The InnoVEX Pitch Contest has consistently been a vital element to InnoVEX, offering startups the best platform to showcase their innovations. This year, the Pitch Contest will focus on emerging innovations including AI, Green Tech, Healthcare & Biotech, Precision Manufacturing Semiconductor Applications, and Smart Mobility.

As one of the organizers of InnoVEX, Taipei Computer Association (TCA) also announced that the InnoVEX 2024 Pitch Contest prizes will feature a prize pool valued at a total of USD 100,000 which includes USD 63,000 in cash prizes as well as a number of professional and promotional resources. The prizes will be provided by the organizers as well as sponsors: the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC), the Small and Medium Enterprise and Startup Administration (SMESA) of the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), Business Startup Support Centre (BSSC), KPMG, NVIDIA, NXP, the ResorTech EXPO in Okinawa Executive Committee, PwC, and Taiwania Capital.

The Pitch Contest will consist of 2 rounds: the online preliminary round and onsite final round which will be held on June 6. The highlight of this year's Pitch Contest is the introduction of the exclusive one-on-one matchmaking event scheduled on June 7th. This matchmaking event is exclusive only to the 15 finalists where they can connect directly with the VC judges and international VCs or CVCs invited to the event. The finalists are also encouraged to join the InnoVEX Night Party on June 5th. This party serves as a prime networking occasion, connecting finalists with representatives from both local and global startup ecosystems.

Numerous accolades await the competitors, with the prestigious Grand Prize as the highlight. Each award includes a short video interview and a trophy from the InnoVEX organizers.

The winner of the Grand Prize will receive a USD10,000 cash prize; in addition to a free standard booth at InnoVEX 2025, promotional resources from InnoVEX, and unmatched networking opportunities with venture capitalists and industry experts. Dedicated for Early Stage startups (pre-launch angel round), the winner of the Future Star Award will receive promotional support from the organizer and an invaluable opportunity for matchmaking with VC judges.

The confirmed special awards are outlined below:

• The Smart Mobility Award is sponsored by the MOTC and will include a USD 10,000 cash prize. The winning team will have an opportunity to join the Intelligent Transportation Experiment Field project in Danhai New Town (D-City). Teams interested in applying for the Smart Mobility Award are encouraged to include how their innovation are relevant to “C-V2X” or their existing applications and advantages in the “C-V2X” field in the uploaded Pitch Deck.
• The Startup Terrace Award is sponsored by the SMESA and will include up to USD 20,000 cash prize as well as residency at the co-working space at Startup Terrace. The winner of this award must agree to reside in the Taiwan Startup Terrace Linkou or Startup Terrace Kaohsiung for at least 1 year. Please note that the award is limited only to international startups.
• The BSSC Award is sponsored by the Business Startup Support Centre (BSSC) and the winner will receive rewards valued at USD 10,000 which includes exhibition subsidy and promotion resources for attending to InnoEx 2024 which will be held in Vietnam from August 24 – 25.
• The winner of the KPMG Award will receive consultation resources valued at USD 10,000. This includes a spot in the 2024 KPMG Energize Program for Entrepreneurs, 7 hours of KPMG consultation, and an option to participate in KPMG Meet & Match closed-door matchmaking events. Please note that the KPMG Award is limited only to Taiwanese startups.
• The NVIDIA Award will be awarded to up to 3 winners and will prioritize startups with products or solutions in AI. The winners will receive and can apply for the Inception Program getting startups acceleration resources provided by NVIDIA.
• The winner of the NXP Award will receive a USD 10,000 cash prize.
• The Okinawa Innovation Award is sponsored by the ResorTech EXPO in Okinawa Executive Committee and the winner will receive a total value of JPY 2,630,000 rewards including JPY 100,000 cash prize; subsidy and promotion resources for attending the ResorTech EXPO 2024 which will take place in Okinawa on November 14-15, 2024; as well as 1 free exhibition booth in CEATEC 2024 which will be held in Tokyo on October 15-18, 2024.
• The PwC Award will provide the winner with startup consultation resources from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) valued at USD 10,000. PwC will invite the winner to join the “PwC Startup Accelerator Scale Programme” which includes over 3 months customized counseling plan, at least 10 counseling hours, and the co-marketing and media promotion from PwC Startup Accelerator. Please note that this award is limited only to Taiwanese teams or international teams that have established a company in Taiwan.
• Taiwania Capital Innovation Award will provide NTD 300,000 cash prize to the winner. The selection focuses on innovative technologies with international competitiveness. This award also aims to support startups in Southeast Asia, USA, Japan, and Central & Eastern Europe or startups that intend to expand to the Central and Eastern European markets.

As stated, participation to the InnoVEX Pitch Contest is free, but limited only to InnoVEX 2024 exhibitors who are established from January 1, 2016 onwards. Interested exhibitors are urged to register and submit the necessary documents, including a pitch deck, a 90-second pitch video, and any other additional necessary information before May 13th, 23:59 (GMT+8). The materials will undergo review during the preliminary stage, and the 15 finalists will be announced on May 28, 2024.

Sign up for the InnoVEX 2024 Pitch Contest here.

About InnoVEX
Started in 2016, InnoVEX is a startup-focused exhibition organized by the Taipei Computer Association (TCA) and the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA). Positioned as the innovation hub of Asia, InnoVEX is held alongside Asia's leading ICT B2B Tradeshow, COMPUTEX, to connect startups and their innovations to global VCs, CVCs, manufacturing partners, buyers, and media.

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