Live Stream: Startup Prize 2025 Winner Announcement!
The pitches are complete. The judges have made their decisions. All that’s left is to announce the winners of the FDA and Non-FDA competitors for this year’s Startup Prize: Focus on Health! Click the link below or the image to launch the live stream.
Join the most unique entrepreneurial competition on Planet Earth.
Startup Prize connects entrepreneurs with mentors and investors that can help grow their health-related business from early stage status into a successful business. We aim to match viable startups with potential investors that can give them the much-needed capital to realize their vision. Our main goal is to create a pathway to success for startups far and wide.
STARTUP PRIZE: HEALTH IS PROUDLY SPONSORED BY
How to Compete in Startup Prize: Health
As you might have guessed, there are requirements to be part of Startup Prize, but we make it easy.
Check out the process of participating in Startup Prize: Health with the handy step-by-step guide below.
Step 1: Register Your Startup
Start by registering your company on the Registration Page. During registration, you will select one of two tracks:
FDA Track – for products or services requiring FDA approval
Non-FDA Track – for solutions that do not require FDA approval
Choosing the correct track ensures you’re connected to the most relevant mentors, judges, and resources.
You will also choose the Qualifying Event(s) you plan to attend. For finals consideration, you must attend at least one qualifying event in full, but attending more gives Mentors and Investors additional opportunities to meet you, understand your business, and see your progress.
If you plan to travel to the in-person Qualifying Event in Shreveport, LA and need assistance, travel stipends may be available. Contact melissa@startupprize.com for details.
Step 2: Attend the Qualifying Events and Engage the Process
At Qualifying Events, founders attend panel discussions and participate in mentor-led roundtables which cover a variety of topics from organizational structure to manufacturing, finances, brand development, and investment. Topics are determined by the types of startups registered and what their needs are.
These events are your chance to level up your company, connect with industry professionals, and refine your Entrepreneur Portal. Mentors and Investor Judges also observe how you engage during these events, and your professionalism, curiosity, and collaboration all factor into finalist selection.
Step 3: Build a No-Nonsense Entrepreneur Canvas
Having a solid plan for operating and growing your business is the most basic way to show you understand your market, your product or service, and how you will get the two to meet in a profitable way. Your application needs to illustrate these goals and how you plan to reach them.
A realistic valuation, an aggressive but well-thought-out go to market strategy, and a plan to scale your business successfully all need to be a part of your plan. Entrepreneurs submit their application via our online Entrepreneur Portal. Once you register your company, you will have access to the Portal to see the components that you will be required to submit.
Step 4: Show Progress in Your Company and Yourself
Startup Prize: Health will host two Qualifying Events for 2026 (one online, one in-person), plus additional learning opportunities. While only one Qualifying Event is required, showing up more than once gives mentors a chance to see your evolution as a founder.
Additionally, changes to your approach should be reflected in your Portal Application. Judges look closely at how you incorporate feedback and strengthen your approach over the course of the competition.
Step 5: Five Finalists Are Selected to Pitch at the Finals
After careful review of all of the portal submissions and comparing notes on your performance at Qualifying Events, the Startup Prize Mentors will invite a select a small group of companies to participate in the Startup Prize: Health Final Final where you will have the opportunity to present your startup before a panel of Investor Judges– think of it as a due diligence presentation– and answer questions regarding your product or service, business strategy, and investment pathway.
A winner from each track will be selected based on pitch performance, interview responses, and demonstrated progress. Winners are announced at the Awards Brunch the following day.
All finalists, regardless of winning, have the potential to receive investment opportunities by individual Investor Judges.
Step 1: Register Your Startup
Start by registering your company on the Registration Page. During registration, you will select one of two tracks:
- FDA Track – for products or services requiring FDA approval
- Non-FDA Track – for solutions that do not require FDA approval
Choosing the correct track ensures you’re connected to the most relevant mentors, judges, and resources.
You will also choose the Qualifying Event(s) you plan to attend. For finals consideration, you must attend at least one qualifying event in full, but attending more gives Mentors and Investors additional opportunities to meet you, understand your business, and see your progress.
If you plan to travel to the in-person Qualifying Event in Shreveport, LA and need assistance, travel stipends may be available. Contact melissa@prize.foundation for details.
Step 2: Attend the Qualifying Events and Engage the Process
At Qualifying Events, founders attend panel discussions and participate in mentor-led roundtables which cover a variety of topics from organizational structure to manufacturing, finances, brand development, and investment. Topics are determined by the types of startups registered and what their needs are.
These events are your chance to level up your company, connect with industry professionals, and refine your Entrepreneur Portal. Mentors and Investor Judges also observe how you engage during these events, and your professionalism, curiosity, and collaboration all factor into finalist selection.
Step 3: Build a No-Nonsense Entrepreneur Canvas
Having a solid plan for operating and growing your business is the most basic way to show you understand your market, your product or service, and how you will get the two to meet in a profitable way. Your application needs to illustrate these goals and how you plan to reach them.
A realistic valuation, an aggressive but well-thought-out go to market strategy, and a plan to scale your business successfully all need to be a part of your plan. Entrepreneurs submit their application via our online Entrepreneur Portal. Once you register your company, you will have access to the Portal to see the components that you will be required to submit.
Step 4: Show Progress in Your Company and Yourself
Startup Prize: Health will host two Qualifying Events for 2026 (one online, one in-person), plus additional learning opportunities. While only one Qualifying Event is required, showing up more than once gives mentors a chance to see your evolution as a founder.
Additionally, changes to your approach should be reflected in your Portal Application. Judges look closely at how you incorporate feedback and strengthen your approach over the course of the competition.
Step 5: Five Finalists Are Selected to Pitch at the Finals
After careful review of all of the portal submissions and comparing notes on your performance at Qualifying Events, the Startup Prize Mentors will invite a select a small group of companies to participate in the Startup Prize: Health Final Final where you will have the opportunity to present your startup before a panel of Investor Judges– think of it as a due diligence presentation– and answer questions regarding your product or service, business strategy, and investment pathway.
A winner from each track will be selected based on pitch performance, interview responses, and demonstrated progress. Winners are announced at the Awards Brunch the following day.
All finalists, regardless of winning, have the potential to receive investment opportunities by individual Investor Judges.