Vertical 4 Track Requirements

 

Vertical 4 Tracks Round Breakdown & Requirements


Round Breakdown

The vertical 4 tracks encompass those who have selected the tracks of Consumer Goods & Services, Business Goods & Services, Social Innovation, or Health & Life Sciences. Participants in this track will compete in three rounds

  • The top 10 teams from each track from round 1 will advance to round 2.
    • Results are announced on February 21st, 2025. 
  • During round 2, teams will pitch virtually via zoom on March 18th, 2025, with the top 5 teams in each track advancing to round 3.
    • Results are announced on March 19th, 2025.
  • During round 3, teams will pitch in-person at Western Market on April 9th, 2025, with the top 3 teams winning prize money.
    • All finalists who advance to round 3 are also eligible for special category prizes.
  • During the Award Ceremony, teams will pitch live and in-Person at Jack Morton Auditorium on April 10th, 2025.
    • Results for all tracks and prizes are announced during the Award Ceremony on April 10th , 2025.

Below are the requirements for each round.

Round 1 Requirements

Submit Round 1 Online Application:

What you'll need...

  • Team Information.
  • 50-word business description.
  • Responses to 5 questions regarding your venture idea (250 words each).

Resources:

Round 1 application submissions due on Sunday, February 9th, 2025 at 11:59 PM EST.

 

Round 1 Applications Open December 8th, 2024

 

Round 2 Requirements

Submit Round 2 Online Application:

What you'll need...

  • A 1-page executive summary.
  • A slide deck (maximum 8 slides).

Pitch Virtually:

  • 7-min virtual pitch on March 18th, 2025.

Resources:

  • Submissions and judging criteria (TBA).

Round 2 application submissions due on Sunday, March 16th, 2025 at 11:59 PM EST.

 

Round 2 Applications Open February 22nd, 2025

 

Round 3 Requirements

Submit Round 3 Online Application:

What you'll need...

  • An updated 1-page executive summary.
  • An updated slide deck (maximum 10 slides).

Pitch In-person:

  • 10-min in-person pitch at Western Market on April 9th, 2025.

Resources:

  • Submissions and judging criteria (TBA).

Round 3 application submissions due on Sunday, April 6th, 2025 at 11:59 PM EST.

 

Round 3 Applications Open March 20th, 2025

 

Award Ceremony Requirements

For Vertical 4 Finalists Only!

Submit Award Ceremony Materials:

What you'll need...

  • An updated slide deck (maximum 10 slides).
  • 30-sec video

Pitch Live In-person:

  • 2-min in-person pitch at Jack Morton Auditorium on April 10th, 2025.

 

Round 3 Applications Open March 20th, 2025