Applications for the Spring 2023 Crossroads Pitch Competition open March 29!
Bright futures start at crossroads
Congratulations to heARsight, the Crossroads Fall 2022 pre-seed winner!
Fall 2022 pre-seed finalists: BeautyAround | Dynamic House | heARsight | Soloist
Congratulations to Wave Therapeutics, the Crossroads Fall 2022 seed winner!
Fall 2022 seed finalists: Juke | Plantennas | Quiptu | Wave Therapeutics
TENTATIVE SPRING 2023 TIMELINE
March 29: applications open
April 19: applications close
May 24: finals live on Zoom!
Crossroads now has TWO tracks!
two tracks. two sets of finalists. two winners!
We’ve leveled the playing field by creating separate tracks for startups at the pre-seed and seed stage. The competition will be better than ever with two tracks, two sets of finalists, and two winners!
The pre-seed winner takes home a $10,000 investment from Flywheel Fund, and the seed winner takes home a $20,000 investment. Winners also get access to an extensive network of mentors and resources, plus priority consideration to pitch at the prestigious Nexus Regional Pitch Competition for up to $80,000 more. Crossroads puts your startup on the map!
Not sure which stage you’re at? No problem. The application is easy. If your startup already has a product or an MVP, select “seed.” If not, select “pre-seed.”
Applications must include two pieces:
Your pitch deck
Your pitch video (3–5 minutes)
An Executive Summary is optional (2 pages max).
Be sure to read our Tips & Tricks before you prepare your materials.
Tips & Tricks
PITCH DECK
Your slide deck should, at minimum, address the following:
- Title (Your startup’s name)
- Customers (Show a clear understanding of who your customers are)
- The Problem (What problem, need, or pain point have you discovered?)
- Solution (Your product or service)
- Team
- Market
- Competition
- Revenue Model/Business Model (How you make money)
- Go to Market Strategy (How you will find first customers and gain market traction)
- Key Next Steps (Your plans and/or your needs)
Learn more about the art of creating a great pitch and designing a pitch deck on The Mill’s blog.
PITCH VIDEO
Your pre-recorded pitch should be 3-5 minutes long. We recommend that you use the Zoom platform, so that your video shows you talking and your pitch deck simultaneously. The free version has the record feature. You may want to have someone assist you with pressing the buttons so that you can focus on your presentation.
Setting counts. Tidy up your background, or consider a realistic and professional Zoom virtual background.
Judges want to see you. Make sure your light source is in front of you and not behind you. Stack your computer on books if needed to get a camera angle that is at eye level.
Practice. Practice. Practice.
And remember, since this is a pre-recorded pitch, you can record yourself more than once until you get something you’re happy with!
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
An Executive Summary is optional. It should be no longer than 2 pages. An Executive Summary provides a brief overview of your startup. It includes:
- Problem
- Solution
- Market Size
- Competition
- Business Model/Revenue Model
- Marketing/Sales
- Traction
- Future Milestones
- Team
Learn more about writing an executive summary on The Mill’s blog.