Venture 313 · Pitch Competition

Pitch 26
$100K in cash prizes.

Detroit tech founders pitch live for non-dilutive funding, investor visibility, and a place in the Venture 313 cohort.

Apply to Pitch 26 → (opens in a new tab)See the timeline ↓
Wed, Oct 21
Phase I applications close
Tue, Dec 8
Finals · Bonstelle Theatre
0%
Equity taken
A packed room of Detroit founders raising their hands during a Venture 313 session
Who should apply

Built for Detroit's tech founders.

Pitch 26 is open to tech-enabled businesses operating in the City of Detroit, legally structured in Michigan, with early traction and a pilot-ready product.

01 · Location
Operating in Detroit
02 · Structure
Legally structured in Michigan
03 · Traction
Early traction
04 · Product
Pilot-ready product

Target sectors

  • Fintech
  • Mobility & Advanced Manufacturing
  • Healthcare Innovation
  • Green Energy & Sustainability
  • Consumer & Business Software
  • AgriTech & Food Systems
  • EdTech
Timeline

Two phases to the finals.

Phase I is open to every eligible founder through the Apply link. Phase II is by invitation. Finalists are announced November 30 and pitch live at the Bonstelle Theatre on December 8.

  1. Phase I · Through Oct 21ApplicationsOpen to all · via the Apply linkNow
  2. Phase I · Oct 22 – Oct 30Selection
  3. Phase II · Nov 2 – Nov 10ApplicationsInvite only
  4. Phase II · Nov 11 – Nov 28Selection
  5. Finalists · Nov 30Announced
  6. Dec 8Pitch 26 FinalsBonstelle Theatre
The Phase I application

Short answers.
Come prepared.

Applications are submitted through Airtable: 30 questions across 9 sections. Written answers are capped at 75 words, so be direct. Three PDFs are required (your pitch deck, team bios, and an executive summary), so have them ready before you start.

  • Short answer
  • Multiple choice
  • Written · 75 words max
  • PDF upload
Have these ready
  • Pitch deckPDF, 8 slides or fewer, under 10 MB · required
  • Founder and leadership biosPDF with each person's role, under 10 MB · required
  • Executive summaryPDF, under 10 MB · required
  • LARA ID numberLook it up on Michigan's business registry ↗ (opens in a new tab)
  • Company website or product linkRequired
  • Active users or clientsYour current count
  1. 01Founder & Business BasicsContact details, business name, LARA ID, website, year founded, and a one-sentence description
  2. 02Demographics & OwnershipOptional demographic questions, plus whether your business is at least 51% owned by women, people of color, veterans, or people with disabilities
  3. 03Detroit-Based OperationsConfirm you operate in the City of Detroit and share your business address
  4. 04Business OverviewYour sector, the problem you solve and who has it, and what makes your solution unique
  5. 05Product & TechnologyWhat your product does, the outcome customers should see, and how technology is core to it
  6. 06Traction & TeamYour product's development stage and how many active users or clients you have
  7. 07Growth PlansYour next 6–12 month milestone and how the competition would help you reach it
  8. 08Supporting MaterialsPitch deck, team bios, and executive summary, each as a PDF
  9. 09CertificationConfirm your answers and commit to finalist activities if selected

Required questions are marked in the form. Demographic questions are optional.

Phase I closes Wed, Oct 21

Apply to Pitch 26.

Finalists pitch live at the Bonstelle Theatre on Tuesday, December 8, for a share of $100K in non-dilutive cash prizes and a place in the Venture 313 cohort.

Questions or trouble with the application? Email hthompson@detroitdevelopmentfund.com. Anything else about Venture 313: info@venture313.com.

Start your application

Phase I applications close Wednesday, October 21. The application opens in Airtable, in a new tab.

Apply to Pitch 26 → (opens in a new tab)