Visionaries Pitch Competition • Coming Soon

Compete for tens of thousands in non-dilutive funding for women-owned, for-profit businesses

Applications open March 2, 2026.

Want to be notified when apps are open?

visionaries pitch competition mockup5 square

Important dates:

Mar 2 – May 31 | Applications open (Round 1)

July 1 | Top 50 (Semifinalists • Round 2) announced

July 20 | Audience voting starts for Round 2 Audience Choice

July 20-24 | Pitch Bootcamp (virtual) for Semifinalists

August 6 | Virtual Pitch Seminals for Top 50 (Round 2)

August 6 | Top 10 (Finalists • Round 3) announced

Aug-Sept | Finalists receive and work witih pitch mentors

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

September 28 | Winner(s) announced!

Important dates:

Mar 2 – May 31 | Applications open (Round 1)

July 1 | Top 50 (Semifinalists • Round 2) announced

July 20 | Audience voting starts for Round 2 Audience Choice

July 20-24 | Pitch Bootcamp (virtual) for Semifinalists

August 6 | Virtual Pitch Seminals for Top 50 (Round 2)

August 6 | Top 10 (Finalists • Round 3) announced

Aug-Sept | Finalists receive and work witih 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, high-impact, mostly video-based application 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: May 31, 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, 50 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 at some point during the week of July 20-24) to help you craft a powerful, high-conviction presentation. 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 July 20 – after semifinalists are announced; we’ll provide swipe copy to make it easy to share!).

Key Details:

🗳️ Audience voting open: July 20-August 5, 2026
🎤 Pitch Bootcamp: July 20-24, 2026 (virtual)
🎥 Virtual semifinal round: August 6, 2026 (no slides)
🧠 Max pitch time: 2.5 minutes
🏆 Finalists announced: August 6, 2026

Round 3: Prep to Pitch

The 10 finalists will receive dedicated pitch mentorship. Finalists will be assigned mentors by the end of September and complete work to help refine their stage presence, storytelling, and pitch deck in October and November. 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, take up space, and share your vision.

Key Details:

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

Round 3: Time to Live Pitch!

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 investors in the audience… consider this is your ultimate headline moment!

At the end of the day, the winner(s) 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 next big move.

Key Details:

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

Eligibility

This competition is for bold, women-owned, for-profit businesses with a clear vision for what comes next — and the traction or momentum to back it up. Whether you’re scaling a signature offer, launching a new product line, expanding your team, or making a strategic pivot, if you’re building something real and ready to pitch it live… we want to hear from you.

Eligibility criteria:

Must be a revenue-generating US-based business, legally registered to do business in the US
Founder/Co-Founder/CEO must be a woman and company must be at least 51% woman-owned
Your business must not have received Series A, B, or C funding, or equity-based investment exceeding $500,000 USD
Must be able to attend the Pitch Bootcamp during the week of July 20, 2026 (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)
Must be able to travel to and pitch live and in-person at Visionary Live in Los Angeles on September 27, 2026
Businesses in the cannabis, weapons, or adult entertainment industries are not eligible
Must be a for-profit business; no non-profits will be considered