Fast Pitch

The RISE Fast Pitch Competition provides early-stage entrepreneurs an exceptional platform to showcase their startup to an imminent judges’ panel of angel and venture capital investors and business leaders, as well as a live audience of entrepreneurs, investors, and business leaders. The top 10 applicants are selected by a committee and will present at the live Fast Pitch event during RISE Week Austin in mid May. Finalists will receive valuable, interactive feedback and potential interest from industry leaders and professional investors. Early-stage businesses of all types and sectors are encouraged to apply.

Applications are now CLOSED. Thank you for your interest in RISE!

Join RISE in an innovative evening for entrepreneurs, featuring a special Keynote Conversation between Vince Young and Colin Pope. The keynote will be followed by the live RISE Fast Pitch Competition featuring local entrepreneurs and their innovative start-up business ideas!

The RISE Fast Pitch Competition provides early-stage entrepreneurs a platform to showcase their business or new venture idea to a panel of judges and a wide array of conference attendees, including a live audience of community leaders. All participants will receive valuable, interactive feedback, and potential interest from industry leaders and professional investors. The winner will receive $3,000 cash and in-kind prizes, and our live audience will have a chance to choose an audience winner.

Wednesday, May 15 at The Belmont:
6:00 – 6:30 pm: Networking
6:30 – 7:15 pm: Keynote Conversation with Vince Young and Colin Pope
7:30 – 8:30 pm: Fast Pitch Competition
9:00 – 11:00pm: Vivogig After Party w/ live music from:

The Reynolds Number

Click to Register to Attend

Important Dates – Mark Your Calendar!
• Finalist Notification: TBA
• Finalists are required to attend a pitch practice event the week of May 6 – date and time TBA
• Fast Pitch Competition: Wednesday, May 15 – evening time and location TBA

Application Fee
RISE is an innovative nonprofit program with the mission of empowering entrepreneurs. As of this year, we no longer charge a $25 application fee for the Fast Pitch Competition, and the RISE conference remains completely free for entrepreneurs to attend.

In lieu of an application fee, we suggest a tax-deductible donation to RISE at http://www.riseglobal.org/donate Donat.ions are NOT taken into consideration in the application screening process; however, your donation will help empower our startup community through RISE programs!

Selection & Judging Criteria
The quality of the entrepreneur’s live pitch and Q&A is only one factor for the application committee and the judges’ panel. Companies will also be judged on a number of startup viability metrics, including the business idea, competitive advantage, market need and opportunity, go-to-market strategy, growth and scalability strategy, and the leadership and advisory team.

Selection Details
The RISE application committee will screen and select the top 10 applicants to present live on stage at the Fast Pitch Competition. Each startup will present for 60 seconds, with 2 minutes of Q&A from the judges. The judges will select the Fast Pitch Competition winner; in addition, audience members will have the opportunity to vote on a crowd favorite.  The Fast Pitch Competition winner will be announced live on stage and will receive a cash award and in-kind prizes (details TBA). Don’t miss this opportunity to gain exceptional exposure for your startup venture!