CAST-GNY Startup Pitch Competition 2026

Innovate. Pitch. Impact.

Join the CASTGNY Startup Pitch Competition on October 4, 2026, in the heart of Manhattan! This event brings together aspiring founders, entrepreneurs, investors, and industry professionals for a morning of pitching, feedback, networking, and practical insights into building and growing a startup.

This is an opportunity to showcase your idea, learn from experienced professionals, and connect with the Greater New York innovation community.

🏆 Grand Prizes

A Mac Mini M6 for the winning team!

📅 Tentative Agenda

9:30 – 9:45 AM Check-in & Networking
9:45 – 9:50 AM Welcome Remarks
9:50 – 10:10 AM Lightning Pitch Workshop
10:10 – 10:20 AM Introduction to the Startup Pitch Competition — Rules, format & judging criteria
10:20 – 11:30 AM Startup Pitch Competition — Startup pitches & judges’ Q&A
11:30 – 11:40 AM Judges’ Deliberation
11:40 AM – 12:25 PM Entrepreneurship & Innovation Discussion— Insights from founders, investors, scientists & technology leaders
12:25 – 12:30 PM Award Ceremony & Grand Prize Presentation 🏆

(Agenda is subject to change.)

🚀 Want to Pitch?

Register on Luma to attend the event.

You will receive a link to submit your full application. You will be asked to submit:

• Project Name

• Elevator Pitch

• About the Project (what inspired you, what you learned, how you built your project, and the challenges you faced)

• Built with (what tools, what models, what languages, ...)

• "Try it out" Links (links to your prototype, business, ...)

• Image Gallery (up to 15 images)

• Video Demo Link

• Current Stage:

  • Prototype / MVP

  • Early users / Pilot

  • Revenue-generating

  • Other

• Industry / Category:

  • AI / Software

  • Healthcare / Biotech

  • FinTech

  • Education

  • Consumer

  • Sustainability / Climate

  • Hardware

  • Other

• Supplementary Materials