Skip to main content

ABOUT THE CONTEST

America Loves Startups (AMLS) is a premier nationwide pitch competition that uncovers investment opportunities typically overlooked by venture networks, while highlighting diverse founders.
SIGN UP FOR UPDATES!

Our Mission

We believe everyone deserves a level-playing field for unlocking their genius. Our mission is to shape the future of entrepreneurship by creating a global platform that unites:

  • Top diverse startups
  • Venture capitalists
  • Entrepreneurs
  • World-class tech leaders

We aim to empower every innovator to succeed by providing exposure and access to the opportunities, networks, training, and resources they currently lack.

Our Value-Add

Through our premier regional and national-level events where entertainment meets venture capital, we will:

01

Bridge the gender and racial funding gaps by creating direct access to capital for diverse founders, while uncovering high-quality investment opportunities for investors outside of their existing networks.

02

Foster meaningful connections between founders, investors, service providers, and other key players in the startup ecosystem in a more natural and fun environment.

03

Boost visibility for participating startups by engaging audiences via social media before and during each event. This will elevate their brand, attract customers, and secure strategic partnerships.

04

Provide access to valuable resources that accelerate fundraising efforts and make it easier to scale.

Competition Criteria

  • US-incorporated
  • MVP
  • Post-revenue
  • Tech-enabled
  • Founder, co-founder or at least one member of executive team is underrepresented

Industry Focus by City

New York

No industry focus

Los Angeles

AI-powered across industries

Miami

BTB SaaS

Austin

Healthtech / Femtech

Atlanta

Fintech / Insurtech

Process and Timeline

Apr 1 – May 31

Application Open Call

June 1 – Aug 15

Application Review

Aug 15

Regional Competitors are Announced

Sep 12 – Oct 8

Regional Competitions

  • Los Angeles – Sep 12
  • Austin – Sep 19
  • Atlanta – Sep 26
  • New York – Oct 3
  • Miami – Oct 8

Oct 9 – Nov 13

Pitching and Finance Bootcamp for the Finalists

Oct 9 – Nov 13

Prepare the Data Room for Due Diligence

Nov 14

Final (New York)

Competition Prizes

Regional
competitors

  • Intros to Judges (55 VC Funds) Based on Their Interest in Your Startup
  • 30-min Individual Pitch Practice with an Investor/Mentor
  • 4-hour Training on Pitching and Financials + 2-Hour Q&A with the AMLS Team
  • 3-Month Access to the Fourth Effect Platform (2000+ executives and experts, 150+ investors, 800+ founders), 1-Year Premium Access to $4.6M Savings on SaaS Tools & Startup Services via Nacho Nacho

Regional
winners

  • $1000 Travel Stipend for Non-New York Competitors
  • 6-Week Finance and Fundraising Bootcamp ($2000 Value)
  • Regional Cash Prize

National winner

Grand Prize: $100K Cash Grant

Who is eligible?

US-based tech-enabled companies with a market-ready MVP and post-revenue, who have raised no more than $2M in external funding, and feature at least one underrepresented executive team member (founder, co-founder, or key executive with significant equity).

What documents do I need to have to apply?

Pitch-deck and 3-min video as per instructions, financial model, and an online application.

Where are the competitions?

Semifinals: Los Angeles – Sep 12th, Austin- Sep 19th, Atlanta – Sep 26th, New York – Oct 3rd, Miami – Oct 8th

Final: New York – Nov 14th

Can I apply to any city?

Yes, as long as you meet the city industry elegibility requirements.

Can I apply to more than one city?

No, you must choose a city to apply to.

Are the competitions in person or online?

All competitions are in person.

What is the selection process?

There are three stages:

  1. Selecting 20 Semifinalists per City: After submitting their online applications, hundreds of candidates are narrowed down by our judges in two competitive selection rounds, to 20 semifinalists chosen to compete in each city.
  2. Selecting 15 Finalists for the NYC Finale: Semifinal events are held in five cities, with 20 contestants per city. From each city, 3 finalists are selected, totaling 15 finalists. In each city, two finalists are selected by the judges and one by the audience.
  3. Selecting 1 Winner: The grand finale takes place in-person in NYC, where one winner is selected to receive the grand prize.
How are the startups evaluated?

We are evaluating the founding team, business model, traction, market opportunity and uniqueness of idea.

Is the grand prize guaranteed to go to a winner?

Yes, the $500K investment is guaranteed to go to a single winner.