TCNewTech Pitch Application

About the April 2025 TCNewTech Competition

TCNewTech is an energizing pitch competition featuring Michigan startups with innovative business ideas. This community event is designed to foster homegrown innovation – right here in Northern Michigan.

Early-stage tech startups from across the state are invited to participate in the competition; we give priority to Northwestern Lower Michigan businesses. If selected as a finalist, you will pitch your startup idea to a panel of judges in front of a live audience while competing for cash awards. But it isn’t just about the cash – it's about the connections. You’ll have the opportunity to rub elbows with an audience of investors, peer founders, mentors, startup leaders, and community members. All pitch finalists are supported with one-to-one pitch coaching prior to the event.

Eligibility Requirements

Application deadline: 11:59 pm, March 19, 2025

As a 20Fathoms program, we are dedicated to fostering a supportive and welcoming community of innovators. We welcome and encourage applicants from all backgrounds, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, or any other dimension of diversity.

All applicants must submit a complete application and meet the following criteria:

Applicant must be available to present in person at the event in Traverse City on April 15th, 2025. Finalists may present individually or in teams, with up to two presenters per team.
The startup must be registered in the state of Michigan, as a for-profit entity registered under tribal sovereign jurisdiction within the geographic boundaries of the state, LARA, or both. Preference is given to startups located in Northwestern Lower Michigan.
The applicant must present a startup leveraging technology that has a growth potential to serve at a regional (or greater) scale in service to Michigan’s economy.
Applicants who have previously competed at TCNewTech and were awarded a prize (excluding the Audience Choice Award) within the past two years are not eligible to compete; previously selected ideas that have not won a prize (exclusive of Audience Choice Award) are eligible to compete.

Additional requirements: If selected as a finalist, Pitch Teams are expected to attend two pitch coaching sessions, provided by 20Fathoms prior to the pitch competition. Coaching sessions will be provided virtually or in-person at 20Fathoms in Traverse City. Pitch Teams are responsible for creating their own pitch presentation.

How to apply

Complete and submit this application form with pitch deck attached.
You will be notified by March 19, 2025 if you are selected as a finalist and have until March 21, 2025 to confirm participation in the April 15th event.

Applicant review committee: The applicant review committee consists of 20Fathoms leadership and subject matter experts from our entrepreneurial community.

Cost: There is no cost to participate in TCNewTech.

Questions? Contact Maria Purvis, Manager of Events and Special Programs, at maria@20fathoms.org.

General Information

Today's date*

Month/Day/Year

First name*

Last name*

Job title*

Email*

Phone number*

Company name*

Company website

Please leave empty if you do not have a website.

Which of the following best describes your role in the startup and business community?*

Business Address*

City*

State*

Zip code*

County*

Tell us about your business

Please provide a brief description of your business or startup (3-5 sentences)*

Company stage*

What problem does your startup/product/idea solve? (3 – 5 sentences) *

What makes your startup/product/idea different from your competition? (3 – 5 sentences) *

Where do you see your business in 3 years? What gaps do you need to close? (3 – 5 sentences) *

Do you currently have a prototype or minimum viable product (MVP)*

What is your business’s annual revenue?*

What is your projected market value?*

Have you done customer validation?*

Have you determined your value proposition?*

How many full time employees do you currently have?*

How many full time employees do you expect to hire in the next 6 months?*

Briefly explain how you will use the winning pitch funds (3-5 sentences).*

Please select if your business is at least 51% owned by any of the following groups that have historically lower representation in entrepreneurship. *

This information is used for grant reporting purposes and to strengthen our programming.

How did you hear about 20Fathoms?*

Pitch Deck

Please upload your pitch deck - PDF or PowerPoint*

The Legal Stuff

Participation in TCNewTech, a 20Fathoms program, constitutes Participant’s full and unconditional agreement to and acceptance of these Terms and Conditions (“Terms”). By submitting this form, you are stating you’re authorized to act on behalf of the company you have indicated.

The decisions of the judges are final. 
All federal, state and local taxes, if any, are the sole responsibility of the winners.  All federal, state and local laws and regulations apply. 
By entering the competition, the contestants give permission to 20Fathoms to use the names of the pitch participants, their likeness, and their businesses for publicity and/or trade purposes without further compensation unless prohibited by law. Pitch presentation contestants grant permission to 20Fathoms to record and publicize their oral presentations, in whole or in part.  All submitted materials become the property of 20Fathoms and will not be returned to the contestants.  By participating in TCNewTech, a 20Fathoms program, Participants agree that their personal data provided as part of TCNewTech may be used for the purposes of 20Fathoms.
20Fathoms does not claim any license or any intellectual property rights in Participant’s submission, except for the limited license to review the submission to determine eligibility to participate in a TCNewTech event.
Contestants and any business entities associated with them release and discharge 20Fathoms, the judges, and prize sponsors, from any and all liability associated with participating in the TCNewTech Pitch Competition and with the start-up and operation of any businesses described in the business plans.  
Contestants should not present any information in the pitch application or to the judges, orally or in writing, which they deem to be confidential, proprietary, or commercially sensitive. Information presented will not be kept secret.  The pitch presentation is a public event. 
Contestants should be aware that neither competition administrators, judges, will be required, nor should they be asked, to sign non-disclosure agreements.
Winning and acceptance of TCNewTech prizes may impact financial aid awards.

If provided free business services by 20Fathoms, I understand that I will be required to periodically provide data on my business to 20Fathoms. This information will remain confidential. 20Fathoms is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization and this helps to ensure we can continue to provide these free services and programs to you. Thank you for your support!

I accept and agree*