Apply by October 21 to Pitch for Prize Money in the Spark Venture Competition!
The Spark Venture Competition in Sacramento is an annual venture competition hosted by the Carlsen Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship as part of Global Entrepreneurship Week, powered by Western Health Advantage.
The Spark Venture Competition includes early-stage for-profit startups as well as social impact ventures. A total of $20,000 in cash prizes will be awarded.
Two Tracks: For Profit Ventures and Social Ventures
The competition is open to early-stage ventures aiming to operate in the Greater Sacramento Region. An application is required to be considered for Round 1 of judging. Finalists will be announced virtually and will attend a pitch mentoring workshop to help prepare for the final round. In the final round, teams compete by presenting their pitches to a panel of judges to win cash prizes.
The focus of this competition is to catalyze a group of early-stage ventures by elevating their startups at the Spark Venture Competition and having a select few of them walk away with cash awards to advance their venture. The Carlsen Center is aiming to select startups with at least problem-solution fit and evidence around product-market fit.
Prizes
There will be a total of $20,000 Awarded at the Spark Venture Competition!
- 1st Place $7,500 for each track
- 2nd Place $2,500 for each track
Judges will hear presentations from 10 finalists (5 in the For-Profit Track and 5 in the Social Venture Track). Each finalist will have 5 minutes to pitch and will field 5 minutes of Q&A.
Program Plan
- Applications Open – September 12th, 2022
- Application Deadline – October 21st, 2022 at 11:59 pm
- Finalists Announced – October 28th, 2022
- Finalists Mentoring/Pitch Sessions – October 31st or November 1st (Between 1 and 6 pm)
- Spark Venture Competition during Global Entrepreneurship Week – Wednesday, Nov. 16th, 4:30 to 7 pm at the Carlsen Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship at Sacramento State. A Panel Discussion on Investment will kick off the event.
Deadline to apply is October 21!
Last Year’s Spark Venture Competition Winners
Another Pitch Opportunity
Looking to prepare for pitching for investment funding? Check out StartupSac Warm-Up Pitch. Apply by October 17, 2022!
