Startup resource alert: Visionary Pitch Competition

A couple of weeks ago, we put together a guide to non-local pitch competitions after a suggestion from OmniPotential Energy founder Cora Castle. (Seriously, if you have a relevant story you want to see, we will listen!)

This week, I opened up my email to find that a new national pitch competition with a $250,000 grand prize has just launched — and the best part? It’s right in Philly!

The Visionary Pitch Competition — a DEI-focused competition from The Enterprise Center Philadelphia in partnership Dell Technologies, Dell for Startups, URBN, Troutman Pepper and Morgan Lewis — is a nationwide search for startups founded (at least 51%) by underrepresented minorities. While the prizes include various valuable resources, the organizers made sure the cash prize was enough to make a significant impact.

“Entrepreneurship is the heartbeat of our nation, and yet, not all voices are heard equally,” said Della Clark, president and CEO of The Enterprise Center, in an announcement. “We are tired of telling successful business owners they need more training when what they really need is more investment capital. The Visionary Pitch Competition will do just that – offer a large cash infusion and give underrepresented minorities a chance to shine.”

Submissions are open now through Dec. 31, 2023, and the final live pitch event is scheduled for May 2, 2024 in Philadelphia. Learn more about the winners of the recent inaugural Visionary Pitch Competition.