Representatives from some of the largest venture capital funds in the Midwest and the U.S. have been assembled to judge Startup Wisconsin Pitch at Summerfest Tech in September.
Summerfest Tech, now in its third year, will be virtual this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It will take place on Sept. 2.
The startup pitch competition is being produced by Startup Wisconsin and sponsored by Wauwatosa-based accounting and consulting firm Wipfli. Originally said to be a $20,000 competition for winning teams, the cash prizes will now be just $15,000.
Tech-based startups across multiple industries that include finance, insurance, energy, health, mobility, and that have raised less than $250,000 in capital or generate less than $500,000 in annual revenue, are eligible to apply for the pitch competition. The deadline to apply is Aug. 13.
The judges selected for the competition are Rashaun Williams, general partner at Manhattan Venture Partners; Allison Weil of Chicago's Hyde Park Venture Partners; Craig Schedler of Northwestern Mutual Future Ventures, the venture arm of Milwaukee-based Northwestern Mutual, and Girish Ramachandra of Wipfli and Hyde Park Angels in Chicago.
On Aug. 20, 12 selected startups will virtually pitch to judges in a preliminary round. Six startups will move on pitch on the day of Summerfest Tech.
Four startups will split the $15,000 provided by Milwaukee World Festival and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp., with the first place winner receiving $10,000.
