Eligibility & Participation

What types of startups are eligible to compete?

Startup Prize: Health is open to early stage health and medical startups from anywhere in the world. If your startup generated less than $2M in annual revenue and you are set to make a big impact in your industry or on the world, you’re our kind of entrepreneur.

• Medical Devices
• Drug Therapies/Pharma
• Healthcare Services
• Diagnostics
• HealthTech: Consumers/Employers
• HealthTech: Payers/Providers
• Health & Wellness Products & Services

How do I determine which track my startup should compete in?

Use this quick test: Does your current go-to-market plan require any form of FDA approval?

• Yes – Select the FDA Track.
• No – Select the Non-FDA Track.

If you’re still unsure which track is right for you, reach out to melissa@prize.foundation and we’ll help you determine the best fit.

Does my startup need to be at a certain phase of development?

We are open to early stage startups anywhere in the process, from ideation to proof of concept to generating revenue; from pre-seed to seed, and even Series A. If you are unsure about your startup’s qualifications, please reach out to melissa@prize.foundation.

Are there restrictions on who can apply?

Typically, companies should be under five years old and anticipate generating less than $2 million in annual revenue for the current fiscal year. If you have questions about your eligibility, please reach out to melissa@prize.foundation.

Can international startups apply?

Yes, international startups may apply, provided they meet the general eligibility criteria and are able to attend at least one qualifying event in full.

Can I compete as a solo founder, or do I need a team?

Solo founders are welcome to compete. However, having a team may provide additional support for implementing feedback and engaging in the competition.

Am I required to relocate my business to Shreveport, Louisiana?

No, relocation is not required to participate or win. While we would love for you to set up operations in Louisiana, we aim to support entrepreneurs regardless of geographical location.

I competed during a past year of Startup Prize, but I didn’t win. Can I bring the same concept back and compete again?

Absolutely! We encourage entrepreneurs to return, whether with their previous concepts or new ones, as long as they still meet the eligibility criteria. Returning participants often show significant growth and benefit from the additional mentorship.

Program Structure & Process

How is Startup Prize different from other pitch competitions?

Startup Prize deemphasizes the pitch and focuses on mentorship, collaboration, and learning. By participating in at least one qualifying event, startups gain access to expert mentors, payers, providers, and fellow entrepreneurs. The experience is designed to evolve and transform your business rather than just judge a single pitch.

How do I register for a qualifying event?

Registration is simple! You can register online via our registration page. You’ll answer a few questions about your startup, select your track (FDA or Non-FDA), and choose which qualifying event you’d like to attend. If you would like to be considered for the Finals, you also will need to submit an Entrepreneur Canvas via our Portal by Monday, June 30, 2025 at 11:59pm CT.

What are the deadlines for registration and submissions?

• • Q1 (online) Registration Deadline: Friday, March 20, 2026
  • Q2 (in person – Shreveport, LA) Registration Deadline: Friday, May 15, 2026
  • Portal Submission Deadline: To be considered for the Final Final, you must submit your Entrepreneur Portal by Monday, June 15, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. CT.

What happens if I am unable to attend a qualifying event?

Full attendance at at least one Qualifying Event is required to remain eligible for consideration for the Finals. If you’d like to strengthen your engagement and visibility with Mentors and Investor Judges, you are welcome (and encouraged) to attend both events.

What can I expect during a qualifying event?

Both qualifying events include mentor-led roundtables, panels, and keynotes. Our in-person event also offers meals, networking opportunities, and fun social activities throughout the weekend. Both events are free to attend.

What is the difference between an online qualifying event and an in person qualifying event?

Both events offer roundtables, panels, and keynotes, but in-person events provide additional opportunities for networking and connecting with mentors and fellow entrepreneurs. Many participants start with our online event and later attend the in-person event in Shreveport, LA.

Do I need to have a slide deck or business plan finalized to attend a Qualifying Event?

No, you do not need a slide deck, a business plan or even a pitch ready to attend a Qualifying Event  unless specified/asked for to participate in a specific roundtable. However, we highly recommend including these items in your Portal submission.

Portal Submissions & Intellectual Property

What type of information is required for the portal submission?

The portal submission includes a lean canvas survey covering your market, product or service, team, financials, and intellectual property status. Additional materials like business plans or pitch decks are encouraged to strengthen your application.

Is it possible to see the questions asked in the portal?

Yes, once you register for a qualifying event, the portal will be made available to you. You can go in and out of the portal as often as you need, saving and editing your work until the final submission deadline. We highly recommend taking advantage of this flexibility to refine your application and ensure all information is complete.

I keep trying to submit my portal, but the button isn’t responding. What am I doing wrong?

Don’t worry, you’re not doing anything wrong! We intentionally keep the submit button locked until all qualifying events have been hosted. This allows participants to attend their event, gather valuable insights, and make updates to their portal before finalizing it. You can edit and save your portal as much as needed in the meantime, and rest assured—we’ll let you know when the submit button has been unlocked.

What is your policy on intellectual property and NDAs?

Protecting intellectual property is the sole responsibility of the startup team. We do not require our mentors or judges to sign NDAs, so please avoid sharing sensitive details that could harm your company. Treat this process as you would a pitch to potential investors.

What happens if my submission is incomplete by the deadline?

If you have not submitted your portal by the deadline, you will not be considered for the Finals. 

Mentors, Judges and Networking

Who are the Mentors and Investor Judges?

The Startup Prize Mentors and Investor Judges are a group of local, regional and national professionals who are passionate about helping you to evolve and transform your health startup. These include members of hospital systems, health providers and payers, and industry agnostic subject matter experts, including legal, accounting and finances, business strategy, marketing and beyond. We tailor our mentors to best fit the needs of each years’ participating startups.

Our Investor Judges represent a wide spectrum of funding pathways, including angel investors, private and family offices, corporate venture groups, foundational and impact investors, and traditional VC.

Can I request specific mentors or subject areas? 

We don’t assign mentors to specific startups. All participating startups will be given a list of mentors and roundtables for each of our qualifying events and have the opportunity to rank their preferences. Though we try to give everyone their first choices, roundtable selections are first come, first served.

How will my startup be assessed/judged?

Your startup will be judged in the following areas:

• Strength of initial concept
• Uniqueness in the marketplace
• Speed to market (how quick you can deliver a marketable product/service)
• Benefit to humanity (not kidding on this, we really want our winners to change the world)
• Investment potential
• Special superpowers (an assessment of management teams, network, current investment and traction).

You, as an entrepreneur, will also be evaluated through your interactions with mentors and your fellow entrepreneurs during the Qualifying Events.

Costs, Prizes & Resources

How much does it cost to register?

Registration is free.

Does Startup Prize provide funding or take equity?

Startup Prize awards $10,000 in non-dilutive funding to each track’s grand prize winner. We do not take equity. Investor Judges also have the ability to independently offer additional investment opportunities.

What do I win?

Startup Prize gives $10,000 cash to our winner. But as we say, the $10K is the small prize. The big prize is the ability to connect with mentors and potential investors who truly want to see you succeed. In addition to selecting our grand prize winner, Investor Judges also have the ability to independently offer additional investment opportunities, whether or not the startup was the grad prize winner.

Are there additional prizes or resources for finalist?

While only the grand prize winners receive the cash prize, all finalists benefit from mentorship, exposure to investors, and the ability to receive post-event funding opportunities from any of the Investor Judges in the room.

Do you provide any financial resources or scholarships for this competition? 

We are pleased to be able to offer accommodations and reimbursable travel stipends to help offset costs for participants traveling to our in-person qualifying event. You will be asked about your needs during the registration process. We ask that you are honest in your self assessment as stipend funds are limited, and we want to help as many founders as possible who want to be part of the event. 

Each finalist startup will be provided with a hotel room and a reimbursable travel stipend to offset costs of traveling to Shreveport for the Final Final event.