There's a new pitch event happening the week of the Kentucky Derby — and a total of $50,000 is on the line.
Derby Diversity Week, formerly the Derby Diversity Business Summit, looks to empower entrepreneurs and fuel technology innovation through Ideathon. The multi-day event, made possible by Curaleaf Holdings Inc. and Churchill Downs, will kick off from 11 a.m. on Monday, May 2, at the Kentucky International Convention Center.
Here's how it works: Aspiring and veteran entrepreneurs alike will pitch their ideas to a panel of user experience designers of Technology Concepts Group International (TCGi), and if chosen, they will have the opportunity to make that idea a reality.
Over the course of the following two days, participants will design a basic user interface and marketing pitch to present to the judges on day four of the Derby Diversity Week conference. Three finalists will split $25,000 and be recognized at the Muhammad Ali Center from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. on May 5.
Those selected finalists will then work on their software concept and business plan throughout the summer and this fall. And one will walk away with the $25,000 grand prize. Teams will be critiqued on how well they overcome challenges such as being thrown a “market pivot,” the technology’s ease of usability, time to market, cultural awareness, user engagement and its overall look and feel.
All submissions on innovative business concepts will be accepted, but Ideathon's judges will prioritize the ideas with a focus on "revolutionary" tech. The event also aims to help correct the underrepresentation of women and people of color in technology. To apply, click here.
