Visionaries Pitch Competition

Compete for $40,000 in grant funding for women-owned, US-based, for-profit businesses

Visionaries is celebrating inspired ideas for women-owned companies blazing a trail of impact through their communities, offering non-dilutive funding, professional services, and mentorship. Pitch Competition finalists will compete live in Los Angeles on September 28 for grant funding in the amount of $30,000 to the grand prize winner and $10,000 to the runner-up.

Applications close June 18, 2026 at 11:59pm EDT.

Take a peek at what the 10 finalists will receive

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Pitch Mentorship

Each finalist will be paired with dedicated pitch mentors who will work with them one-on-one in the weeks leading up to the live event. Your mentors will help you refine your story, sharpen your message and overall pitch, craft a compelling slide deck, and show up on stage confidently.

Professional Services

Finalists will receive access to a curated suite of professional services designed to support your business growth. Details on our service partners will be announced as we get closer to the competition — but each will be selected with early-stage women founders in mind.

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Connections

Being selected as a VPC finalist means joining a cohort of 10 extraordinarily driven, visionary women entrepreneurs. The relationships you build with your fellow finalists — founders who truly get what it means to build something from nothing —could be the most lasting outcome of this entire experience.

Finalist Perks + Discounts

Finalists will unlock a collection of perks and exclusive discounts from brands and tools that support women-owned businesses. Additional partner perks will be announced throughout the competition window, so stay tuned — this package will continue to grow between now and the live event in September.

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Pitch Practice Sessions

Before you ever step on stage, you’ll have structured opportunities to practice your pitch and get real feedback. Between the Pitch Bootcamp in July and your dedicated mentor sessions, you’ll have logged meaningful reps by the time you take the mic in Los Angeles — so the only thing left to do is stand up and pitch your heart out.

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VPC Live Pitch Event

On September 28 in Los Angeles, you’ll pitch live on stage at Visionary in front of a judging panel, an engaged audience, and your fellow finalists. You’ll have five minutes to pitch, five minutes of Q&A with the judges, and a shot at $10,000-30,000 in non-dilutive funding. Win or not, you’ll leave with visibility you can’t buy.

Plus every applicant will receive access to…

Visionaries Pitch Bootcamp • July 28, 2026

The Pitch Bootcamp is a required virtual training for all semifinalists, designed to help you build and deliver a compelling pitch before the August 6 virtual semifinals.

But we’re not keeping it exclusive — every applicant is invited to attend! You’ll learn how to craft a clear, confident pitch that communicates your vision, your value, and why your business deserves to win that you can use for your next funding opportunity (and the one after that, and the one after that!). It’ll be practical, founder-focused, and genuinely useful regardless of what (or whom) you’re pitching.

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Eligibility

This competition is for bold, women-owned, for-profit businesses with a clear vision for impacting their community.

Eligibility criteria:

Must be a for-profit, US-based business, based and legally registered to do business in the US
Founder/Co-Founder/CEO must be a woman and company must be at least 50% woman-owned
Annual business revenue must not exceed $1M
Your business must not have received funding (self-funded, crowdfunded, or equityinvestment) exceeding $500,000 USD
Must be able to attend the Pitch Bootcamp on July 28 if selected as a semifinalist (exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis in writing)
Must be able to pitch live at the Virtual Pitch Semifinals on August 6, 2026 (strictly required) if selected as a semifinalist
Must be able to travel to and pitch live and in-person at Visionary in Los Angeles on September 28, 2026 if selected as a finalist*
Businesses in the cannabis, weapons, or adult entertainment industries are not eligible
Pre-revenue startups welcome if able to show traction (waitlist, market research, etc)

*Any incurred travel expenses are the responsibility of the applicant

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Important dates:

Mar 2 – June 18 | Applications open (Round 1)

July 23 | Top 35 (Semifinalists • Round 2) announced

July 23 | Audience voting starts for Round 2 Audience Choice

July 28 | Pitch Bootcamp (virtual) for Semifinalists

August 6 | Virtual Pitch Semifinals for Top 35 (Round 2)

August 7 | Top 10 (Finalists • Round 3) announced

Aug-Sept | Finalists receive and work with pitch mentors

September 28 | 10 Finalists (Round 3) compete in-person at Visionary Live in Los Angeles

September 28 | Winner(s) announced!

Important dates:

2Mar 2 – June 18 | Applications open (Round 1)

July 23 | Top 35 (Semifinalists • Round 2) announced

July 23 | Audience voting starts for Round 2 Audience Choice

July 28 | Pitch Bootcamp (virtual) for Semifinalists

August 6 | Virtual Pitch Semifinals for Top 35 (Round 2)

August 7 | Top 10 (Finalists • Round 3) announced

Aug-Sept | Finalists receive and work with pitch mentors

September 28 | 10 Finalists (Round 3) compete in-person at Visionary Live in Los Angeles

September 28 | Winner(s) announced!

Time to get your pitch on

Let’s take a look at how this whole thing works!

Round 1: Apply

You’ll start by submitting a simple application with a video pitch that helps us get to know your business, your vision, and most importantly… you! We’re looking for clarity of ideas, sustainability, direction, and the team behind the vision. Your pitch doesn’t need to be perfect, but your purpose should shine through.

In addition to a few short questions, you’ll upload a 60-second video introducing yourself and your business. This is your first impression and what the majority of our decision will be based on in advancing semifinalists to the next round.

Key Details:

📅 Application deadline: June 18, 2026
🎥 Required: 60-second video pitch
💼 Must be a women-owned, for-profit business
💵 $20 admin fee required to apply

Round 2: Semifinals

From the full applicant pool, 35 semifinalists will be selected to move forward. This round is all about sharpening your pitch and building visibility. You’ll be invited to a virtual Pitch Bootcamp (held July 28) to help you craft a powerful funding pitch. Then you’ll go live on August 6 to present a 2.5-minute pitch (applicants MUST be available to join live).

A panel of experts will advance nine finalists, with one additional finalist selected via audience voting (beginning after semifinalists are announced; we’ll provide swipe copy to make it easy to share!).

Key Details:

🗳️ Audience voting open: July 23-August 6, 2026
🎤 Pitch Bootcamp: either July 28 (virtual)
🎥 Virtual semifinal round: August 6, 2026 (no slides)
🧠 Max pitch time: 2.5 minutes
🏆 Finalists announced: August 7, 2026

Prepare for Round 3 Live Pitch

The 10 finalists will receive dedicated pitch mentorship. Finalists will be assigned mentors by the end of August and complete work to help refine their stage presence, storytelling, and pitch deck in August and September. You’ll have access to founder-minded support that helps you speak to both investors and visionary audiences alike while staying true to your voice.

During this time, you’ll be prepping for the big stage. The final round is your moment to fully own the mic and share your vision.

Key Details:

🧑‍🏫 Mentorship runs: August-September 2026
🎟️ Pitch live at Visionary in Los Angeles (Sept 27-29 • finalists MUST be able to attend live to pitch in-person on the evening of Sept 28)

Round 3: Pitch Your Heart Out!

The top 10 finalists will pitch live on stage at Visionary Live in Los Angeles on September 28. Each founder will have five minutes to pitch, followed by five minutes of Q&A with an expert judging panel. Finalists will all receive feedback from the judges and there may be other funders in the audience… consider this is your ultimate headline moment!

At the end of the day, the grand prize winner ($30,000) and runner up ($10,000) will be announced live. Whether you walk away with the top prize or not, you’ll leave with visibility, validation, and valuable relationships that can help fuel your future.

Key Details:

📅 Live pitch: Monday, September 28, 2026
🗣️ Pitch format: 5-minute pitch + 5-minute Q&A (slides allowed)
🏆 Winner(s) announced: Same day

Start your application

You’ve got questions? We’ve got answers.

Who can apply for the Visionaries Pitch Competition?

Any woman founder running a for-profit, US-based business. You must be the founder, co-founder, or CEO, and your company must be at least 50% woman-owned. Your business must not have received more than $500,000 in total funding, and pre-revenue startups are welcome as long as you can demonstrate traction.

How are semifinalists and finalists selected?

Applications are reviewed by an independent selection panel. The primary deciding factor in Round 1 is your 60-second video pitch — this is your first impression, so make it count. From there, 35 semifinalists are selected, who then pitch live virtually on August 6. A panel advances 9 finalists, and 1 additional finalist is selected by audience vote.

Why is there a fee to apply? Are there any fees if I am awarded a grant?

The $20 entry fee helps cover the operational costs of running a competition of this size — including application review, platform and software costs, and the administrative work that goes into coordinating semifinalists, finalists, mentors, and the live event. It is not a profit center. Surplus funds are rolled back into the competition or future Visionaries programs.

There are no fees whatsoever if you’re selected as a grant recipient. You’ll receive the full award amount, paid directly to your business bank account. However, note that all grant recipients are responsible for reporting the award as income and paying any applicable taxes as is standard with most business grants.

What is the Pitch Bootcamp and do I have to attend?

The Pitch Bootcamp is a virtual training session on July 28 designed to help you build and deliver a compelling pitch. Attendance is required for all semifinalists unless an express exemption is made. It’s also open to every applicant to attend live (all applicants will also receive replay access).

What can I use the grant money for?

Pretty much anything that supports your business growth — marketing, hiring, tech, operations, inventory, etc. You cannot use funds to pay down debt or for personal expenses.

What do finalists receive beyond the prize money?

Finalists receive one-on-one pitch mentorship, access to a professional services, exclusive perks and discounts from women-supporting brands, and structured pitch practice opportunities — plus the experience of pitching live on stage in Los Angeles in front of funders, judges, and an engaged audience. Details on service and perks partners will be announced throughout the competition window.

Do I need to be available for specific dates?

Yes. Semifinalists must attend the Pitch Bootcamp on July 28 (exemptions may be made on a case-by-case basis) and pitch live at the virtual semifinals on August 6 (strictly required). Finalists must be able to travel to and pitch live in Los Angeles on September 28. Please do not apply if you cannot commit to these dates.

Will I be notified either way?

As long as you remain on our email list, yes, all decisions and final outcomes will be sent to subscribed audience members.

Can I apply if I've previously applied for or won the Hey Helen Grant?

Absolutely. The VPC and Hey Helen Grant are separate programs with separate eligibility criteria and review processes. Applying to one does not affect your standing in the other.

Who selects the winners?

Finalists will be evaluated by an independent judging panel. Panelist details will be announced as we get closer to the competition.

Can I get feedback on my application?

Due to the volume of applications, we’re unable to provide individual feedback to applicants who don’t advance. Finalists will receive feedback from the judging panel at the live event.