A global pitch competition celebrating and rewarding diverse founders who have committed their companies to social good
ISTANBUL — At the 10th Global Entrepreneurship Congress, Alice and the Global Entrepreneurship Network, along with partners Johnson & Johnson and Dell, announced that applications are open for Pitch with Purpose, a global pitch competition celebrating and rewarding diverse founders who have committed their companies to social good. Launched in 2016, Pitch with Purpose was the first-ever pitch competition centered around solutions to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“We believe that entrepreneurs hold the keys to solving the world’s most pressing problems through innovation, and that entrepreneurs with diverse backgrounds encapsulate the big idea thinking and unique perspectives that make innovation possible," said Elizabeth Gore, president and chairwoman of Alice.
Applicants to Pitch with Purpose can submit their entries online here, and three finalists will be invited to pitch live in front of a panel of judges, funders and media. The deadline to apply is July 31, 2018, and finalists will be announced in mid-September.
“Entrepreneurship isn’t something that only happens in huge startup hubs like Silicon Valley, Shanghai and Sao Paolo," said Jonathan Ortmans, president of GEN. "Creative minds are unleashing ideas that have real world impact in communities around the world — proving that it is possible for anyone, anywhere to start a venture and make a difference.”
ABOUT THE COMPETITION
Submissions are measured based on their level of contribution toward the solution of at least one of the United Nations SDGs, diversity of the founding team, scalability of the business model and proof of product-market fit.
The top pitch will receive an awards package designed to accelerate scalability and social impact, including:
- $15,000, courtesy of Johnson & Johnson
- A Dell computer
- Scholarship entry to Circular Summit 2019
- Mentorship from a business expert
- A feature on a major media platform
The two runners-up will receive $2,500 in cash and a scholarship ticket to Circular Summit 2019.
Past Pitch with Purpose winners include Miraculum, Inc., inventors of a line of cleantech fire retardants, and Saathi, makers of eco-friendly hygiene products. Read more about the 2017 finalists here.
Pitch with Purpose is one of the ways Team Alice and our partners find and spotlight the founders who may be under the radar but are creating incredible change for good. We hope you will consider participating in this year’s competition!
Apply for Pitch with Purpose here. And visit helloalice.com to find more startup pitch competitions.