Women 2.0: Pitch 2009: Application Deadline

Deadline to enter: April 10th, 2009

Visit Women 2.0's website to view complete event information at: http://www.women2.org/pitch2009/

The third-annual Women 2.0 Pitch 2009: Startup Competition is open to early-stage ventures around the world, from high growth business ventures in web 2.0 to mobile and biotech, consumer clean tech to consumer hardware. Applying companies must be in beta-stage and have not received significant funding. Teams with at least ONE FEMALE in the founding team are invited to compete for a chance to win:

One-on-one meeting with Michael Moritz from Sequoia Capital

3 months of office space and mentoring
from Plug and Play Tech Center

PR strategy from JonesPR

Marketing strategy from MWW Group

Legal support from Pillsbury

HUNDREDS of submissions will receive valuable feedback from the judging panel of investors and experienced startup executives. FIVE startups will be chosen to pitch live on Pitch Night (May 7th, 2009). ONE winning startup gets a meeting with Michael Moritz (Sequoia Capital) in addition to a host of startup-friendly services. Previous years’ prizes were meetings with Tim Draper (Draper Fisher Jurvetson) and Esther Dyson (investor in companies such as Flickr, del.icio.us, and 23andMe).

How to Apply to Pitch 2009

Your submission consists of 3 parts:

1.) Business Plan
You will be asked questions about your business and to submit a financial plan. You may edit your application anytime prior to the closing date of April 10th, 2009. You may view a sample application here.

Non-refundable application fee is $25 per submission.

2.) Paper Napkin (7×7 inches max.)
Submit your business idea on a paper napkin no larger than 7×7 inches. Your name and contact info must be on the napkin so we can match it with your online application. Napkins must be received at 63 Bovet Road, #519, San Mateo, CA 94402 no later than April 10th, 2009. Napkins will be exhibited to the public at Pitch Night. By default, your napkin will be exhibited. If you do not wish to participate in the exhibition, state clearly on a note and attach it on the napkin.

3.) Video Pitch
A 2 minute pitch about your company helps the investors to really understand you and your venture. The video should be uploaded along with your business plan through Angelsoft. Uploading video takes time and bandwidth, we suggest you do not wait until the deadline to submit your video pitch.

Vie for the People’s Choice Award! (optional step)
Add your startup on YouNoodle through the Women 2.0 group and encourage people to “follow” your startup. The startup with the most followers on YouNoodle by April 10th, 2009 will win the title of People’s Choice for Pitch 2009.

Finalists will be notified April 27th, 2009 and will invited to pitch to a live audience and a judging panel at Pitch Night in San Francisco on May 7th, 2009. If you are selected as a finalist, the entire team must be present at Pitch Night.

Eligibility and Rules

The business plan must represent the original work of members of the team. You may have a team of up to FIVE individuals. At least ONE member of the team must be female — this is a Women 2.0 production after all! Submissions that do not adhere to the submission process and rules will be disqualified.

We accept businesses in alpha and beta launch only. Submissions accepted globally. The competition is for new, independent ventures in the seed, start-up, or early stage. Pitch 2009 is intended for growth companies and the judging panel will ask “Is this a fundable venture?”. Generally excluded are the following: buy-outs, expansions of existing companies, real estate syndications, tax shelters, franchises, licensing agreements for distribution in a different geographical area, and spin-outs from existing corporations. As if you’d be silly enough to submit that anyway.

The submission process utilizes Angelsoft, the industry standard to manage deal flows. By submitting your business plan, you are agreeing to the Terms of Service for the Angelsoft platform and agree to be bound by the terms described in the Angelsoft Privacy Policy.

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

If you still have questions after reading this FAQ, email us.

» Who is eligible to apply?
Any team that has at least one female in the founding team. There is no age limit. Submissions accepted worldwide.

If your company is selected as a finalist, the entire team must be present on May 7th, 2009 in San Francisco at the Women 2.0 Pitch Night to pitch in front of a live judging panel and audience. The winner will be selected that night.

» What kind of business idea can I submit?
Anything you like! Last year, we received submissions in consumer technology, wireless, Internet, and biotech. Consider the judges and their interests when you submit. The judging panel will review the submissions and ask “Is this a fundable venture?”. Examples of fundable business ventures include technology companies, consumer Internet services, medical devices, software as a service, and bio tech.

While there are many great lifestyle businesses (for example: boutiques, cafes, consulting firms), your best bet with those businesses is often to raise funds via your friends and family. Generally excluded are buy-outs, expansion of existing companies, real estate syndications, tax shelters, franchises, licensing agreements and spinouts from existing corporations.

» Can I submit more than one idea?
You can submit as many ideas as you’d like, but you will have to complete a separate application form and a napkin for each idea.

» What is the maximum team size?
The minimum team size is one and the maximum team size is FIVE.

» What stage of business do I have to be in?
We are accepting businesses in alpha and beta launch phase only. This means you must have a prototype ready to show the judges.

» Who will be evaluating my idea?
The judges consist of VCs, angel investors, and seasoned entrepreneurs.

» What is a prototype?
For Pitch 2009, we are looking for submissions with working models that can be used to demonstrate your business ideas (i.e. something beyond a Powerpoint presentation). After all, it’s just more interesting to have something to show and tell.

» Is there a fee to apply?
Yes. To sustain the Women 2.0 operation and to ensure commitment from applicants, there is a nominal $25 fee to apply.