Military Veteran Startup Pitch Competitions
1) At Context VC we have attended or judged several pitch competitions and have been impressed by the quality and quantity of not just military veteran startups but also the military veteran startup pitch competitions.
2) Below are the major pitch competitions focused on veteran entrepreneurs. Please let me know if Ark Lu, Brendan Aronson, Carina Cho, and I missed any in our research!
3/ Entrepreneurs: always be focused on getting customers and finding demand signal. Don't lose focus on that even while participating in pitch competitions!
TFX Capital’s Annual Charlotte Veteran Startup Showcase
Competition Date (Historically): Between September - November
Award Amount (Historically): $50,000 (1st Place), $12,500 (2nd Place)
Website: https://tfxcap.com/
Description: TFX Capital is a veteran-focused all-inclusive venture capital firm with strong beliefs in investing in prior-service entrepreneurs due to these veteran founders demonstrating a high quality of character combined with proven experience getting sh*t done. Veteran entrepreneurs congregate in Charlotte, North Carolina each year to pitch to a panel of venture capital experts and other members of the industry. This competition is primarily focused on startups within the southeastern region of the United States.
PenFed Foundation’s Veteran Entrepreneur Ignition Challenge
Competition Date (Historically): July
Award Amount (Historically): $25,000 (1st Place), $20,000 (2nd Place), $15,000 (3rd Place)
Website: https://penfedfoundation.org/
Description: PenFed Foundation’s pitch competition focuses exclusively on military-affiliated entrepreneurs from Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. If selected, entrepreneurs receive a check for $25,000, and includes business coaching.
The Veteran Fund x The Military Influencer Conference
Competition Date (Historically): October 26 - 29
Award Amount (Historically): $100,000 winner takes all
Website: https://www.veteran.fund/ | https://militaryinfluencer.com/
Description: The Veteran Fund has partnered with The Military Influencer Conference to host an annual in-conference Veteran Pitch Competition where one winner will take home $100,000 after a highly competitive competition. The Veteran Fund’s mission is to “support pre-seed or early-stage funding for entrepreneurs in the field of tech for national security and defense. Open to all military-affiliated entrepreneurs.
Bob Evans Farms Heroes to CEOS
Competition Date (Historically): May 22 - June 27
Award Amount (Historically): 3 winners, $25,000 each
Website: https://business.rice.edu/veterans-business-battle
Description: Bob Evans Farms is an Ohio-based grocery and restaurant chain intent on giving back to military veterans. Each year, Heroes to CEOS awards $25,000 to three winners and an all-expenses-paid, three-day trip for two to New York City for a half-day mentoring session with Daymond John, Founder & CEO of FUBU and Co-Star of ABC’s Shark Tank. Open to all military-affiliated entrepreneurs.
Rice University’s Jones Graduate School of Business Veterans Business Battle
Competition Date (Historically): April 22-23
Award Amount (Historically): $15,000 (1st Place), $10,000 (2nd Place), $5,000 (3rd Place)
Website: https://business.rice.edu/veterans-business-battle
Description: Rice University’s Jones Graduate School of Business partnered with the Rice Business Veterans Association back in 2015 to kickstart Veterans Business Battle, an opportunity for military veterans to pitch business ideas to investors and lenders for a chance for cash, network, and mentorship. Open to all military-affiliated entrepreneurs.
The Second Service Foundation Military Entrepreneur Challenge
Competition Date (Historically): October - November
Award Amount (Historically): $15,000 (1st Place), $6,000 (2nd Place), $4,000 (3rd Place)
Website: https://www.secondservicefoundation.org/
Description: The Second Service Foundation (formerly The StreetShare’s Foundation) has partnered up with Samuel Adams Brewing the American Dream program to offer grants and legal services to three military entrepreneur winners each year. Winners receive cash, legal services, a Synergy Learning Institute scholarship, and more. Open to all military-affiliated entrepreneurs.
The Veteran Shark Tank
Competition Date (Historically): December
Award Amount (Historically): $50,000 winner takes all
Website: https://veteransharktank.com/
Description: Founded in 2015, The Veteran Shark Tank was created to promote and assist veterans who are starting or growing their businesses. Hosted before a live audience in Philadelphia to help kick off Army/Navy Football week, this is THE veteran pitch competition. Winners will receive not only a cash reward, but also access to a pool of alumni, customers, referral partners, inventors, mentors, and more. Open to all military-affiliated entrepreneurs.
The Bunker Labs x USAA From Service To Startup 100th Anniversary Pitch Contest
Competition Date (Historically): March - November
Award Amount (Historically): $100,000 (1st Place Overall), $50,000 (2nd Place Overall), $25,000 (3rd Place Overall), $15,000 (Crowd Favorite) $10,000 (Regional 1st Place), $5,000 (Regional 2nd Place)
Website: https://bunkerlabs.org/usaa-pitch/
Description: To celebrate 100 years of serving the military community, USAA has teamed up with Bunker Labs to host a co-funded pitch competition with a winner takes all price of $100,000. The competition is broken down into regional competitions and one final pitch event where finalists from each of the regions compete for a final chance for a cash prize between $15,000 and $100,000.
Fiserv Pitch Competition
Competition Date (Historically): October
Award Amount (Historically): $30,000 Prize Pool
Website: https://bunkerlabs.org/fiserv-pitch-competition-mic/
Description: Fiserv is offering a $30,000 prize pool to Bunker Labs’ Ambassadors, where Ambassadors will be rated and awarded cash prizes with a focus on how each individual spends their time helping other entrepreneurs. This is a unique pitch competition exclusive to Bunker Labs Ambassador Corps members.
VetsInTech Tech Startup Pitch Competition
Competition Date (Historically): October
Award Amount (Historically): $25,000 (1st Place), $10,000 (2nd Place), $5,000 (3rd Place)
Website: https://sun.vetsintech.co/
Description: VetsInTech is a leading national nonprofit dedicated to supporting veterans through tech-based programs and opportunities in education, employment, and entrepreneurship. Each year, five military-affiliated startups advance as finalists to compete for a $40,000 cash pool split between three winners.
InnoVets Business Expo & Pitch Competition
Competition Date (Historically): May
Award Amount (Historically): $25,000 (1st Place), $10,000 (2nd Place), $5,000 (3rd Place)
Website: https://innovetsboston.org/event-details/
Description: VetsInTech is the leading national nonprofit dedicated to supporting veterans through tech-based programs and opportunities in education, employment, and entrepreneurship. Each year, five military-affiliated startups advance as finalists to compete for a $40,000 cash pool split between three winners.