Startup competitions seeking B2B companies

They include Start Co. Pitch Competition and IT Arena Startup Competition

If you're a startup seeking opportunities to get funded, educated or connected, startup competitions are a great resource.

Vator has been holding its own competitions, using VatorX, to find and filter for the best startups. We've had some very successful and notable winners in the past that have gone on to raise big funding rounds including Thumbtack, DogVacay, Pokitdok, Grovo, Udemy and Apartment List, to name a few.

Anyone can list their program as VatorX is one of the most comprehensive listing guides to startup competitions, challenges, accelerators and programs. Click here to list your program!

As part of our weekly series, we'll look at top competitions with big cash prizes, as well as competitions that have teed up the most promising startups, to finding popular startup competitions you need to know about. 

Here are some of the startup competitions that are focused on B2B companies:

 

• SXSW Accelerator Pitch Event

Description: "The tenth annual SXSW Accelerator Pitch Event will take place during Startup & Tech Sectors on Saturday, March 10, Sunday, March 11, and Monday, March 12. A live audience, as well as a panel of expert judges, will discover advancements in various sectors of emerging technology at this SX event."

Prize: The winning prizes include two (2) Interactive badges for the 2019 SXSW Interactive event, various SXSW Accelerator sponsor gifts and, most importantly, the opportunity to receive exposure to the SXSW audience looking out for the latest in cutting-edge technology. Additional prizes will be announced as the event date approaches.

Previous winners: Agrarian Labs, Bluefield, DroneSeed, FastVisa US, M.io by Message.io

 

• The MIT Enterprise Forum Startup Competition

Description: "If you have an exciting new product or service, participating in your local region’s MITEF Startup Competition will give you access to the practical knowledge, mentorship, and resources to take your venture to the next level. Competition winners are the best of the best in their local region, and will receive global recognition and support through MIT Enterprise Forum Global and MIT Technology Review."

Prize: Prizes differ by region

Previous winners: AIM Solution, Shiftspace, Electronic Nose

 

• Digital Disruption Pitch Contest

Description: "As part of the Digital Disruption Track, OpenText invited 30 of its partners to submit their technology solutions to be part of the first-ever business pitch contest. The field was then narrowed down to just five finalists who would stand on stage to present their innovative company to a panel of judges, comprised of senior OpenText executives, venture capitalists and other industry experts, in the hope of winning the $100,000 prize."

Prize: CAD$100,000, as well as one year’s free inclusion in the OpenText Global Partner Program and two passes to Enterprise World 2018.

Previous winners: Zoom.ai

 

 

• The Lead Roster B2B Sales & Marketing Scholarship

Description: "The Lead Roster B2B Sales & Marketing Scholarship is a highly competitive award for high school and college students interested in sales & marketing. Unlike most scholarships which require a simple essay and "good luck" to win, the Lead Roster scholarship puts the tools for winning in your hands by judging your entry on your ability to market and sell your own ideas!"

Prize: $1,000 scholarship

Previous winners: Not specifed

 

 

• IT Arena Startup Competition

Description: "The Startup Competition took place on the 29th and 30th of September during IT Arena, the biggest tech event in Ukraine and Eastern Europe. More than 30 startups were selected for the competition before the event and pitched their ideas to win the attention of jury members and worthy prizes."

Prize: Not specified

Previous winners: Docsify

 

• Start Co. Pitch Competition

Description: " The Start Co. Pitch Competition aims to encourage entrepreneurs with idea stage hardware or software products for businesses to pitch their ideas to the Start Co. team!"

Prize: 

1st Place

• $1,000 Cash
• 1 Hour Meeting with Eric Mathews, CEO of Start Co. 
• Finalist in the Start Co. accelerator applications
• Promotion via our social networks

Most Creative Pitch

• $200 Amex Gift Card

Solving The Biggest Problem

• $150 Facebook Ad Credits

Strongest Team

• $100 Facebook Ad Credits

Most Enthusiastic Presentation

• $50 Starbucks Gift Card

Previous winners: Fly with Freya, Clu, Sage Robotics, TiqueSeek, Cold Zones

(Image source: freespee.com)