The inaugural Startup Pitch Contest in Virginia, named Pitch Virginia, is set to take place on November 10. Organized by Activation Capital and sponsored by Capital One, the event will be held at the newly opened Shift Retail Lab at VCU. The contest aims to showcase innovative high-growth startups, main street and student companies within the Commonwealth, with the participants competing for a total of $15,000 in prize money. The event will kick off with a design-thinking workshop, followed by pitches from various companies, and conclude with a cocktail networking event. In addition to providing a platform for entrepreneurs, Pitch Virginia also aims to foster networking and community building within the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Introduction
-Pitch Virginia will showcase innovative high-growth, main street, and student companies in the Commonwealth-
Event Details
RICHMOND – The inaugural Pitch Virginia event, powered by Activation Capital, will take place on Wednesday, November 10 at the newly opened Shift Retail Lab at VCU, an initiative of the VCU da Vinci Center. Kicking off with a design thinking workshop in the morning, the day will be filled with pitches from high growth, main street and student companies competing for $15,000 of prize money, concluding with the grand opening event of the Shift Retail Lab at VCU with a cocktail networking event and open house tours of the space in the evening. These events are an official activity of Global Entrepreneurship Week, an international movement to empower entrepreneurs and help make it possible for anyone, anywhere to start and scale.
Categories and Sponsorship
Pitch Virginia is an opportunity to highlight the entrepreneurs and startup companies in the Commonwealth. The contest will feature three categories: high-growth startups, main street companies, and student-owned ventures. Capital One is sponsoring the event and donated $15,000 in cash prizes for winning companies.
Support and Vision
Matt Briggs, VP of Capital One Card Technology and Platforms shared, “Capital One is committed to elevating the mission-driven small business ecosystem in Virginia, and our support for this event allows us to empower entrepreneurs at all levels – student entrepreneurs, brick and mortar businesses, and high growth startups with the potential to scale. We are looking forward to November and Pitch Virginia to bring innovative minds and ecosystem supporters together to continue developing Virginia’s small business sector.”
Speaking about Pitch Virginia, Chandra Briggman, President and CEO of Activation Capital said, “We wanted to create a new event that will cater to founders and entrepreneurs, showcasing all types of companies, and feel Pitch Virginia will be a place for people to come together for networking and community, while also supporting the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the Commonwealth.”
Registration and Information
Companies can apply to pitch and individuals can register to attend at https://activation.capital/pitch.
About Activation Capital
About Activation Capital: Activation Capital engages and connects the many influential players in our innovation ecosystem in order to cultivate and sustain a pipeline of globally impactful tech entrepreneurs. Our goal is to grow Virginia’s community of advanced tech entrepreneurs and empower them to solve the world’s toughest problems. Activation Capital provides tools and resources to founders to navigate the entrepreneurial process through its life sciences and advanced technology campus at the VA Bio+Tech Park; the Riverflow Growth Fund, a seed fund; and the Ecosystem Direct Investment Fund (EDIF), which provides grants to entrepreneur support organizations. The Activation Council supports and coordinates these efforts among the many available resources to foster innovation in companies of all kinds. Activation Council brings clarity and perspective in the short term and vision for the long term, generating more collision points that lead to successful business outcomes. Activation Capital powers life-changing innovation by connecting technology entrepreneurs to a dynamic and inclusive network where they can transform their business, and then the world.
Question & Answer
What is the date and location of the inaugural Pitch Virginia event?
The inaugural Pitch Virginia event will take place on Wednesday, November 10 at the Shift Retail Lab at VCU in Richmond.
What categories will be featured in the Pitch Virginia contest?
The contest will feature three categories: high-growth startups, main street companies, and student-owned ventures.
Who is sponsoring the Pitch Virginia event?
Capital One is sponsoring the event and has donated $15,000 in cash prizes for winning companies.
How can companies apply to pitch at the Pitch Virginia event?
Companies can apply to pitch and individuals can register to attend at https://activation.capital/pitch.
