BunkerLabs DC will be at the center of a national startup pitch competition, beginning on April 6, that will offer its winner $25,000 in addition to several business services so that the selected founder can focus on his/her own early-stage company.
Named the BunkerLabs’ “Bunker Battle,” the event will span 3 months between April and June. It will be part of a larger national strategy designed by the Chicago headquartered veteran-focused business accelerator to market themselves and their services to new audiences, explained BunkerLabs DC managing director Harry Alford.
Alford said he hopes that the event will shed light on the D.C. area as a startup hub. “We’re hoping that some of these out-of-town participants will like what they see and choose to relocate here,” Alford told DC Inno.
Because the competition will effectively introduce a cohort of fresh companies, traveling across the country, to local investors and other entrepreneurs, Alford said he believes it is possible that those connections will entice some participants to join the community.
"We’re hoping that some of these out-of-town participants will like what they see and choose to relocate here"
This national pitch competition will gather several dozen applicants from entrepreneurs across three key groups—BunkerLabs’ incubator members, Patriot Bootcamp alumni and the general D.C. tech scene.
Patriot Bootcamp is a TechStars-powered organization that offers 3-day startup bootcamps, full of education seminars and consultancy services, to military veterans and their spouses who are launching businesses. The organization travels across the U.S., offering a revolving schedule of training programs to founders regardless of their location.
BunkerLabs DC executive director Ray Crowell said that there are roughly 100 bootcamp alumni, or individuals who have been mentored via Patriot Bootcamp, just this past year. All of them will be able to apply for selection into the Battle Pitch Competition.
A total of 20 startups will be selected for the 3 round bracket-style competition, with the first leg being hosted by D.C.-based startup incubator and seed venture fund 1776. Rounds 1 and 2 will showcase 10 pitches each, while the final round will pit 4 companies against one another to decide the champion.
All three rounds will take place in-person, in the D.C.-area, though the host organizations for the 2nd and 3rd rounds have yet to be decided, said Crowell. To apply, founders are encouraged to send a 2 minute presentation video explaining their company and how they plan to grow the venture into a scalable and sustainable business.
Participants in the $25,000 tournament will advance into new rounds by convincing a panel of judges—comprised of several local tech executives and startup investors—that they’ve created an innovative product capable of market disruption.
Aside from the monetary prize, Alford said a combination of sponsors, partners and BunkerLabs funding will be used to offer the winner services tied to accounting, data storage, access to enterprise software and marketing.
For those interested in applying, you can email a 2 minute video pitch to Harry Alford @ harry.alford@bunkerlabs.org. And to attend the event, see further details here.
Image Credits: courtesy of BunkerLabs
