Join Startup Mania, a Miami event with 400+ attendees, where 64 top seed and Series A founders will battle it out in a March Madness-style pitch competition for the championship belt and cash prize. Plus, enjoy panel sessions with VCs, workshops, private lunches, roundtables, after-parties, a startup concert, and more! 🏆
The Ultimate Seed and Series A Startup Competition
Presented by
Tickets
- Access to Startup Mania + Panel Sessions/Roundtables
- Join a quickfire pitch table + WiFi/Coffee Station
- Digital Gift Bag, Concert, After Party, and Networking
- 50% OFF code to SG Conference in Silicon Valley ($399 value)
- Full access to Startup Mania with preferred seating during finals
- Meet top competing startups for 1:1 meetings (arranged by Startup Grind on-site)
- Host a VC Reverse Pitch at a quickfire pitch table
- Invitation to Private Lunch, Startup Concert, and After Party
- $99 discounted investor pass (valued at $599) to SG Conference in Silicon Valley
- 3x Full Access to Startup Mania + VC quickfire pitch
- 1x Private Lunch + Pitch Prep Workshop + Bring your roll-up banner
- Digital Gift Bag, Concert, After Party, and Networking
- 1x Free SG Conference pass ($399 value) with Exhibition upgrade option
- Feature your startup on our landing, event pages, and digital platforms
- Compete for Miami’s Belt Champion title, with a Scaleup Exhibition Package to the SG Conference ($5,000 value) and a Cash Prize
How it Works
Think your startup can win it all at Startup Mania? Apply now for the opportunity to compete in the 64-team Startup Mania national tournament LIVE in Miami on March 26! You’ll have the opportunity to pitch and be crowned national champion, winning tons of goodies and a cash prize. Will you be the odds-on favorite or the bracket buster?
From hundreds of applications we’ll whittle it down to 32 at-large selections. The remaining 32 startups are selected via accelerator nomination. We’ve identified 16 of the top accelerators and startup hubs in the country to nominate 2 companies each.
All selected startups and head to head matchups will be announced on February 23rd.
Selected startups also get a free online pitch training session from Startup Hypeman before the official in-person competition.
Application Deadline: February 21st, 2025.
It’s ON at the Startup Mania national tournament! In one single day on March 26, 64 teams will compete in head-to-head matchups vying to advance through the tournament on to the finals. All winners are determined by VC judges’ vote.
Round of 64: 1-minute pitches (no slides) | 11 am
Round of 32: 1-minute pitches (no slides) | 12:30 pm
Super 16: 2-minute pitches (no slides) | 3 pm
Plus! VC roundtables, panel talks, and more happening throughout the day!
After an intense day of competition, the sun goes down and the 8 surviving startups all pitch against each other from inside of a steel cage! Complete with walkout music and announcer introductions, we’re taking ‘competition’ to the next level.
The Awesome 8 each pitch for 3-minutes with slides, then get 2 minutes of judges’ Q&A. The judges vote to determine the Final 4. These 4 get one final minute to make their case to the judges. Then…drumroll please…we found out the winner!
Awesome 8: 3-minute pitches (w/slides + Q&A) | 7 pm
Final 4: 1-minute final plea | 8:15 pm
Winner Announced | 8:30 pm
Afterparty: Featuring live concert with startup rapper RajNATION | 9 pm
Judges: Renowned VCs who will decide the first-ever SG Startup Mania Champion.
Prizes
* Terms & Conditions. If crowned the The Startup Mania Champion in Miami, you’ll secure an exhibition package at the Startup Grind Conference, happening April 2025, in Silicon Valley (valued up to $5000 USD).
By applying, you’re committing to attending the conference on April 28-30th, 2025 if you win.
Meet our Partners
We work with organizations who are helping startups just as they are making some of the most important decisions to help grow their business. If you wait, it may be too late.
If that’s you, request more info below – we’d love to talk.
FAQs + Eligibility
Startup Mania is Miami’s premier seed and Series A startup competition, where 64 top founders battle it out in a March Madness-style pitch tournament for the Championship Belt and a cash prize. The event also features VC panel sessions, workshops, private lunches, roundtables, after-parties, and a live startup concert.
All startups from around the world are encouraged to apply, no matter their stage, especially if they’re able to attend our event in Miami or are fundraising and want to showcase their companies to top VCs and Accelerators. However, please note that our expert selection panel, made up of 16 renowned VCs, will only select Seed and Series A startups to compete in the event.
Eligibility Criteria to Compete:
- Stage: Seed and Series A
- Location: Must be a USA-based entity or incorporated in the USA
- Sector: Tech-driven and scalable companies
- Application Period: February 1 – 21, 2025.
- Selection Process: From hundreds of applications, 32 startups will be chosen as at-large selections. The remaining 32 will be nominated by leading accelerators and startup hubs (16 accelerators nominating 2 startups each).
- Finalist Announcement: All selected startups and matchups will be revealed on February 23, 2025.
- Pre-Event Training: Selected startups will receive a free online pitch training session from Startup Hypeman before the official in-person competition.
Startup Mania is a one-day, high-energy competition where startups pitch in rapid elimination rounds:
- Round of 64: 1-minute pitches (no slides) | 11 AM
- Round of 32: 1-minute pitches (no slides) | 12:30 PM
- Super 16: 2-minute pitches (no slides) | 3 PM
- Awesome 8 (Finals): 3-minute pitches (with slides & Q&A) | 7 PM
- Final 4: 1-minute final plea | 8:15 PM
- Winner Announcement: 8:30 PM
VC judges will determine the winner at each stage.
🚀 CHAMPION
- The Startup Mania Championship Belt
- Full Scaleup Exhibition Package at theStartup Grind Conference in Silicon Valley ($5,000 value), plus a Cash Prize
- FREE full contract review, recommendations, and amendments of both your Client Agreement and Employment/Subcontractor Agreement by Eugenia Di Marco of Sisu Powerhouse ($2,000 value)
🌟 AWESOME 8 FINALISTS
- 2x Full-Access Tickets to Startup Grind Conference in Silicon Valley ($800 value)
- FREE full contract review, recommendations, and amendments of one key contract (Client Agreement OR Employment/Subcontractor Agreement) by Eugenia Di Marco of Sisu Powerhouse ($1,000 value)
🔥 64 CONTENDERS
- 3x Full Access to Startup Mania + VC quickfire pitch
- 1x Private Lunch + Pitch Prep Workshop + Bring your roll-up banner
- Digital Gift Bag, Concert, After Party, and Networking
- 1x Free SG Conference pass ($399 value) with Exhibition upgrade option
- Feature your startup on our landing, event pages, and digital platforms
- Compete for Miami’s Belt Champion title, with a Scaleup Exhibition Package to the SG Conference ($5,000 value) and a Cash Prize
- FREE one-on-one strategy session with Eugenia Di Marco (Sisu Power House), a top Silicon Valley tech legal professional now in Miami, helping startups scale with peace of mind ($350 value)
Competing Startups: $199 per startup
- 3x Full Access to Startup Mania + VC quickfire pitch
- 1x Private Lunch + Pitch Prep Workshop + Bring your roll-up banner
- Digital Gift Bag, Concert, After Party, and Networking
- 1x Free SG Conference pass ($399 value) with Exhibition upgrade option
- Feature your startup on our landing, event pages, and digital platforms
- Compete for Miami’s Belt Champion title, with a Scaleup Exhibition Package to the SG Conference ($5,000 value), plus a Cash Prize, and extra perks from our partners
Early Bird Tickets: $69 | Regular Tickets: $169
- Access to Startup Mania + Panel Sessions/Roundtables
- Quickfire pitch table participation + WiFi/Coffee Station
- Digital Gift Bag, Concert, After Party, and Networking
- 50% OFF code to SG Conference in Silicon Valley ($399 value)
Investor Pass: $199 per ticket
- Full access to Startup Mania with preferred seating during finals
- Meet top competing startups for 1:1 meetings (arranged on-site)
- Host a VC Reverse Pitch at a quickfire pitch table
- Invitation to Private Lunch, Startup Concert, and After Party
- $99 discounted investor pass ($599 value) to SG Conference
Yes! Startups from all over the U.S. can apply. However, selected startups must cover their travel and accommodation expenses to attend the live competition in Miami.
A panel of 16 top venture capitalists and industry leaders will judge each round, ultimately crowning the first-ever Startup Mania Champion.
After an action-packed day, the competition will conclude with an afterparty and a live concert featuring startup rapper RajNATION. This is an incredible opportunity to network with fellow founders, investors, and industry leaders in a fun and relaxed setting.
Apply now to secure your spot in Startup Mania and compete for the ultimate startup championship title! Deadline: February 21, 2025.
Please reach out to our Global Community Director, @guillermo.vizcaino-ortiz, for more details.
Still have questions? Reach out to your Chapter Director or contact HQ for further details.