C-Black x Tech Pitch Competition | C-Tribe x Tech Festival & Conference

C-BLACK X PITCH Competition

$10K in cash prizes for black entrepreneurs

We are a modern-day financial vehicle for the underserved. The underestimated.

We are an incubator of originality, supporters of ideas born in nascent industries, executed culturally and adopted globally.

We are dot connectors, bridge builders, dreamers, and doers. We are inspired by the community that we serve and in helping them become successful in what they love.

The C-Black x Tech Pitch Competition aims to close the opportunity and wealth gap by empowering Black entrepreneurs and levelling the playing field to help them achieve their dreams. The event is an annual pitch competition that will provide up to $7k in prize money to tech-inspired, black-led businesses. But it’s not just about the money — it’s also about building durable connections. Participants will have the chance to connect with seasoned tech founders who have built, scaled, and sold companies before. We welcome all Black founders who are thinking big and building the world-changing companies of tomorrow.

Please refer to the Terms and Conditions and FAQ for the full contest details.

Eligibility Criteria

To participate in this Competition, each contestant must be part of a team with a minimum of two members. The team must have at least one "Founding Member" who identifies as Black/African/Caribbean and holds a CEO, Vice President, or other C-suite role.

Participants can be part of a maximum of two teams, except for the Lead member who can only compete on one team. If a Lead submits multiple entries, only the first entry will be considered. If an individual appears in three or more entries, only the first two entries will be retained. Team members must be at least 18 years old or older and of legal age in their jurisdiction. Employees and immediate family members of C-Tribe are not eligible to participate.

Ventures in the "Startup Stage" track must have made progress in their concept and raised less than $1,000,000 in total dilutive funding. The organization reserves the right to review eligibility and compliance throughout the competition, and failure to comply may result in disqualification.

APPLY

How do I apply?

To pitch your idea, follow these steps:

Application Period: The application period opens on April 1, 2024, at 8:00 A.M. MST. Look out for announcements via email, the Competition's website, and social media platforms. The application process extends until the June 30th, 2024 at 11:00 P.M. MST.

Visit the Website: To be eligible for the Organization's prize, go to the Competition's website (here) and complete all the questions as instructed before the Entry Deadline.

Deadline: June 30th at 11:59 PM MST

Submission Details: Provide the requested information, including:

a. Entrants' names and contact details.
b. A description of your Venture, including its industry focus, legal status, progress, the problem it aims to solve, its proposed solution, and how it stands out from alternatives.
c. A summary of the business model and the experience and capabilities of each Entrant.

Complete and Comprehensive Entry: Ensure that your submission is complete and meets all the requirements stated. Incomplete or ineligible submissions will not progress to the evaluation round.Language: All information must be provided in English.

Cash Prizes

Eligible early-stage businesses will compete for $10,000 CAD in prize money:*

1st place: $5,000*
2nd place: $3,000*
3rd place: $1,000*
4th place: $500*
5th place $500

For more information on the prize eligibility, look at the sections titled “Application Eligibility” a in the FAQs.

C-Tribe preserves the ability to change and/or modify the prize amounts and its discretion and will communicate this as soon as reasonably possible.

Judging Criteria

The Organization will initially assess all entries based on completeness, coherence, and credibility. Entries will be judged based on the following criteria:

a. Identification of a problem and the effectiveness of its proposed solution (20%)
b. Target market size and positioning against competitors (30%)
c. Strategies for customer acquisition, distribution, and revenue generation (20%)
d. Team quality (20%)
e. And overall application clarity and persuasiveness (10%).

At least two independent evaluators will score each entry. Up to seven semi-finalist teams will be chosen based on the scores, with ties resolved based on the first three criteria. These semi-finalists may be required to submit additional information and undergo further vetting. The same evaluators will review the semi-finalist applications to choose up to seven finalist teams, who will advance to the final event and be given mentorship opportunities.

Finalists will engage with a pitch coach and graphic designer, and they'll be required to sign an affidavit and release. At the final event, the finalists will present their pitches to a panel of four judges, from which up to seven winners will be selected. Winners will need to comply with all rules and sign a winner verification and release agreement. In case of non-compliance or disqualification, the prize may be awarded to the next highest scoring team.

Meet the Judges