contest

Description: Competition for emerging cybersecurity companies.
Focus: Early-stage companies in the cybersecurity sector.
Features: Live demos and an early stage expo.
Location: USA
Learn more about RSAC Innovation Sandbox contest

10. One Giant Leap Event

Location: Malham - Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Dates: February 9-12, 2025
Startup Opportunity: Startup pitch competition with a $1 million prize.
Other features: Startup bootcamp, 1:1 meetings with investors, expo.
Learn more about One Giant Leap Event
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11. Pet Care Innovation Prize

Organizer: Purina
Description: Competition for early-stage pet care companies.
Finalist Competition: Finalists compete at Global Pet Expo in March 2025.
Prize: Additional $25,000 grand prize for one winner
Benefits: Financial support and mentorship.
Learn more about Pet Care Innovation Prize

12. Hult Prize

Description: Global competition for student entrepreneurs.
Prize: $1 million in funding
Eligibility: Student teams enrolled in a degree-seeking program.
Team Size: 2-4 members.
Age: All members must be at least 18 by February 28, 2025.
Learn more about Hult Prize

13. Rice Business Plan Competition

Description: Competition for university startups from across the globe.
Prize: $1+ million in cash, investment, and in-kind prizes.
Eligibility: Student-led startups, with at least one current graduate student team member.
Focus: Ventures seeking funding or capital in sectors such as Energy, Life Science, Hard Tech etc.
Application Deadline: January 17, 2025
Learn more about Rice Business Plan Competition

14. AI & Big Data Expo | North America

Location: Santa Clara, USA
Dates: June 4-5, 2025
Focus: Artificial Intelligence and Big Data
Type: On-site event
Learn more about AI & Big Data Expo | North America

15. Cyber Security & Cloud Congress | North America

Location: Santa Clara, USA
Dates: June 4-5, 2025
Focus: Cyber Security and Cloud technology
Type: On-site event
Learn more about Cyber Security & Cloud Congress | North America
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16. IoT Tech Expo | North America

Location: Santa Clara, USA
Focus: Internet of Things technology
Type: On-site event
Dates: June 4-5, 2025
Learn more about IoT Tech Expo | North America

17. Venture Summit West

Location: Silicon Valley, California
Description: Event for tech startups to pitch to investors.
Focus: Opportunity for startups to connect with VCs and secure funding.
Features: Workshops, panels by industry leaders.
Learn more about Venture Summit West

18. TechCrunch Early Stage

Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Description: Event for early-stage startup entrepreneurs.
Focus: Provides resources and knowledge to help startups succeed.
Organizer: TechCrunch
Learn more about TechCrunch Early Stage

19. Web Summit Vancouver

Location: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Dates: May 27-30, 2025
Description: Tech event attracting entrepreneurs and investors.
Learn more about Web Summit Vancouver

20. Athene Black & Brown Business Summit Pitch Competition

Location: West Des Moines, Iowa
Dates: April 16-17, 2025
Description: Pitch competition for minority-owned businesses.
Eligibility: Must be at least 51% minority owned.
Application Deadline: January 31, 2025
Learn more about Athene Black & Brown Business Summit Pitch Competition

21. Elevator Pitch Competition 2025

Description: A general pitch competition with varying focus.
Learn more about Elevator Pitch Competition 2025

22. Young Entrepreneur Summit 2025

Description: Startup competition.
Learn more about Young Entrepreneur Summit 2025

23. SXSW EDU Launch Competition 2025

Description: Startup competition focused on education
Learn more about SXSW EDU Launch Competition 2025

24. HLTH Startup Pitch

Description: Startup competition focused on healthcare.
Learn more about HLTH Startup Pitch

25. Startup Day

Description: A general startup competition
Learn more about Startup Day
Note: Some details, especially specific dates and application deadlines, may change. Please refer to the official websites for the most up-to-date information. This list is based on the information available as of today, January 17, 2025.
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FAQ

Q: What is the largest prize for a startup competition?
A: The Startup World Cup 2025 offers a grand prize of $1 million USD in investment. Learn more about Startup World Cup.
Q: Which event has a specific focus on cybersecurity startups?
A: The RSAC Innovation Sandbox Contest is dedicated to early-stage companies in the cybersecurity sector. Discover RSAC Innovation Sandbox Contest.
Q: What competition has opportunities for pet care startups?
A: The Pet Care Innovation Prize by Purina is aimed at early-stage pet care companies. Learn more about Pet Care Innovation Prize.
Q: Which event features a significant pitch competition for minority-owned businesses?
A: The Athene Black & Brown Business Summit Pitch Competition is tailored for minority-owned businesses. Learn more about Athene Black & Brown Business Summit.
Q: Are there any startup competitions specifically for student entrepreneurs?
A: Yes, the Hult Prize is a global competition offering $1 million in funding exclusively for student entrepreneurs. Learn more about Hult Prize.
Q: Where can I find a competition for startups involved in energy hardware technologies?
A: The EPIC Pitch Competitions by the U.S. Department of Energy focuses on innovative energy hardware technologies. Discover EPIC Pitch Competitions.
Q: What event is best for healthcare-focused startups?
A: The HLTH Startup Pitch is geared specifically towards healthcare innovations. Explore HLTH Startup Pitch.
Q: Which startup competition takes place at the CES event in Las Vegas?
A: The CES 2025 Startup Pitch Competitions are held during the CES event in Las Vegas, Nevada. Learn more about CES 2025 Startup Pitch Competitions.
Q: What is the significant event for AI and Big Data startups in North America?
A: The AI & Big Data Expo | North America in Santa Clara focuses on AI and Big Data innovations. Discover AI & Big Data Expo.
Q: Where can tech startups pitch to investors in Silicon Valley?
A: The Venture Summit West in Silicon Valley offers tech startups the opportunity to pitch directly to investors. Learn more about Venture Summit West.

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.
2025-06-06 07:06 Top 25