| Event Start Date: July 14, 2025 | Event End Date: July 14, 2025 | Event Venue: Hybrid |
Important dates
- Startup application deadline – 5.12.24
- Semi-finals – 6.6.24
- Finals – 6.20.24
- Juneteenth celebration– 6.20.24
Supported by
Corporate
Venture Capital
Pitch Competition
Breakdown
Applications now closed
The applicants are screened and the top 20 are notified if they will move to the semi-finals. The competition is open to 1871 members & non-members across the US. See eligibility before applying.
Semi-finals
The top 20 founders will virtually pitch to a panel for a chance to win a finalist spot in the final phase. Only the top 5 will advance to our final event. This round will be closed to the public.
Finals
Top 5 finalists will participate by pitching to a panel of judges consisting of business leaders and major VC’s in our network for funding & awards. Hybrid options will be available for those pitching as a finalist and attending as audience members.
🏆 💰 🎉
Funding & awards
The top 5 finalists will compete for the chance to receive:
- $20k minimum committed prize money, which will be distributed between finalists at the final event, consisting of both cash & equity investments from our sponsoring VC partners.
- $20k in development credits from Aloa, which will be distributed between finalists at the final event.
- 6 months of virtual membership to 1871 for each finalist ($2k+ value)
Eligibility to enter
Free to enter and open to the public, no 1871 membership needed!
- Need to have a deep understanding of the problem they seek to solve and for whom
- Clear definition of their user and key value propositions
- Have developed a highly effective go-to-market strategy and have tested and verified these strategies
- Clear and defined business model that ties into the overall strategy of the business
- Need to show some traction with your business through customers success
- Applicants are no longer eligible if you have already closed a series A funding round
About BLKtech @ 1871
Our BLKtech initiative supports Black entrepreneurs & leaders with regular programming, tailored resources, mentorship, & community events designed to help them embrace their unique strengths & break down the barriers they face.
Why is it important?
As of 2023, only 0.48% of all VC funding and investment went to Black founders, despite the rapid growth of Black entrepreneurship. There is a vast and growing funding gap!
Our BLKtech Pitch Competition activates our community of startups, corporate partners, venture capitalists, and the wider tech ecosystem with the aim to deepen the pool of funds that Black founders can access.
Learn more about our affinity programs — BLKtech Leaders & BLKtech Founders.
About
1871 is hosting a three-round pitch competition, in which early stage Black-led tech startups will pitch their company for a chance to win cash prizes and equity opportunities from our notable VC partners.
🏆💰🎉
Awards & funding
• $30k minimum committed prize money will be awarded at the final event. Prize money will consist of both cash and equity investments from our supporting VC partners
• Top 5 finalists will receive free virtual membership to 1871 for 6-months
Eligibility
Black founders and innovators need the following to enter the BLKtech Pitch Competition:
- A deep understanding of the problem they seek to solve and for whom
- Clear definition of their user and key value propositions
- Developed a highly effective go-to-market strategy and have tested and verified these strategies
- Clear and defined business model that ties into the overall strategy of the business
- Show traction with your business through customers success
- Applicants are no longer eligible if you have already closed a series A funding round
Breakdown
Applications open
Closed for 2023
The applicants are screened and the top 20 are notified if they are to move onto the semi-finals. The competition is open to non-members, across the US. See eligibility before applying.
Semi-finals
The top 20 founders will pitch virtually to a panel of business leaders for a chance to win a finalist spot in the next phase. Only the top 5 will advance to our finalist event. This round will be closed to the public.
Finals
6.22.23
Top 5 finalists will participate by pitching [hybrid options available] to a panel of judges consisting of business leaders and major VC’s in our network for funding & awards.
About BLKtech
Our BLKtech initiative supports Black entrepreneurs & leaders with regular programming, tailored resources, mentorship, & community designed to help them embrace their unique strengths & break down the barriers they face.
Why?
In 2020, venture capital investors funneled $150 billion to startups. But only ~1% of those funds were distributed to Black founders, despite the rapid growth of Black entrepreneurship. There is a vast and growing funding gap!
This event activates our community of early stage startups, corporate partners, venture capitalists and the wider tech ecosystem. As a collective, we aim to deepen the pool of funds that Black founders can access.
Learn more about our affinity programs under BLKtech—BLKtech leaders & BLKtech founders.
2023 Finalist Judges
Bailey Moore
Betsy Ziegler
David Kokonas
David Ervin
Tony Wilkins
Sponsors
Corporate
Venture Capital
