.Tech Domains, the new domain extension for the tech sector, announced a nationwide pitch competition — pitch.tech — for idea-stage entrepreneurs to win $10,000 in equity-free funding and over $100,000 in startup benefits.
The competition is in partnership with Startup Grind, a community of startups, founders, innovators and creators.
The Covid-19 pandemic’s effect on many industries continues to power a tech startup boom, which caused global venture capital funding to hit an all-time high in the first quarter of 2021.
However, only about 3% of this VC funding goes to seed stage entrepreneurs.
“This virtual competition provides an opportunity for idea-stage entrepreneurs from all backgrounds to kickstart their startup journey and get access to resources and visibility that they need in the launch-phase,” said Suman Das, the Senior Director of Brand Operations for .Tech Domains, in a statement.
For Startup Grind, this is an opportunity to further support the startup community by minimizing the hurdles and challenges that present themselves during the early stages of building a startup.
“Startup Grind’s mission has always been to help founders, entrepreneurs, and startups succeed, regardless of geographical location or socioeconomic circumstance,” said Startup Grind co-founder and CEO Derek Andersen in a statement.
Entrepreneurs looking to compete will apply at pitch.tech. Once approved, applicants will be given a unique pitch.tech URL to display their ideas and receive votes. The top ideas will move on to cohort finals, where Startup Grind chapter directors, from Phoenix, Miami, Boston, Hollywood/West Los Angeles and New Haven, will choose finalists to participate in the Grand Finals.
In the Grand Finals, finalists will participate in a virtual pitch battle. The judge panel, made up of industry experts and investors, will evaluate and validate the ideas and business models and choose the winner based on other factors, like creativity, confidence and impact.
Applications close May 23 and approved ideas go live May 26.