Propel Earth Presents: The NYC Founder Pitch Competition In Partnership with Catalyst Intro
Advocate for your startup at
The NYC Founder Pitch Competition
March 30
7:00 PM – 9:30 PM
Manhattan
For the first time, we are hosting a live pitch competition in New York City.
This is not an open mic for startups. This is a curated room of founders, investors, and operators coming together ahead of something much larger in Q2.
In Q2, we will host an invite-only founder competition on Long Island at a private, undisclosed location designed with a reality TV environment. Live judging. Structured investor panels. High-production storytelling.
This March event is the qualifying stage.
If you are a founder, this is your opportunity to step into the arena early.
If you are an investor, this is your opportunity to see serious operators before the crowd does.
If you are an audience member, this is where you see companies before they break out.
Top 3 Winners Receive:
Exclusive Catalyst Concierge access at no cost including:
Direct investor introductions
Pitch deck refinement support
Newsletter feature to our founder and investor audience
Founder spotlight across LinkedIn and social channels
Additional perks from ecosystem partners including SeedLegals and invited special guests.
This is not just recognition. It is capital access, distribution, and long-term ecosystem leverage.
Who’s in the Room
Across our recent NYC events, our rooms have included:
40 to 45 percent founders actively building
Over 70 percent of those at pre-seed or seed stage
20 to 25 percent generating revenue under 1M ARR
A growing percentage already past 1M ARR
15 to 20 percent investors and advisors
Angels, early-stage VCs, and operators actively writing checks
The remainder are senior operators, startup executives, and ecosystem builders.
Catalyst Intro has now surpassed 100 founders and investors on the platform since launch. This competition brings that growing network into one room.
About Propel Earth
Propel Earth is a global platform connecting and aligning changemakers across 6 continents. We have produced 80+ curated events, engaged 2,000+ in-person attendees, and built a 17,000+ email network of founders, investors, operators, and partners.
Our mission is simple: make solving the world’s most critical challenges radically accessible.
Through our platform, we support founders not just with events but with structured services, visibility, and ecosystem leverage.
Founders can explore our full marketplace of offerings here:
https://propel.earth/marketplace
Services include:
Direct investor introductions
Pitch deck revisions and redesign
Profile optimization
Newsletter features
Investor thesis spotlights
VIP event access
Founder strategy sessions
Custom event partnerships
Whether you are raising capital, refining your narrative, building community-driven growth, or expanding distribution, the marketplace is built to support early-stage execution.
Founder Ticket: Pitch to Investors
Guaranteed 5 minute live pitch
Professional video coverage
On-camera founder interview clips
Exposure to actively deploying investors
Curated networking access
Investor Ticket
Curated deal flow
Five minute rapid exposure to vetted founders
Post-pitch mixer access
Option to join private dinner conversation
Investor tickets require approval. Actively deploying capital is expected.
Audience Member Ticket
$15
2 drink minimum at venue
Watch the pitches.
Participate in the audience voting segment.
Network during the open mixer.
Event Flow
6:30 PM – Doors Open
Check-in and early networking
7:00 PM – Welcome Remarks
Context on Propel Earth, Catalyst Intro, and the upcoming Q2 private competition
7:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Live Founder Pitch Competition
Five minute pitches
Investor and judge feedback
8:30 PM – 9:30 PM
Open Mixer
Structured introductions
Founder interviews filmed on-site
8:30 PM – Private Investor Dinner (Back Room)
Limited to 8 seats
Focused, moderated conversation between selected founders and investors
Private Dinner Ticket – $15
Separate ticket required
Strictly limited capacity
Hosted By
Stephen Michael
https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephennmichael/
Rob Guthy
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-g-147206169/
Catalyst Intro supports founders through:
Direct Investor Introductions
Pitch Deck Revisions
Profile Optimization
Founder and Investor Spotlights
VIP Event Access
Learn more: https://catalystintro.com/
Concierge services: https://catalystintro.com/concierge
View our deck: https://catalystintro.com/catalystdeck
Book time directly: https://calendar.app.google/ekond6f4NQY3dPvZ9
Bringing a group
Reach out directly for preferred group pricing
Email [email protected]
Text 631 300 0461
By attending, you consent to being photographed and recorded. Photos and video may be used in our newsletter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and promotional materials.
By RSVPing, you agree to receive event updates and ecosystem announcements.
This is the first one. The room will remember who showed up early.