Fe/male Switch: Your Startup Facilitator & Incubator for Women
2025-05-13 07:40 Top 15

Top 15 Startup Competitions for AI Startups in North America in 2025

Top 15 Startup Competitions for AI Startups in North America in 2025

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is gaining momentum as a transformative force across industries, making it an excellent time for AI startups to showcase their innovations. In 2025, various competitions across North America are designed to highlight these startups, offering funding, exposure, and invaluable networking opportunities. Here's a comprehensive list of the Top 15 Startup Competitions for AI Startups in North America for 2025, complete with essential details and links to their official websites.
Write FREE SEO-optimized Blog Articles! Our Article Writer ensures your blog is loved by both Google and your readers, turning those clicks into customers.

👉 Write your article here

1. Forbes AI 50 List

Description: Forbes highlights the most promising private AI startups through its annual AI 50 list.
Focus: Startups applying AI to solve real-world problems.
Eligibility: Privately held companies; must be more than 50% independent.
Selection Criteria: Technical abilities, revenue, business growth, valuation, innovative use of AI.
Benefits: Recognition and exposure in a leading business publication.
Learn more about the Forbes AI 50 List
Application Deadline: February 7, 2025

2. CES 2025 Startup Pitch Competitions

Description: A range of pitch competitions at CES, focusing on tech innovations.
Focus: Categories include AI, IoT, robotics, and health tech.
Eligibility: Varies by competition; many aimed at small and medium businesses.
Selection Criteria: Innovation, potential impact, and relevance to competition themes.
Prizes: The xTech Live Pitch Competition awards up to $10,000 to each winner, while the Patient Safety Technology Challenge has a $25,000 prize pool.
Discover CES 2025 Startup Pitch Competitions
Boost Your SEO with 1,500+ Free Business Directories: increase your DA, get backlinks and traffic.

We've compiled an exclusive list of directories and websites where you can submit your business and start building high-quality backlinks to boost your website traffic and get your SEO snowball rolling.

👉 Submit your startup now!

3. HBS New Venture Competition

Description: A regional competition for Harvard Business School and MIT alumni.
Focus: Early-stage startups across various sectors.
Eligibility: Founders must be HBS or MIT alumni; revenue must be under $2M, and outside funding under $2.5M.
Selection Criteria: Business model validation, traction, revenue, or customer commitments.
Benefits: Networking, mentorship, and potential investment opportunities.
Learn about the HBS New Venture Competition
Application Deadline: January 31, 2025

4. AI & Big Data Expo North America

Description: An event showcasing advancements in AI and big data.
Focus: AI applications in various industries, including machine learning and GenAI.
Eligibility: Companies and startups in the AI and big data fields.
Selection Criteria: Focus on innovation and cutting-edge developments.
Benefits: Opportunity to showcase products and network with industry leaders.
Explore the AI & Big Data Expo
Dates: June 4-5, 2025

5. ViVE Startup Pitch Competition

Description: A competition for digital health startups showcasing innovative solutions.
Focus: Digital health solutions transforming healthcare.
Eligibility: Startups focusing on digital health innovations.
Selection Criteria: Potential impact on the future of healthcare.
Benefits: Gain exposure and showcase innovative products.
Discover ViVE Startup Pitch Competition

6. TechCrunch Early Stage

Description: A conference dedicated to early-stage startup competitions.
Focus: Startup companies across a range of fields.
Eligibility: Only early-stage companies may participate.
Selection Criteria: Vary but focus on innovation and market potential.
Benefits: Opportunity for potential investment and extensive networking.
Check for TechCrunch Early Stage details

7. Startup Grind Global Conference

Description: A significant global conference featuring networking and pitch opportunities.
Focus: Startups from various sectors, including AI and tech.
Eligibility: Open to startups globally.
Selection Criteria: Innovative solutions and business potential play a role.
Benefits: Engage with investors and fellow startup founders.
Learn about the Startup Grind Global Conference
Boost Your SEO by Getting Featured in Our Blogs and get a backlink.

We publish content about startups, education, tech, funding, etc. that ranks well not only in Google but also in Perplexity, ChatGPT, Grok and other AI tools.

👉 Get featured now!

8. Venture Summit West

Description: A summit where venture capitalists and startups converge.
Focus: Emerging growth companies and venture-backed startups.
Eligibility: Startups in search of funding.
Selection Criteria: Investment potential and overall business viability are assessed.
Benefits: Access to potential investors and networking opportunities.
Discover Venture Summit West

9. New York Venture Summit

Description: Similar to Venture Summit West but focused on the New York area.
Focus: Emerging growth companies seeking investments.
Eligibility: Startups aiming for funding.
Selection Criteria: Focus on investment potential and business viability.
Benefits: Networking with investors and enhancing visibility.
Explore the New York Venture Summit

10. SaaStr Annual

Description: A major conference for SaaS companies featuring startup opportunities.
Focus: Startups in the Software as a Service (SaaS) sector.
Eligibility: SaaS startups welcome.
Selection Criteria: Innovation and growth potential are key.
Benefits: Extensive networking and investment prospects.
Check out SaaStr Annual

11. TechCrunch Disrupt

Description: A well-known conference featuring the Startup Battlefield competition.
Focus: Early-stage technology startups.
Eligibility: Open to early-stage startups.
Selection Criteria: Innovation and market potential are evaluated.
Benefits: Gain visibility, networking, and opportunities for funding.
Learn more about TechCrunch Disrupt

12. SXSW

Description: A large conference that includes startup pitch competitions.
Focus: Startups across various fields emphasizing innovation.
Eligibility: Must be under 5 years old.
Selection Criteria: Innovation, market potential, and presentation quality.
Benefits: Networking, funding opportunities, and media exposure.
Discover SXSW
Dates: March 7-15, 2025

13. AI for Good Global Summit

Description: A global summit focused on AI solutions for social good.
Focus: AI startups addressing social or environmental issues.
Eligibility: Startups in the AI for social good sector.
Selection Criteria: Potential societal impact is crucial.
Benefits: Mentorship, networking, and funding opportunities.
Learn about the AI for Good Global Summit

14. AI Startup Competition (Hessian.AI)

Description: A competition for early-stage AI startups that can include international participants.
Focus: Early-stage AI startups.
Eligibility: Startups aged two years or younger, or individuals with AI business ideas.
Selection Criteria: Innovation and business viability are assessed.
Benefits: Prize money of up to €5,000 and networking opportunities.
Discover the AI Startup Competition
Application Deadline: January 5, 2025

15. 4YFN (4 Years From Now)

Description: A global startup event linked to the Mobile World Congress with a focus on AI.
Focus: Tech startups utilizing AI technologies.
Eligibility: Startups younger than 4 years.
Selection Criteria: Innovation and growth potential.
Benefits: Various networking and investment opportunities.
Explore 4YFN
Join F/MS: Startup Facilitator & Incubator and unlock your startup dreams today! Get your first customers, register you company in the Netherlands and get startup visas for the team.

FAQ

Q: What is the Forbes AI 50 List?
A: The Forbes AI 50 List annually highlights the most promising private AI startups that apply AI to solve real-world problems. Learn more about the Forbes AI 50 List.
Q: How can startups participate in CES 2025 Startup Pitch Competitions?
A: The CES 2025 Startup Pitch Competitions feature various categories, including health tech and robotics. Participation varies by specific competition. Discover CES 2025 Startup Pitch Competitions.
Q: What is the HBS New Venture Competition?
A: The HBS New Venture Competition is a regional contest for Harvard Business School, Harvard, and MIT alumni focusing on early-stage startups. Learn more about the HBS New Venture Competition.
Q: What opportunities does the AI & Big Data Expo North America provide?
A: The AI & Big Data Expo is a conference to showcase advancements in AI and big data, allowing companies to network and share strategies. Explore the AI & Big Data Expo North America.
Q: What is the focus of the ViVE Startup Pitch Competition?
A: The ViVE Startup Pitch Competition is designed for digital health startups that offer innovative health solutions. Check out the ViVE Startup Pitch Competition.
Q: How does TechCrunch Early Stage help startups?
A: TechCrunch Early Stage is a startup competition and conference offering visibility, networking opportunities, and potential investment for early-stage companies. Visit TechCrunch Early Stage for updates.
Q: What is the Startup Grind Global Conference?
A: The Startup Grind Global Conference offers networking and pitch opportunities for startups from various sectors, including tech and AI. Learn more about Startup Grind Global Conference.
Q: What can startups expect at Venture Summit West?
A: Venture Summit West connects venture capitalists and startups seeking funding, focusing on investment potential and business viability. Explore Venture Summit West.
Q: What is the purpose of the AI for Good Global Summit?
A: The AI for Good Global Summit focuses on AI startups aiming to address social or environmental challenges, offering networking and mentorship. Learn more about AI for Good Global Summit.
Q: How does the AI Startup Competition (Hessian.AI) benefit participants?
A: The AI Startup Competition provides prize money, coaching, and networking opportunities for early-stage AI startups. Find out more about the AI Startup Competition.

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.