First Cut Startup Challenge
The First Cut Startup Challenge finds New Zealand’s next great young founder and puts them on the country’s biggest investment stage.
First place will receive the opportunity of a lifetime for a young startup: taking the stage at the ICE Angels Annual Showcase – NZ’s largest investment evening – to pitch in front of 1,000 investors. Spots are highly competitive, having been an effective tool for dozens of companies to raise >$30m to date for alumni like PowerbyProxi, Avertana, Halter, Ethique, Nyriad, and Sharesies – among others.
To prepare you, the winner will also receive extensive support and pitch training from the First Cut team as well as connections to investors and mentors from NZ’s largest angel investor and entrepreneur network. Previous winners include Jrny, Halter and Spalk who have raised >$1m from investors introduced by the Showcase, and raised >$5m in total.
Entrants must be under 30 years old.
To prepare you, the winner will also receive extensive support and pitch training from the First Cut team as well as connections to investors and mentors from NZ’s largest angel investor and entrepreneur network. Previous winners include Jrny, Halter and Spalk who have raised >$1m from investors introduced by the Showcase, and raised >$5m in total.
Entrants must be under 30 years old.
How to Apply
Entries for the 2019 Startup Challenge are now open!
We’re looking for startups that will attract investment from some of the top angel investors in New Zealand. You need to sell us on what makes your startup unique, exciting and viable. To enter you’ll have to submit your pitch deck. You may include supporting materials in your application.
Send your entry to FCV Partner Steph Benseman.
Send your entry to FCV Partner Steph Benseman.
Key Dates
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Applications Open: Monday 1st July
Applications Close: Friday 3rd August Winner Announced: Wednesday 7th August Investment Showcase Event: Thursday 29th August |
Application Tips
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Here are some key questions to think about including in your entry:
• What is the customer’s pain point, and how do you solve it?
• Why is the timing right for your startup? Is there a trend emerging that gives you a first- mover advantage? • Do you have unique intellectual property or know-how that puts you ahead? • What is the addressable market and who are your early customers? • What is your business model? • How are you going to scale? • Who is the competition? How can you beat them? |
If you’ve just started your business or are still very small, work on building up your company to impress investors. This could mean hunting down early customers or continuing to develop a killer product.
If your startup is already established, think about ways to grow, pushing up revenue, customers or the defensibility of your offering.
If you’ve got any questions or want to get some quick feedback on your application before you send it in, please get in touch with us to book a 15-20 minute Skype session with First Cut Ventures. We’ll be happy to answer any of your questions and give you a hand.
If your startup is already established, think about ways to grow, pushing up revenue, customers or the defensibility of your offering.
If you’ve got any questions or want to get some quick feedback on your application before you send it in, please get in touch with us to book a 15-20 minute Skype session with First Cut Ventures. We’ll be happy to answer any of your questions and give you a hand.
The Pitch
You should be aware that the final judging round will require you to prepare an 8-minute pitch that expands on this introductory presentation. You may include static slides and infographics if they assist in making your case. However, we are more focused on the quality of your content and the underlying opportunity than the production quality of your pitch.
Previous Winners
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"The Startup Challenge gave Spalk the exposure to progress to the next level as a company. The funding, investors and connections developed from the opportunity to pitch have been crucial to achieve our milestones to date."
– Ben Reynolds, Co-Founder and CEO of Spalk
FAQ's
Some of our team are under 30 but others aren’t – are we still eligible to enter?
So long as at least half of your founders are under 30, you are eligible to enter.
What stage of development does my startup need to be at for us to enter?
There are no restrictions on how developed your start-up must be as such, however, the winner will be pitching for investment from some of the country’s top angel investors – they have to believe that your company is ready to be funded. If you’re currently pre-revenue, then showing evidence of things like a validated market or a validated product is important.
What should my pitch look like? Are there examples of pitches? What quality does my pitch need to be?
Your pitch is simply a way for us to get an idea of what your startup does and why it’s great. Think of it like you had two minutes to explain your startup to Bill Gates. We suggest using pictures or infographics if they add clarity to your pitch, otherwise feel free to just talk into the camera or over Powerpoint slides.
So long as at least half of your founders are under 30, you are eligible to enter.
What stage of development does my startup need to be at for us to enter?
There are no restrictions on how developed your start-up must be as such, however, the winner will be pitching for investment from some of the country’s top angel investors – they have to believe that your company is ready to be funded. If you’re currently pre-revenue, then showing evidence of things like a validated market or a validated product is important.
What should my pitch look like? Are there examples of pitches? What quality does my pitch need to be?
Your pitch is simply a way for us to get an idea of what your startup does and why it’s great. Think of it like you had two minutes to explain your startup to Bill Gates. We suggest using pictures or infographics if they add clarity to your pitch, otherwise feel free to just talk into the camera or over Powerpoint slides.
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