PITCH – showcase – Demo
4 opportunities to raise the profile of your tech startup at Cornwall Slush’D 2025.
With thanks to support from:
Choose your activity:
Pitch Competition
09:30 – 12:00
8 startups, 3 judges, 1 winner, massive prizes
The pitch competition will welcome 10 startups who have gone through a selection process and will pitch their business to our judges for an exciting collection of prizes and to an investor audience. The winner will be announced after the closing keynote.
Format: 5 minute pitch, 6 minutes Q&A from the judges. All finalists will be offered pitch training with our dedicated trainer.
Deadline for applications: 9am Monday 23rd June 2025.
Venture Village
09:00 – 18:00
A complimentary expo stand to showcase your innovation (ticket not included)
The exhibition is in the main foyer of the venue so all attendees will be in and out of the exhibition space. This is a chance to showcase your product or technology to a tech, business and investor audience to demonstrate and promote what you do and gain feedback and support for your business or idea.
You will get:
– 1 high bench table approx 3ft x 1ft
– black table cloth
– bar stool
– access to power
– space for 1 pull up banner
– positioned with other startups in the ‘Venture Village’ area
– Featured in Cornwall Slush’D comms & marketing to promote your attendance
– Heavy discount on a startup ticket for Cornwall Slush’D
Deadline for applications: 9am Tuesday 22nd July 2025.
Ideation Station
09:00 – 18:00
Pin up a poster, share your idea and collect feedback
This year, our Ideation Station will provide a simple and accessible opportunity to gain feedback on your business or product idea from a highly engaged and relevant audience before you launch your business. You could use it for anything: market validation, test your price point, feasibility, gain partners, grow your mailing list etc. We’ll provide a sticker-based dot voting system for those browsing. We’ll ask:
– Do you understand it?
– Would you buy it?
– Would you invest in it?
– Would you tell a friend about it?
You can either leave your poster at the Ideation Station and see what comes out of the dot voting system. Or you can loiter around it, ready to spark conversations from passers-by and gauge their interest and feedback.
Format: Bring your poster to Cornwall Slush’D and stick it on our Ideation Station board. It can be sized A4, A3 or A2. You can hang around it for conversation or leave it up to our simple voting system. You do not have to share your poster with us ahead of the event but by applying, you are obviously expected to bring your poster to Cornwall Slush’D.
Deadline for applications: 5pm Monday 11th August 2025
Demo Night
18:15 – 20:00
A DEMO, not a pitch. Friendly audience, expert feedback.
In conjunction with Canopy Community, we are bringing their infamous Demo Night to Cornwall Slush’D. This is a DEMO not a pitch. Designed to be friendly and fun, the demo night provides the opportunity to demo your innovation to a friendly audience and gain valuable critical insight and feedback. The goal is to foster an environment where entrepreneurship can thrive and the #1 reason for startup failure can be avoided by helping the Founders to think beyond their own bubble.
Format: 5 minute demo, 5 minute Q&A. Live-streamed to the Canopy Community YouTube channel (averages £5k viewers)
Deadline for applications: 5pm Friday 1st August 2025
You can apply for all 4. If you have applied for a previous Cornwall Slush’D event, you are welcome to apply again whether you were successful or not.
Frequently asked questions
When is the closing time/date for applications?
The closing date for entries varies depending on the activity. Please scroll up to find the deadline for entries for each activity.
When will we know if we've been successful / unsuccessful?
The notification date will depend on the activity chosen. We’ll ensure you have amply time to prep for Cornwall Slush’D if you’re invited to be involved. Please only apply if you are available for the day/time of the event.
Will we receive feedback on our submission?
For the pitch competition, we provide feedback on all submissions to the pitch startup competition whether you are successful or not. You may not receive feedback on applications for the Venture Village, Ideation Station or Demo Night.
If I entered the 2023/2024 Pitch Competition, Venture Village or Demo Night, can I apply again?
Yes, you are welcome to apply again if you entered the 2023 or 2024 pitch competition or other activity, whether you got through to the final or not. Things change, companies pivot and traction may have been gained since last year.
How are the submissions reviewed?
All submissions for our pitch competition go through to our independent advisory board for review. They are made up of investors and business advisors who are friends of Tech Cornwall and support the Cornwall Slush’D event. All other activity will be reviewed by the Tech Cornwall team.
If I'm selected for any activity, will I get a free ticket to Cornwall Slush'D?
This depends on the activity. The finalists who are invited to join the pitch competition will receive a complimentary ticket to Cornwall Slush’D. For those who are invited to take part in the Venture Village, Ideation Station or Demo Night, you’ll receive a discount code to use on a Startup ticket.
All food and refreshments are included with your ticket. As a non-profit organisation, every little bit of income supports us in being able to deliver events like these and support our extensive Youth Programme.
What happened in previous years?
Watch all 2024 Pitches
Pitch Comp. Highlights 2023
Watch all 2023 Pitches
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