The Hardware Cup is a pitch competition for early-stage hardware startups. This year, it will be run entirely virtually.
While previous iterations of the Hardware Cup did a tour of 6 US regions, the 2021 Hardware Cup has a new format: the competitions are divided by industry vertical. The verticals include: AI/robotics, life sciences, cleantech, consumer products, smart home/connected devices, and smart cities/autonomous vehicles.
3/17 Hardware Cup: Smart Home/Connected Devices
3/25 Hardware Cup: Consumer Products
4/8 Hardware Cup: AI/Robotics
4/21 Hardware Cup: Smart Cities/Autonomous Vehicles
4/29 Hardware Cup: Life Sciences
5/19 Hardware Cup: International Finals
6 teams will be selected in each industry vertical to pitch at a semi-final event. Each team will give a 3-minute pitch followed by about 3 minutes of Q&A with the panel of judges made up of VCs and investors.
The winning company from each vertical, in addition to a possible wild card finalist chosen by our judges, will pitch at the online Hardware Cup International Finals event in May 2021 for a shot at the USD$50,000 cash grand prize.
Additionally, all finalists will be featured online as part of a private AI/Robotics investor event with top hardware investors from around the country.