Startup Tucson
Video Library
2025 PITCH COMPETITION
A "pitch" is a 3 minute story of a company. It provides all the basics of who, what, why, and how an idea will succeed. IdeaFunding's annual pitch competition provides an opportunity for Arizona companies to share their stories with our community for a chance to win a number of cash prizes including a $25,000 grand prize on the main stage.
To participate, each company must submit an application and participate in the training and "down-rounds". Applicants will advance through multiple rounds as selected by a panel of qualified judges and mentors and will go head to head for a chance to pitch live at the grand finale of IdeaFunding on March 27th during the TENWEST Impact Festival at the Rialto Theatre.
2025 prizes include a main stage award valued at $25,000 including year of incubation at UACI valued at over $10,000, multiple $2,500 awards for industry vertical rooms and special prizes, such as the Social Impact Prize, the Adelante Arizona Prize, and the People's Choice Award.
Join in on the excitement and inspiration of innovation happening in 3 minutes or less and apply today!
IdeaFunding is Presented by:
Pitch Competition Co-Led by:
Training Schedule
December 10th | Applications open |
January 14th | Applications close |
January 23rd | Applicants notified of advancement |
January 30th | Pitch Training & Orientation (Required)
Location: Zoom | Time: 4pm-6pm MT |
February 3rd | Initial Pitch Decks Due for First Down Select (Required)
Decks much be submitted in PDF format by midnight |
February 4th | Applications notified of advancement |
February 5th | First Down-Select (Required)
Location: Zoom | Time 4pm-6:30pm |
February 7th | First down-select applicants notified of advancement |
Week of Feb 10th | Office Hours (Optional) Location: Zoom | Time: Flexible 30 min |
February 11th | Pitch Refinement & Mentorship Training Sessions (Required)
Location: Refinery | Time: 4pm-6:30pm
In-person attendance is required for Tucson-based companies, virtual session and/or coaching will be available for those outside the Tucson Metro Area. |
February 14th | Second down-select pitch decks due (required)
Decks must be submitted in PDF format by midnight |
February 19th or 20th | Second Down-Select and Main Stage Selection (required)
Location: The Refinery at the Bridges | 1600 E Idea Lane, Tucson, AZ 85714
Time: 4pm-6:30pm MT
*teams will have the option of choosing to attend on the 19th or 20th. |
February 24th | Finalists notified of advancement |
February 25th-March 20th | Office House & Pitch Prep for Finalists (optional)
Location: Zoom | Time: Flexible booking of individual slots (30 minutes) |
March 27th | IdeaFunding Final Pitch Competition (Required)
Location: The Rialto Theatre | 318 E Congress St. Tucson, AZ 85701
Time: Various times from 9am-8pm
Includes main stage pitch competition and vertical pitch rooms |
*This Pitch Competition does not constitute “general advertising and general solicitation.” This event is not for offering and selling company securities to qualified investors. No mention or solicitation of investment funds or equity can be discussed at any time, in compliance with the Securities Act of 1933 and the updated policies of SEC Rule 148. IdeaFunding organizers reserve the right to remove any team from the IdeaFunding Pitch Competition at any time.
SAMPLE Pitch Prizes
2023 prizes included below, 2025 will be similar but exact amounts &
packages still to be confirmed
MAIN STAGE:
The top 5 companies selected from the 2nd down-select on October 4 and 5th competed on the Main Stage at IdeaFunding on November 9th. The Main Stage prizes included:
Grand Prize:
$25,000 CASH
Sponsored by:
+ 1 Yr Incubation at
= $35,000 TOTAL
2nd Prize:
$5,000 CASH
+ 1 Yr Incubation at
= $15,000 TOTAL
People's Choice:
$1,000 CASH
Industry Rooms:
20 additional applicants were selected to advance from the 2nd down-select and grouped to compete into similar industry verticals. 2023 categories are included below but 2025 may be modified slightly based on final pool of companies.
Tech
$2,500
Health/Bio
$2,500
Consumer Product
$2,500
IMPACT
$2,500
ADditional Prizes:
All 25 companies selected to advance to pitch as part of IdeaFunding on November 9th were also eligible for the following special prizes subject to an additional video application. These prizes were selected by juries from the applications themselves and awarded at IdeaFunding but not judged on the day of pitches.
Adelante Arizona Prize:
This prize supports diverse founders, such as women-owned and BIPOC-owned companies.
Sponsored by:
$5,000
Social Impact Prize:
This prize supports companies with an exceptional social and community impact.
Sponsored by:
$5,000
Tech Launch Arizona Liftoff Prize:
Award for the Best University of Arizona Related Startup
This prize supports companies founded by at least one University of Arizona student, faculty, staff member, or alumus, OR founded to commercialize an innovation developed by a UArizona student, faculty, or staff member that has demonstrated success.
Funding for this Prize is supported by Startup Tucson:
$1,000
Tucson Foodie Artisan Food Prize:
Award for the Best Up-and-coming Local Food Artisan or Purveyor
This prize supports locally-owned craft food and beverage artisans and purveyors from the Southern Arizona community. Applicants must be actively selling in the market and must have all necessary licenses in place (cottage, etc.) to qualify.
Sponsored by :
$1,000
Cox Sustainability Prize
Award for Best Environmentally Sustainable Company
This prize supports companies working to solve a problem related to improving environmental sustainability. Applicants must be working on solving a problem related to improving environmental sustainability.
Sponsored by :
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$1,000
We are able to provide high caliber experience at a low cost to entrepreneurs through the generosity of our partners and sponsors. Consider joining us and building your brand by sponsoring a track, a pitch competition, or a prize. We can work creatively for your budget and messaging goals.
Contact liz@startuptucson.com for more information.
THANK YOU TO OUR 2023 SPONSORS
