Pitch Competition
Pitch Day is a celebration of the highly successful entrepreneurial ecosystem in the Teton region and beyond. We hope to inspire audience members and others in our community to dream up or begin their own entrepreneurial journey.
Across 14 years of competitions, 71% of Pitch Day presenters are still operating today.
Congratulations to our five finalists on their sophisticated and polished pitches! A tremendous amount of hard work went into each compelling and thoughtful presentation.
Pitch Day 2026
And the winners are…
Panelist’s Choice Award:
WYODYNAMICS
Audience Choice Award:
Roots Kitchen & Cannery
Bob Arndt Community Caretaker Award:
Alpine Revival
Becoming a Pitch Day finalist
Finalists spend about two months working with coaches who have built, funded, and run companies, then take eight minutes on the Center for the Arts stage in front of a panel of judges and a room full of neighbors. Traditional accelerators charge thousands of dollars or take equity. Pitch Day costs nothing. What we ask for is your time and your full effort.
Qualifications
Who should apply
Selection is competitive, and every application is reviewed against the criteria below.
Where you operate
Your company is operating or incorporated in Wyoming or Eastern Idaho.
Where you are in the journey
Developmental, pre-revenue, and post-revenue companies are all eligible.
Room to grow
Priority goes to ventures whose business model has the potential to grow significantly.
Funding
You may be raising equity, debt, or another kind of capital. You don't have to be raising to apply.
Industry
We don't accept real estate development companies. Tourism businesses are considered case by case and need to show a growth-driven model that does something new.
Profit. People. Planet.
Your application will describe how your venture connects to this guiding principle. Silicon Couloir is a values-based organization, and we take this part seriously.
Part of the ecosystem
Past involvement in Silicon Couloir programs like TEAMS Mentoring, Chance Meetings, or our workshops counts in your favor.
The payoff
What finalists get
The more you put into Pitch Day, the more you'll get out of it. Think of it as a free mini accelerator with a well-connected community behind it.
- Coaching on your business model, financials, deck, and delivery from experienced business leaders, with at least one Silicon Couloir staff coach at every session for continuity.
- A different mix of coaches each session, which means more well-connected people who know your company by the time you hit the stage.
- A one-to-one Pitch Polish session.
- Exposure to potential customers, investors, board members, employees, and advisors, both in the room and on the livestream.
- A shot at cash prizes, plus a participation stipend for finalists who don't take home a top award.
- An invitation to the first Trustee Circle event of the following summer, where you'll meet the entrepreneurs, investors, and mentors who keep Silicon Couloir running.
The process
How it works
Pitch Day is a program, not a one-night event. Dates for 2027 are still being confirmed and will be posted here.
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Apply Opens in June
Applications open in June. You'll fill out an online application and include an 8-slide deck.
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Round 1: Staff review
Silicon Couloir staff review every application against the criteria above.
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Round 2: Selection committee
Applicants selected for round 2 present to the selection committee, which chooses this year's finalists.
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Finalist orientation
A hybrid kickoff meeting where you'll meet the other finalists and staff, walk through the schedule, and get your templates.
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Four group coaching sessions
You'll walk through your pitch and get direct feedback from a rotating panel of coaches every other week. Two of the four can be attended virtually.
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Pitch Polish
A one-to-one session focused on delivery and stage presence. In person or virtual.
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Final Q&A session
Your last session before Pitch Day, with Silicon Couloir staff. It's all about the questions the panel is likely to ask and how to answer them well. In person or virtual.
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Deliverables
Along the way you'll turn in:
- An updated deck for every group coaching session.
- A one-page executive summary using our template (an initial draft, then a final version). It's handed out at the event and stays useful long after.
- Your final deck as a PDF and a written script of your pitch. The script goes to our Spanish-language interpreter, so this deadline is firm.
- A signed finalist commitment and a photo and video release.
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Walkthrough and Pitch Day
On the afternoon of Pitch Day you'll do a required walkthrough at the Center for the Arts: review the run of show, get comfortable with the mic, click through your slides, and test any props. That evening you pitch, then meet the audience at your own table during the lobby reception. Bring business cards, a way to collect emails, and ideally a helper. You're welcome to sell products at your table.
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After the applause
Finalists stay part of the Silicon Couloir community, and we'll connect you with audience members who request a connection through our Pitch Day app.
What we ask
Your commitment as a finalist
Silicon Couloir is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit run on private donations and volunteer time. Our coaches show up for you, and we ask the same in return. Every finalist signs a commitment agreeing to the following.
- Follow all Pitch Day rules and requirements.
- Attend all six coaching sessions, with at least two of the four group sessions in person.
- Be there in person for the walkthrough, the event, and the reception on Pitch Day.
- Do the work between sessions, using coach feedback to improve your deck and delivery.
- Respond to Silicon Couloir staff within three business days and flag any issues early.
Questions
Frequently asked
Does it cost anything to participate?
No. Pitch Day is free for finalists. The real cost is time: orientation, six coaching sessions, deliverables, the walkthrough, and the event itself.
Can I attend coaching virtually?
Partly. Two of the four group sessions can be virtual, and Pitch Polish and the final Q&A session can be too. You'll get the most out of coaching in person, and everything on Pitch Day itself is in person.
Who are the coaches?
We recruit coaches from our own ecosystem. All of them have serious business experience and ties to the community. You'll see different coaches each session, with at least one consistent staff coach throughout. Expect conflicting advice sometimes. As CEO, it's your call which suggestions fit your company.
Who judges the competition?
Our panelists are seasoned entrepreneurs, investors, or both. Finalists receive more information about the panel as the event gets closer.
Who's in the audience?
Pitch Day is free and open to the public, with more than 300 people in the room and more watching the livestream. The audience votes for the Audience Choice Award, so invite your friends, family, and customers. Last year's event is on our media and recordings page if you want to see how the evening runs.
Can I tell the audience I'm raising?
Yes, if you want to, though you don't have to. Pitch Day is a showcase first. Under SEC Rule 148, founders at events hosted by nonprofits like Silicon Couloir can say from the stage that they're raising, the type and amount of securities, how they'll use the funds, and how much of the round is still open. Keep it verbal and to a sentence or two at the end of your pitch. Valuation, caps, discounts and other terms stay off the stage, and so does an ask slide. We'll go over the full guidelines at orientation, and we recommend you talk with your own attorney before the event. If you want to share your deck and terms with investors, you can opt into our Capital Connect email, which goes to a syndicate of accredited investors.
Will investors contact me?
They might, but there's no guarantee. Have your contact information and executive summary ready in case they do.
What can prize money be used for?
Your company, directly. Winners submit a W-9 before prizes are paid out, one per company.
Pitch Day Awards
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$20,000 cash + $1,000 Pirate Ship shipping credit
This award is given to the company that our experienced judges determine has (1) the most compelling business idea, (2) the best chance for business success, (3) the highest likelihood of getting funded, and (4) the strongest presentation.
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$12,500 cash + 1 year membership at The Cowork Space + $1,000 shipping credit
This award is given to the entrepreneur who “wows” the audience with their presentation and company vision.
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$6,500 cash + 6 months membersip at The Cowork Space + $1,000 Pirate Ship shipping credit
The Bob Arndt Community Caretaker Award is presented to that entrepreneur or venture whose person/team and company best embodies the core values and mission of Silicon Couloir. Just as Bob lived his life guided by the value of community caretaking, this company will exemplify growing a culture of stewardship, leadership, participation, collaboration, and citizenship that inspires and enriches our Wyoming communities.
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Thank you to these sponsors who have contributed to our overall prize package:
One-year membership to Dreamers & Doers ($2,800 value)
Eight nights of lodging for out-of-town finalists donated by The Virginian Lodge
$3,500 in travel stipends provided by Laramie County Community College
