Silicon Couloir Accepting Pitch Day 2024 Entrepreneur Applications
Silicon Couloir is pleased to announce that we will accept entrepreneur applications for our 13th Annual Pitch Day beginning Wednesday, May 15th and ending Friday, June 28th.
Pitch Day—free to attend and will be open to the public—and will be held at the Center for the Arts on the evening of Wednesday, October 9th. Our signature event of the year, Pitch Day features local entrepreneurs showcasing their innovative and creative businesses to a panel of esteemed judges and a live audience. Cash prizes will be awarded in three categories: the Panelist Choice Award prize of $20,000; the Audience Choice Award of $10,000 plus one year free use at The Cowork Space; and the Bob Arndt Community Caretaker Award of $5,000, an invitation to join the TEAMS Program, and six months free use at The Cowork Space.
Selected entrepreneurs will have five coaching sessions with a team of successful and experienced business experts leading up to the main event. A critical and high-value feature of the program, coaching helps entrepreneurs hone their delivery and synthesize their concept, financials, and presentation.
Pitch Day is a celebration of the highly successful entrepreneurial ecosystem in the Teton region. We hope to inspire audience members and others in our community to dream up or begin their own entrepreneurial journey.
Applicant criteria:
Stage: Pitch Day applicants will be considered in the following stages of their business cycle: developmental, pre-revenue and post-revenue.
Funding: Companies should be actively raising a pre-seed, seed, or early Series A round of financing or plan to do so in the next six months.
Growth potential: Priority will be given to ventures with a business model that has potential to scale and grow significantly.
Geography: Preference will be given to ventures with the greatest potential for impact in the Teton region.
Values-Based: Silicon Couloir is a values-based, mission-driven organization, and applicants will be required to provide a description of how their venture relates to Silicon Couloir’s guiding principle of “Profit. People. Planet.”
Silicon Couloir Ecosystem: Previous participation in other Silicon Couloir programs may be considered as a value-add by the selection committee.
How to apply:
The application period opens Wednesday, May 15th and all applications are due by Friday, June 28th.
All applicants must either 1) contact Brittney Ziebell, Director of Entrepreneurship, at britt@siliconcouloir.com for instructions on how to apply and program commitment for applicants and finalists, or 2) attend the hybrid information session. The information session will be held on Wednesday, May 15thfrom noon to 1 pm at the Cowork Space conference room located at 140 East Broadway, Suite 22B in Jackson. Zoom link HERE.
KEY DATES FOR PITCH DAY 2024 FINALISTS
5/15 - Applications open + hybrid Informational meeting from 12-1 at The Cowork Space. If you missed this meeting please reach out to Britt for the recording.
6/28 - Applications due
7/16 & 7/17 - Selection committee
7/25 - Mandatory Finalist Orientation Meeting
Coaching Dates- all from 8 am to 12:30 pm
Wednesday, 7/31
Wednesday, 8/14
Wednesday. 8/28
Wednesday, 9/11
Wednesday, 9/25
9/9 - Chance Meetings: Pitch Day Preview
10/9 - Pitch Day
PRIZES
SELECTION COMMITTEE PROVEN INNOVATOR AWARD:
New this year, this award features a stand-out company featuring a venture designated by the Committee as a stand-out company led by a serial entrepreneur who has previously had a successful exit. The company also has considerable potential to impact communities on a local and national scale. The designated company is further along in growth, valuation, and fundraising than other finalists. This entrepreneur will enjoy the same coaching and presentation experience as other finalists, but will not be eligible for prize money.
Panelist Choice Award:
$20,000
This award is given to the company that our experienced entrepreneur judges determine has (1) the most compelling business idea, (2) the best chance for business success, (3) the highest likelihood of getting funded, and (4) the strongest presentation.
Audience Choice Award:
$10,000 + 1 year free use at The Cowork Space
This award is given to the entrepreneur who “wows” the audience with their presentation and company vision.
Bob Arndt Community Caretaker Award:
$5,000 + Invitation to join the TEAMS Program + 6 months free use at the Cowork Space
In its fourth year, the Bob Arndt Community Caretaker Award is presented to that entrepreneur or venture whose person/team and company best embodies the core values and mission of Silicon Couloir. Just as Bob lived his life guided by the value of community caretaking, this company will exemplify growing a culture of stewardship, leadership, participation, collaboration, and citizenship that inspires and enriches our tight-knit, welcoming mountain town.
