Cohort 09: Road to Silicon Valley
Global Pitch
Competition
Competition
Pitch your startup in the
startup capital of the world
WHAT
A Global pitch competition
for collegiate entrepreneurs.
for collegiate entrepreneurs.
Top 6 get the opportunity to present to Investors
and TiE Global Members at Silicon Valley
and TiE Global Members at Silicon Valley
ELIGIBILITY
Aspiring student entrepreneurs and
recent graduates/TiE U alumni
recent graduates/TiE U alumni
Open to current undergraduate and postgraduate students,
PhD scholars, and founders who have graduated
within the last two calendar years.
PhD scholars, and founders who have graduated
within the last two calendar years.
TRACKS TO SUIT CURRENT STAGE
An opportunity for entrepreneurs at all stages
CORE TRACK
For student founders building
early-stage ventures
early-stage ventures
Criteria
- Team composition: All founders should be current students
- Open only to Undergraduates or Postgraduates (except MBA students)
- Idea, prototype, or MVP stage
- Early customer discovery and validation
- No external funding raised
- First-time student founders
- Should not have received greater than $25000 in prize money
OPEN TRACK
For student-led ventures demonstrating
early market validation
early market validation
Criteria
- Team composition: At least one founder must be a current student or have graduated within the last two academic years.
- All categories of students including PhD Scholars
- MVP or product in market
- Demonstrated customer validation
- Less than $25,000 cumulatively in grants and/or prize funding
- No equity investment raised
DEMO-DAY TRACK
For student-led startups with proven
traction and fundraising momentum
traction and fundraising momentum
Criteria
- Team composition: At least one founder should be a current student OR TiE-U Alumni
- Demonstrated market traction
- Raised equity investment of any amount
- Or received more than $25,000 cumulatively in grants and/or prize funding
- Investor-ready and seeking scale
Please note: Final track placement is decided by TiE-U based on your application.
WHAT’S AT STAKE
Cash and in-kind prizes worth $20,000 for the Core and Open Tracks.
Equity investment opportunities exceeding $100,000 for the Demo-Day Track.
Equity investment opportunities exceeding $100,000 for the Demo-Day Track.
WHY PARTICIPATE
Accelerate your idea and leverage the power of the TiE network.
ONE-ON-ONE
MENTORING
By experienced
entrepreneurs
entrepreneurs
COMPETE WITH
GLOBAL PEERS
A truly global pitch competition
with participants from 18 countries.
with participants from 18 countries.
WORLD-CLASS
WORKSHOPS
Covering diverse topics-
from idea to scale.
from idea to scale.
EXCLUSIVE
MASTERCLASSES
By founders, investors,
and ecosystem partners.
and ecosystem partners.
CAPITAL AND
INVESTOR ACCESS
Connect with angels
and VCs
(*For Demo-Day track)
and VCs
(*For Demo-Day track)
ALUMNI
STATUS
Lifelong access to
the TiE network.
the TiE network.
Competition Calendar
Eight months, four stages, one final pitch
01 OCT 2026 — APPLICATIONS OPEN
MAY 2027 Global finale
Stage 01
Oct — Dec
Application
01 Oct
Opens
31 Dec
Closes
Stage 02
Jan — Mar
Acceleration Cohort
Global events
Masterclasses and workshops, open to the full cohort worldwide.
Local events
Learning sessions and 1-on-1 mentoring, run by each local chapter.
Stage 03
Mar — Apr
Competition
Chapter Finals
Local chapters select their teams to advance.
Global Semifinals
Chapter winners compete for a place in the Global Finale.
Stage 04
May 2027
Global Finale
TBA
Where the cohort's journey ends — live, on the main stage.
Top 6 teams
Pitch live on the main stage.
All semi-finalists
Exhibit in the pavilion alongside the main-stage pitches.