SPIE Startup Challenge and Entrepreneur Program

The SPIE Startup Challenge is a high-stakes, global competition where entrepreneurs with light-enabled products have 5 minutes to pitch their businesses to a team of expert judges. Winning teams share more than $85,000 in cash and other prizes.

Traditionally, the SPIE Startup Challenge is held annually at Photonics West in San Francisco; the largest research conference and trade show for light-based products in North America with over 1,300 companies and 22,000 attendees. In this challenging year, the Startup Challenge's 11th year, the industry-judged competition will be moving to an all-online, live-pitching format.

Register for the next event: Our Virtual Customer Discovery workshop with mentor office hours takes place 21 April at 8:00AM PT.

Questions? Contact us at innovation@spie.org

Congratulations to the 2021 cohort!

See 2021 Semifinalists ›

Schedule of 2021 online events

Startup Challenge 2021 Kick-off Event Semifinalist announcement Startup Funding in 2021 panel discussion 2020 Startup Challenge Winners update	14 April 2021 8:30AM–10:30AM PT	Complete
Virtual Customer Discovery workshop Mentor office hours	21 April 2021 8:00AM–10:00AM PT	Register >
Pitching your Company Virtually pitch clinic Mentor office hours	28 April 2021 8:00AM–10:00AM PT	Register >
Seed Stage Semifinals — Deep Tech Investor Relations panel discussion	5 May 2021 8:00AM–10:30AM PT	Register >
Seed Stage Semifinals — Healthcare Market Strategy workshop	12 May 2021 8:00AM–10:30AM PT	Register >
Pre-Seed Stage Semifinals — Deep Tech Team Formation and Development workshop	19 May 2021 8:00AM–11:00AM PT	Register >
Pre-Seed Stage Semifinals — Healthcare FDA Shark Tank panel discussion	26 May 2021 8:00AM–11:00AM PT	Register >
SPIE Startup Challenge Finals Welcome keynote Finals — Deep Tech Finals — Healthcare Post-pitch analysis	2 June 2021 8:00AM–11:00AM PT	Register >
Post-Event Wrap Up workshop Including valuation, term sheets, legal matters, and next steps for teams	9 June 2021 8:00AM–10:00AM PT	Register >

The high-stakes, global business plan competition for new entreprenuers

Join the Startup Challenge workspace on Slack

Join the coversation with the SPIE Startup Challenge Community

Business strategy, pitch reviews, and competition logistics are all discussed on the SPIE Startup Challenge workspace on Slack.

Send an email to innovation@spie.org to be added to the discussion space.