Join the Community Pitch Competition

The application window is now closed. Watch our virtual pitch competition for historically underrepresented founders.

Open to founders building on their big idea
Six finalists pitch an all-star group of judges
Three winners gain access to $40,000+ in prizes

Join us

June 1, 2022

RSVP to tune in now!

Why Now

In the last two years, many VCs have committed to support more diverse founders, but Crunchbase data shows that Black founders received just 1.2% of the $147 Billion invested in U.S. startups, while women founders received just 2%. Morgan Stanley reports that multicultural and women-owned businesses receive 80% less funding overall.

In partnership with Circle Impact, SeedInvest is committed to facilitating funding for companies with historically underrepresented founders. See eligibility requirements.

Prize Packages

First Place

$25,000+

$25,000 equity-free cash prize
Option to raise on SeedInvest with $10,000 in fees waived
Two complimentary tickets to Circle Converge

Bonus Prizes †

Braze 12-month Growth package ($36,000 value)*
Ramp card access with $500 bonus, 1.5% unlimited cashback, and save up to $175,000 instantly**
Customized EY Wavespace strategy session***
Nomination to EY Entrepreneurs Access Network***
Access to the EY Entrepreneurs Library***

Second Place

$10,000+

$10,000 equity-free cash prize
Option to raise on SeedInvest with $10,000 in fees waived

Bonus Prizes †

Braze 12-month Growth package ($36,000 value)*
Ramp card access with $500 bonus, 1.5% unlimited cashback, and save up to $175,000 instantly**
Nomination to EY Entrepreneurs Access Network***
Access to the EY Entrepreneurs Library***

Third Place

$5,000+

$5,000 equity-free cash prize
Option to raise on SeedInvest with $10,000 in fees waived

Bonus Prizes †

Braze 12-month Growth package ($36,000 value)*
Ramp card access with $500 bonus, 1.5% unlimited cashback, and save up to $175,000 instantly**
Access to the EY Entrepreneurs Library***

†Bonus Prizes are not guaranteed for Prize Winners; as such, while a Prize Winner may “win” First Place, for example, the Prize Winner may not meet the qualifications for the Bonus Prize. Prize Partner Qualifications are in addition to the Eligibility requirements for the Competition.

**Ramp is also a customer of Circle Internet Financial, LLC.

Competition Judges

Baron Davis

FOUNDER, BARON DAVIS ENTERPRISES

Baron Davis is a two-time NBA All-Star, serial entrepreneur, investor, and creator of thought-provoking content and digital platforms. During his years in the NBA, he was constantly networking both on the court and off, which ignited a successful post-NBA business career. He uses his platform to support others by funding underrepresented entrepreneurs creating an impact on society by bringing change.

Jesse Draper

Founding Partner, Halogen Ventures

Jesse is the founding partner of Halogen Ventures focused on early stage consumer technology companies led by female and co-ed teams. She is a fierce advocate for using technology to solve some of the biggest issues facing women and families today. Investments include the Skimm, Squad (acquired by Twitter), and Eloquii (sold to Walmart).

Tasha Youngblood Brown

Managing Director, EY

Tasha has 26 years of leadership experience in consulting and local government. She has a passion for education and is currently a Managing Director at EY’s Government and Public Sector Practice. She is an advocate of minority and women-owned businesses and leads the Entrepreneur Access Network program for New Jersey.

Sherice Torres

Chief Marketing Officer, Circle

As CMO, Sherice brings over 25 years of experience helping cutting edge brands innovate and engage with customers as a marketing executive at Meta, Google and Nickelodeon. She has been recognized by the National Diversity Council, Black Enterprise Magazine and Crain’s Business, among others.

Ryan Feit

CEO & Co-Founder, SeedInvest

Ryan co-founded SeedInvest to better connect entrepreneurs and investors over the internet, and was instrumental in the implementation of the 2012 JOBS Act. Before SeedInvest, Ryan worked at Wellspring Capital Management and Lehman Brothers, financing and managing dozens of private and public businesses.

Pitch Competition Details

Applications can be submitted through May 20. The six finalists will be notified via email by May 24 and pitch at the virtual event on June 1, 4-5.30pm ET. Three winners will be chosen live.

Application Window Now Closed

Pitch & Prize Partners

Our partners have contributed valuable prizes and time, making this event possible.

FAQs

What are the eligibility criteria?

The Community Pitch Competition is open to Companies that: (i) have at least one (1) historically underrepresented founder; (ii) is legally registered or incorporated in one of the 50 United States and/or D.C.; (iii) has a minimum viable product (“MVP”) in market; (iv) has legal representation; and, (v) has at least two (2) full-time employees, excluding founders. For purposes of this Competition, an historically underrepresented founder is an individual who identifies as being: Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian or other Person of Color, LGBTQIA2S+, Women, or Disabled.

At the time of the Competition Start Date, Tuesday, April 26, 2022, at 12:00 am Eastern Standard Time (“EST”), all founders of the Company must be at least 18 years of age and older. Applicants must also be available for the Competition live stream on Wednesday, June 1, 2022 at 4:00 pm EST.

Employees of Sponsors, and any of their respective parents, affiliates, subsidiaries, representatives, consultants, contractors, legal counsel, advertising, public relations, promotional, fulfillment, and marketing agencies, and members of their immediate families (spouses, parents, siblings and children, regardless of where they live) and those living in the same household (whether or not related), are not eligible to enter the Competition or win a Prize.

How do I submit my application?

The application window has closed.

Applications must be in English. As a part of the Application, Companies must also submit a slide deck via the upload section of the online Application. The slide deck must include the following:

Solution/Product Overview
Team Slide (including Advisors)
GTM & Client/User Acquisition Strategy
User/Client Growth + Key Metrics
P&L (Must Include Revenue)
Previous Funding Rounds + Investors
Investment Ask + Use of Funds
Additional Points of Traction (IP, Awards, Media Mentions, etc.)

What happens if I’m selected as a finalist?

You will be notified by email on or around May 24, 2022. You will be required to complete additional due diligence information in order to proceed as a finalist. Six finalists will pitch judges live on June 1, 2022 at 4pm ET via Zoom webinar.

Do winners receive an investment from SeedInvest?

No, this is not an investment from SeedInvest. Three winners receive equity-free cash prizes in the amounts of $25,000, $10,000, and $5,000. Winners have the option to fundraise on SeedInvest’s platform, provided they produce all required documentation for due diligence and are proceeded through SeedInvest’s deal committee process. $10,000 in SeedInvest fees will be waived if winners launch a raise on the SeedInvest platform.

What are the Bonus Prizes in each Prize Package? Are there additional qualifications or eligibility requirements?

Each Prize Package (i.e., First Place, Second Place, and Third Place) includes identified “Bonus Prizes” from our Prize Partners: Braze, Ramp, and EY. Competition Prize Winners, once selected, may be eligible for the Bonus Prizes identified in each Prize Package, provided that the Prize Winners also meet the qualifications outlined by the applicable Prize Partner (the “Prize Partner Qualifications”).

*Braze: To qualify for a free 12-month Growth package ($36,000 value), businesses must have:

Digital properties (e.g., app, website, etc.)
A dedicated engineering/developer resource to manage the onboarding process and integration
A dedicated marketing resource who will oversee Braze campaigns.

**Ramp: To qualify for Ramp access and a $500 bonus, businesses must:

Be registered in the United States
Be a corporation, limited liability company, or LP (nonprofits welcome); Ramp is not accepting individuals, sole proprietors, and other types of unregistered businesses
Have at least $75,000 in cash in a US business bank account
Have most of your operations and corporate spend in the US (although Ramp will waive all international transaction fees)

***EY: To be accepted into EY Entrepreneurs Access Network, applicants must be:

A Black or Latino CEO or founder of any privately held company in the US
Company must be more than two years old and 51% minority (Black/Latino) owned
Multiple co-founders may apply as a group, if 51% ownership criteria is met; Only for profit businesses may apply
Former EY Entrepreneur Of The Year® Award and Entrepreneurial Winning Women™ winners are eligible to utilize the resources available through the Entrepreneurs Resource Library
For entrepreneurs who have sought outside investment, the founding entrepreneur may still apply if majority ownership stake is retained after deducting all outside investments.

Where does the event take place?

The event is virtual and will take place over Zoom Webinar.

Can I RSVP to attend the pitch event?

Yes, the virtual pitch event is free and open to the public. RSVP to attend live.

What are the Terms & Conditions?

See official rules and terms here.

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Disclosures

Join the Community Pitch Competition

Join us

Watch Live

Why Now

Prize Packages

Competition Judges

Baron Davis

Jesse Draper

Tasha Youngblood Brown

Sherice Torres

Ryan Feit

Pitch Competition Details

Pitch & Prize Partners