Summerfest Tech Pitch Competition FAQ
Is there a fee to apply to pitch at Summerfest Tech?
There is no fee to apply.
What are the eligibility requirements for applicants?
- The submitted product or service must have been launched no earlier than January 2022.
- Companies must not have raised more than $10 million from combined funding sources.
- Startups can only enter one product or service in the competition.
- Founders of the company applying must retain some portion of ownership.
- Startups should be legally registered and compliant with all relevant regulations and laws in their respective jurisdiction.
- Prior Summerfest Tech Pitch Finalists are not eligible to participate.
How will the on-stage pitch process work?
Each Finalist will be granted 2 minutes to pitch, followed by 4 minutes of Q&A with a panel of judges who have investment experience in the Finalist’s space.
Will there be an option to pitch virtually if I am selected as a Finalist but am unable to attend Summerfest Tech in person?
No. Summerfest Tech is an in-person event only.
What are the Summerfest Tech Judging Criteria?
Summerfest Tech judges will focus on these five critical elements:
- Creativity – the differentiation, originality, and uniqueness of the idea
- Traction – market validation as measured by users, sales, marketing exposure, etc.
- Opportunity – the potential actualization, longevity, and profitability of the idea
- Team – the caliber of the leadership, advisors, and employees in place
- Goodness – the impact of the product or service on the world
Will I receive complimentary registration to Summerfest if I am selected to pitch?
Yes! Each company participating at Summerfest Tech will be able to register for as many complimentary badges as they would like, good for access to all keynotes, panels, and other activities, plus FREE admission to the Summerfest music festival’s second weekend June 26-28, 2025.
Additionally, each presenting company will have the opportunity to network and demo their product or service as part of the Summerfest Tech Exhibit Hall area.
What if I am not selected as a Summerfest Tech Finalist but would like to attend the event?
All applicants can also register for free for the conference, providing them access to all keynotes, panels, and other activities, plus FREE admission to the Summerfest music festival’s second weekend June 26-28, 2025.
How are Summerfest Tech Finalists selected?
Summerfest Tech staff will screen applicants to ensure they meet all eligibility requirements, and a steering committee of startup technology experts will review each application to decide which products and services are the most innovative.
Should my company include our pitch deck or demo video in our online application?
We strongly encourage all applicants to submit a brief video pitching the company. This pitch video should be no longer than one minute in length and should feature the applicant speaking to the camera—we want to see how you pitch, not what your video editing software can do.
We also strongly encourage you to upload a current pitch deck (no longer than 10 slides). Applicants who do not submit a pitch video and current pitch deck are unlikely to be selected to participate.
How will I know if I have been selected to participate?
Applicants selected to participate will receive an email invitation from Summerfest Tech staff. Participating companies will be notified in May of 2025.
Have additional questions?
Please contact Summerfest Tech Pitch Event Manager Philip Cogley: philip@adeointeractive.com
