Katalyst Business Pitch Competition(KBP)

Business Pitch competition key dates

Dates	Event	Details
Oct 25 - Nov 30, 2024	Applications to the Katalyst Startup Cube Pitch Competition open	Startups submit online applications, meet qualifications: legal entity, product legitimacy, 33% APTA member ownership, referred by an APTA member. A non-refundable fee is required.
Nov 30, 2024	Deadline to submit Application.	Deadline to submit the application, pitch deck, and optional video.
Nov 15 - Nov 21, 2024	Preliminary Screening	Internal evaluation of submitted applications.
Nov 22, 2024	Notification of Advancement start	Participants are notified if they have advanced to Round #2.
Nov 23 - Nov 30, 2024	Pitch Preparation	Participants prepare for their virtual pitch presentations.
Dec 1 - Dec 7, 2024	Round #2: Virtual Pitch	Participants deliver a 15-minute virtual pitch.
Dec 8 - Dec 15, 2024	Round #2 Evaluation	Internal review to determine who advances to the next round.
Dec 15, 2024	Semi-Finalist Announcement	12 semi-finalist teams advancing to Round #3 are announced.
Dec 16 - Dec 31, 2024	Mentorship for Finalists	Mentors from APTA-Katalyst and Aroa help finalists refine their business plans.
Jan 2, 2025	Business Plan Submission Deadline	Finalists submit full business plans to be sent to investors.
Jan 4-5, 2025	Round #3: Investor Roundtable (Finals)	Final pitch presentations in front of top investors.

How to Enter

• To participate, startups must complete the online application through the Katalyst Platform. The application form will be live starting Oct 25, 2024. An initial non-refundable registration fee of Rs. 25,000 will have to be paid as part of the application. Note that the entry to ‘Business PItch Competition’ will give two free entry passes (worth Rs.50,000) to the APTA-Katalyst event on January 4th and 5th. All participants who advance to Round#2 must pay an additional Rs 25,000 to continue.
  The additional fee of Rs 25,000 for participants who advanced to Round #2 has been waived effective immediately.

• The deadline to submit the application, Executive Summary, Pitch Deck, and optional Video Pitch (highly encouraged) is 11:59 pm EST on Nov 15, 2024.

• All applicants must register for the Katalyst (Business Pitch Competition) event to be eligible to compete.

• For any questions or assistance regarding the competition, please contact Hari Gaddam or Kamal Sakamuri at aptakatalyststatup@gmail.com

Prize Pool

Startups will compete for the following cash prizes:

• 1st Place: ₹2,50,000
• 2nd Place: ₹1,50,000
• 3rd Place: ₹1,00,000

In addition to the cash prizes, any of the winners may receive an investment offer from venture capitalists (VCs) of up to $500,000. Furthermore, all participants' information will be shared with VCs for potential future investment opportunities.

Intellectual Property and Confidentiality

Important Notice: Teams that require non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) should not participate in the competition, as some sessions will be open to the public and may be broadcast via media outlets.

Ownership: All intellectual property rights remain with the participating teams. However, any information shared during the competition will be treated as public and non-confidential.

Eligibility

Community Involvement: The competition is primarily for members of the APTA and related communities attending the Katalyst event. The startup must have at least 33% ownership by a community member and should be endorsed by a registered APTA member. Entries not meeting this criteria will not be advanced to Round#2.

Entry Stage: Applicants can be in the startup stage or early growth stage.

Team Size: Teams can consist of up to two members who will present during the pitch sessions.

Submission Guidelines

The first round of the competition requires the submission of an Executive Summary> and an optional Video Pitch. Subsequent rounds will include live presentations.

Executive Summary:

• Files must be submitted in PDF format and named as follows: ES_CompanyName.pdf.
• It should be between 2 to 5 pages, excluding the cover page and table of contents.
• The content should cover:
• Problem Statement: What problem is the startup addressing?
• Solution: Describe the product or service and how it works.
• Market Opportunity: Provide information about the target market and growth potential.
• Competitive Advantage: Highlight how your solution differs from competitors.
• Customer Analysis: Who are your target customers and what value do you provide?
• Intellectual Property: Outline any patents, licenses, or IP status (if applicable).
• Management Team: Showcase the team's expertise and qualifications.
• Financial Projections: Provide revenue, profit, and cash flow projections for 3-5 years.

Optional Video Pitch:

• Teams can submit a 60-second video elevator pitch via YouTube.
• Include the team name and a brief introduction in the first 10 seconds of the video.
• The video should focus on content and presentation, not high production quality

Selection of Semifinalists

The selection process for the semi finalists will follow a structured timeline:

• Nov 30, 2024: The deadline for submitting applications, including the pitch deck and optional video, will close. After this, an internal screening will evaluate all submissions for their eligibility and alignment with the competition guidelines.
• Nov 15 - Nov 30, 2024: During this period, the preliminary screening will take place. Applications will be reviewed based on factors such as business legitimacy, product viability, and compliance with APTA’s membership requirements.
• Nov 30, 2024: Participants who pass the initial screening will be notified of their advancement to Round #2.
• Dec 1 - Dec 7, 2024: In Round #2, participants will deliver a 15-minute virtual pitch to a panel of judges. Each startup will present its business idea in this format.
• Dec 8 - Dec 15, 2024: An internal review process will evaluate the virtual pitches. Based on these evaluations, the top teams will be selected for the final stage.
• Dec 15, 2024: The 12 semi finalist teams advancing to Round #3 will be officially announced.

Competition Format

The Katalyst Startup Pitch Competition is structured across multiple stages designed to guide participants from the initial application through to the final investor pitch. Below is a breakdown of the competition format:

Round 1: Application & Screening (Oct 25 – Nov 30, 2024)

• Startups submit their applications, including pitch decks and optional videos, by Nov 15, 2024.
• An internal screening process will evaluate submissions, and selected participants will be notified by Nov 30, 2024, to advance to Round 2.

Round 2: Virtual Pitch (Dec 1 – Dec 15, 2024)

• Participants prepare and deliver a 15-minute virtual pitch between Dec 1 and Dec 7, 2024.
• An internal review will determine who advances, and 12 semi-finalists will be announced on Dec 15, 2024.
• Semi-finalists will receive mentorship to refine their business plans.

Round 3: Finals & Investor Roundtable (Jan 4-5, 2025)

• Finalists submit full business plans by Jan 2, 2025, and present their final pitch to investors during the Investor Roundtable on Jan 4-5, 2025.