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San Antonio’s Largest Cash Prize Pitch Competition in the US

Deadline: 03-Sep-21

Applications are now open for the TechFuel is Greater San Antonio’s largest cash prize pitch competition to help emerging tech-based startups accelerate the growth of their business.

TechFuel is sponsored by the Bexar County Economic & Community Development department and will be hosted by Tech Bloc during the 2021 San Antonio Startup Week conference.

Award Information

  • A finalist from each group will be selected by their judging panel to advance to the final round of the competition. The 5 finalists will be awarded $2,500 each and will then compete for the Judges’ Grand Prize of $50,000 live on October 14, 2021.
  • The TechFuel Showcase finalists will deliver a 5-minute pitch and have a 5-minute Q&A session with a panel of 5 judges through Facebook Live. Judges will then deliberate to select the Judges’ Grand Prize of $50,000 winner, and 1st runner up. A live audience poll will be conducted to select the winners of the remaining prizes and awards of special recognition.
  • Grand Prize: $50,000
    • First runner up: $20,000
    • Second runner up: $10,000
    • Honorable Mention: $7,500
What are the titles of Recognition?
The TechFuel audience will also vote to recognize the finalists in three specific categories – Most Innovative, Best Pitch, and Most Promising.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants for consideration should:
  • Be a tech startup that is headquartered or primarily based in the state of Texas
  • Be a properly registered business entity recognized by the state of Texas
  • Have received less than $1.0M from 3rd-party investors
  • Generate less than $1.5M in annualized revenue
  • Have a product/service that is live, OR an MVP that has recently launched within the last 6 months, and
  • Has measurable performance metrics such as revenue, customers, or successful beta testing results
  • If selected as a finalist prize winner, be able to maintain a company presence (office or remote employee) within Bexar County for a minimum of 6 months after prize money award date.

Criteria

The selection committee will determine which applicants advance to the semi-final round of 25 competitors based on the following criteria from their submitted applications:

  • Meeting all necessary competition eligibility requirements
  • Leadership – Does the team have the ability to reach the next level of success?
  • Business Model – Is the revenue model realistic and sustainable?
  • Execution – Are there strong growth metrics or measurable traction?
  • Jobs – If success continues and scales, will this create more jobs?
  • Quality of submitted responses in application
Semi-finalists will then be randomly assigned into one of five groups (designated as Groups A, B, C, D, or E) to participate in a second round of in-person screening with your group’s judging panel. Each group will be comprised of 5 semi-finalist teams and every semi-finalist will deliver a live 5-minute pitch and a 5-minute Q&A session to your group’s judging panel.

For more information, visit https://www.satechbloc.com/sa-tech-fuel