2018 Virtual Reality Predictions

Chase Dittmer's predictions on the virtual reality industry in 2018.

Statistica’s projection based on data from Goldman Sachs for the total market value of both VR and AR is expected to reach $35 billion by 2025. This market is going nowhere but up.

Below you will find my predictions for where I think the VR industry is headed in 2018. I hope you enjoy.

Higher Resolution Headset

As we approach the nearly two-year mark since Oculus and HTC released their consumer version virtual reality headsets, the VR community has been very vocal about their desire for a higher resolution headset.

Pimax

In 2018, I anticipate that their wishes will finally be granted (as long as their wallet can back it up). After a long preparation starting with CES 2017, Pimax, a Chinese Virtual Reality HMD manufacturing company, launched a Kickstarter campaign for a marvelous headset offering an 8K resolution, 200° FOV, SteamVR compatibility and modular accessories.

Originally, their Kickstarter goal was $200K, but they reached that in a few hours. By the end of the Kickstarter campaign, Pimax raised $4,236,618 from 5,945 backers.

Virtual Reality Headset Comparison: Pimax 8k vs Pimax 5k vs Oculus Rift vs HTC Vive

On paper, the Pimax looks amazing. It answers everyone’s wishes. However, the big is question is, can they deliver? If they can deliver on their claims, this product is going to significantly improve the VR experience.

Vive Pro (Vive 1.5)

For those looking for a completely new model, you may be disappointed. However, the Vive Pro offers a welcomed update. The Vive Pro will have two OLED displays with a common resolution of 2880 x 1600 pixels (similar resolution to the Vive Focus).

Mockup of HTC's newest creation, the Vive Pro virtual reality headset debuted at CES 2018. — Mockup of HTC’s newest creation, Vive Pro virtual reality headset debuted at CES 2018.

The new 2800 x 1600 resolution (1440 x 1600 per eye) has thus increased by 78 percent when compared to the original Vive. The new resolution should achieve a much sharper and clearer presentation.

Resolution comparison of the different virtual reality HMDs.

The new 2800 x 1600 resolution (1440 x 1600 per eye) has thus increased by 78 percent when compared to the original Vive. The new resolution should achieve a much sharper and clearer presentation.

Cut The Cord

In 2017, the general consensus was that the next big hurdle for virtual reality is obvious to anyone who’s put on a headset: getting rid of all of those wires. By the end of 2017, TPCast, a Chinese company, with financial backing from HTC, delivered a solution.

After multiple delays in their North American release, we finally received our TPCast a few days before Thanksgiving. There were quite a few bugs and quirks that we had to work out. However, with an active discord community and a $25 purchase of the Open TPCast software, we had the TPCast running flawlessly.

Demoing APEX Officer’s wireless virtual reality training platform featuring TPCast.

In 2018, I expect to see more wireless high-end virtual reality solutions reach the market. With the development of Intel’s WiGig technology, we can expect to see companies incorporating this technology in their wireless virtual reality solutions.

Although HTC backed TPCast financially through their Vive X program, I anticipate HTC will offer their own wireless adapter. However, we’re going to have to wait awhile because at this point HTC’s Vive division is stretching themselves rather thin and I believe they will prioritize the Vive Pro before rolling out their wireless adapter solution.

Predicted Delivery: Q3 or Q4 of 2018.

Tools for Developers

Although tools and software like Unity, Unreal Engine, and SteamVR, have made development easier for devs, VR is currently in a wild west moment where there is no industry standard. In 2018, I expect to see more tools, standards, and resources committed to improving the development process for VR and AR applications and devices.

I’m looking forward to the work that the OpenXR project, of the Khronos Group, is producing to solve this problem. According to their website, “their cross-platform VR standard eliminates industry fragmentation by enabling applications to be written once to run on any VR system, and to access VR devices integrated into those VR systems to be used by applications.”

OpenXR’s cross-platform virtual reality standard.

Enterprise Adoption

The professional and enterprise use of Virtual Reality, in my opinion, will skyrocket in 2018, with applications for education, training, rehabilitation, psychology, marketing, art and other 1000 possible usages that will start becoming pretty popular. Imagine virtual training and certification programs for everyone from sales reps to aerospace engineers.

New WalMart employee completing orientation using a virtual reality headset.

I don’t think we’ll see a case where VR will create new jobs in the enterprise setting, but rather it will be incorporated into the workflow of existing types of roles and jobs. For example, rather than have a welding trainee accompany an experienced worker to learn how to carry out a repair, a 3D simulation of the process can be created so that the trainee can learn before starting the job.

Simulator designed to train new employees on how to operate a forklift in VR.

Before all of these industries start deploying VR headsets to workers, we’re going to need growth in enterprise VR software and content development. The possibilities of VR in the enterprise are endless, and I can’t wait to see the ways it will reshape business as we know it.

Higher Quality Content

If you ask the average consumer, “why haven’t you purchased a high-end virtual reality headset?” They will probably tell you that, “they haven’t bought a virtual reality device because they don’t find it useful enough.” Unless they have a specific use case or FOMO, it’s hard to justify spending a rent payment on “video games.”

A lot of people in the industry keep talking about the “magical VR killer application,” that will make everyone run to the stores and buy a VR headset. However, that’s just a pipe dream. For widespread adoption, what we really need is more high-quality content.

Currently, most VR applications are just games or storytelling experiences. We need less zombie wave shooters and more social content, educational content, content for work, content for learning, etc. Additionally, we need more content and games tailored to different kinds of people.

The technology is here and has been for years. It will keep evolving as that’s what technology does. No one doubts that. However, the technology itself is just an empty shell without the content to drive it.

AAA Titles

I’ll admit it, developing for VR takes a lot of time and resources. The pool of potential customers is very niche, and the economics aren’t in the developers’ favor. It doesn’t make sense for studios and game devs to invest the time and resources into a project that doesn’t have a lot of potential customers. However, AAA titles will be the catalyst for VR widespread adoption.

Man demoing the game Robo Recall with the Oculus Rift virtual reality HMD.

Over the past year, we made significant steps forward in high-quality VR-exclusive games such as Robo Recall, Google Tiltbrush, Star Trek: Bridge Crew, Onward, Rec Room, Arizona Sunshine and more.

In 2017 we also saw a wave of VR ports of AAA games, like Fallout 4 VR, Superhot VR, LA Noire: The VR Case Files, Doom VFR, Skyrim VR, Payday VR, and more.

Man demoing Fallout 4 VR with the HTC Vive virtual reality HMD.

In 2018, I think we’ll continue seeing improvements in the quality and length of VR games and experiences, as well as additional VR portings of games (cough GTA cough).

Standalone Headsets

We all know this: 2018 will be the year of standalone headsets. If they don’t sell over 2 million units in 2018, I will be very surprised due to the low barriers to entry for the consumer.

In 2017, a lot of companies have started investing in the standalone form factor:

Qualcomm (with the Snapdragon 835 VR reference design).
HTC announced the Vive Focus at the end of the year.
Pico announced NEO, a completely 6DOF VR headset.
Facebook/Oculus announced their cheap Oculus GO and Oculus Santa Cruz headsets.

HTC’s standalone virtual reality headset named the Vive Focus.

Although standalone headsets are good for widespread adoption, standalone headsets could kill the potential of this industry. If more people are using standalone headsets, the need to push the industry and the technology further becomes second priority. We need higher resolution headsets, we need better GPUs capable of powering two 4k displays at 120 fps. I’m worried that the focus on standalone headsets will derail what the core users and early adopters actually want.

Immersive Accessories

In 2018, I think we’ll see more and more accessories, of every kind, for every price. Examples of accessories that we’ve seen in 2017 and that we’ll continue seeing in 2018 are:

Haptic Feedback Suits
Special Controllers
Guns and Weapons (we’ve already built a few…)
Sports Equipment (Tennis Racquets, Hockey Sticks, Golf Clubs, Baseball Bats, Etc.)
Brainwave Readers
Scent Emitters
Haptic Gloves
Cable Management Solutions
Cockpits
Treadmills
Motion Machines
Driving Simulators
VR Bags/Suitcases
Etc….

Arcades

If you haven’t seen a VR Arcade pop up in a town near you, you’re either living under a rock or in a very small town in the Midwest. We even opened one in summer of 2016 in a Midwest state, so you’ve probably seen one.

In 2017, VR Arcades spread like the plague across the country and they were even more popular in the Eastern part of the world (China and Japan).

In 2018, we’re going to blessed with both highly technological VR theme parks with massive warehouse-scale VR experiences and smaller, niche, locations that allow users to pay to use a VR device (like the HTC Vive or Oculus Rift) that you can’t afford at home.

Mario Kart VR on display at a virtual reality Arcade in Japan.

As the awareness of virtual reality continues to spread across the world, the rise of VR arcades will continue. However, this trend will reach a plateau heading into 2019. By 2019 the price of consumer-grade virtual reality headsets will become more affordable to the average family and instead of spending $50 for a family of 4 at their local VR arcade, they will make the investment and purchase a VR system for their home.

Conclusion

The actual applications for VR are endless. Virtual Reality can never replace “reality” (or at least, our perception of reality as some people claim there is no one “reality”), but it can sure help it.

January 17, 2018January 19, 2018

10 Simple Changes to Make in Your 20s

Note: I originally published this back in December of 2015 on Medium. Reposting it here. My writing style has changed over the years, so please be nice.

How you spend your 20s is hugely important for determining who you’ll become — personally and professionally — in the future.

Start waking up early.

Countless studies have concluded that early risers are more successful. Sleep experts say that if you go to bed earlier and wake up earlier, your body will be more in tune with the earth’s circadian rhythms, which offers more restorative sleep

Start traveling.

Don’t be a tourist but a traveler. This will help increase your vision and make you realize how big and small the world is at the same time.

Start taking care of your health.

The simplest and most important action you can take is to protect your health. Once it’s gone, it’s really hard to bring back. Most people in their 40s and beyond would trade money for health.

Start showing loved ones you care.

Little gestures, kind words. It’s not about constant contact, but more about finding mutual ways to share your life with the people you care most about.…And if you have a partner, show your love. Take nothing for granted. Life happens.

Start learning how to cook.

You might live alone now, but chances are at some point, you’ll be cohabiting with a significant other and/or kids — and this skill will come in handy.

Start asking questions.

By asking questions, you’re getting different perspectives from different people. Scientists say this kind of curiosity and knowledge-seeking can strengthen your personal relationships because you spend time listening, and boost your performance at work because you always want to learn and improve.

Start practicing mindfulness.

Mindfulness is about becoming more aware of your thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and surroundings. Experts say it can help you perform better at work because it allows you to deal with stress in a more healthy way.

Start appreciating failure.

Take risks. Merely out of our teens, taking risks and failing is the best thing that can contribute to the making of an adult. The more we fail, the more we learn.

Start taking alone time.

Experts recommend spending at least half an hour every day in solitude. Make sure you don’t have your phone with you: Researchers say humans need true solitude, away from texts and Twitter, in order to understand their own behavior and experiences.

Stop feeling bad about the past.

There are two kinds of people in the world: People who live their lives looking back, and people who live their lives looking forward.

January 17, 2018January 17, 2018

Why You Should Write Something Every Day

Note: I originally published this back in July of 2015 on Medium. Reposting it here on my personal blog. My writing style has changed over the years, so please be nice.

Not everyone loves writing, and I’m not convinced people should love writing.

It’s hard work.

I have a love-hate relationship with writing that has been cultivated over several years.

In college, there is no greater skill than the ability to communicate. We communicate every day.

You communicate with your professors in person and through email; with our friends and relatives through social media, like Facebook and Twitter; and with yourself as well as larger potentially unknown audiences in blog posts and other ways.

You communicate even when you don’t think you’re communicating, and the basis for much of communication is still the written word.

Five reasons you should write daily:

Writing enhances your ability to communicate.

In this culture, communication is so often hampered because we don’t know how to express ourselves, whether it be verbal or written. If you have trouble communicating what you want or asking tough questions, regular writing will give you a mind for structuring words quickly to achieve the desired effect in a diplomatic way.

Writing will remove stress from your mind.

Writing can be therapeutic. It can be a way to vent all the pent-up frustrations burdening your mind into a far less volatile form. Writing can serve as a form of cathartic stress relief where you finally get to say what you can’t say out loud. Note: be careful, don’t burn any bridges in the process.

Writing will develop your analytical skills.

Working through your problems with a piece of paper encourages you to think things through clearly, in both linear (sequential) and non-linear (creative) ways.

Writing regularly online will build your personal brand and help with job seeking efforts.

If you’re seeking a job after college, you’re going to need all the help you can get. Instead of spending hours binge-watching Netflix(don’t deny this fact, I see your Snapchat stories), you could spend 30 minutes a day writing and have something to show for it at the end of the summer.

Writing every day makes you good at writing.

The ability to write well is a powerful skill to be good at nowadays. Write every day to keep your skill with the written word sharp. Like any skill, the ability to communicate clearly, concisely and aesthetically degrades without practice.

There are no bad writers — only inexperienced writers.

Conclusion

And that’s just the start. The full benefits of this regular habit are, ironically, not something you can put into words, but something that must be experienced to be known.

Over time, you’ll learn the power of interaction with your audience, and draw inspiration and lessons from the audience. But for now, just get started.

January 17, 2018January 17, 2018

Advice for Young Entrepreneurs

Note: I originally published this back in November of 2015 on Medium. Reposting it here on my personal blog. My writing style has changed over the years, so please be nice.

Let your curiosity grow into an obsession.

If you’re going the route of doing this crazy thing and starting a company, that’s got to be the product of some obsessive-compulsiveness around the idea.

It’s like falling in love.

Falling in love is great, but you want to think through everything. A lot of entrepreneurs are love-struck with their idea, but lack the passion to push through when the times get tough.

Spoiler: hard times are inevitable.

Become obsessed with useful things.

Artists can become obsessed with paintings they want to create, musicians with songs they want to write, and that’s wonderful.

However, as an entrepreneur, you’d better have your obsession tuned to things that are of use to people.

This is not about do-gooderism, it’s about making stuff that people need and like. This reminds me of the Y Combinator motto: make something people want.

You can tinker with ideas that are technologically interesting, or artistically interesting, but that’s not enough.

Don’t flock to watering holes; dig wells.

There are lots of watering holes out there, but if all the sheep are running toward the same one, it’s going to run out pretty fast.

Good entrepreneurs are going to say, “it doesn’t matter what everyone else thinks. Where are the sheep not going?”

If you’re a good entrepreneur, it’s like being a shepherd.

You’re finding a place that people didn’t know about and leading the herd there, instead of following everyone else.

January 17, 2018

Five Tools I Use Daily To Run My Startup

Five tools and resources I use everyday to run my startup.

I use a lot of tools on a daily basis to run my startup. Every day, I have someone asking me, “Chase, what do you use for this?”

Instead of replying to each email individually, I decided that I would create an online resource that I can reference with a collection of every tool that I use.

Note: I spend less than $50/month on tools and resources, so most of the tools I use are free. However, there are some paid versions. If I did decide to use the paid version of a product, there is usually a reason for it.

Canva

Canva is a free graphic-design tool website, founded in 2012. It uses a drag-and-drop format and provides access to over a million photographs, graphics, and fonts. It is used by non-designers as well as professionals.

http://www.Canva.com

Wave

Wave delivers innovative financial services and award-winning free software to small- and micro-businesses around the world. By providing access to capital (Lending), improving cash flow (Payments), delivering money to employees (Payroll), helping businesses get paid (Invoicing), preparing for tax time and providing business insights (Accounting, Receipts), Wave covers the spectrum of a small business owner’s financial life, and helps businesses grow and thrive.

http://www.waveapps.com

Pipedrive

Pipedrive is a sales management tool designed to help small sales teams manage intricate or lengthy sales processes. Back in 2010, two of our co-founders, both seasoned sales managers, realized that the CRM landscape was populated by software designed to please the top brass while ignoring the needs of the people doing the actual selling. So they partnered with talented developers to create a CRM that puts the needs of salespeople first. Grounded in the philosophy of activity-based selling, the result is Pipedrive, a tool now used by over 50,000 companies around the world.

http://www.pipedrive.com

Asana

Asana is a web and mobile application designed to help teams track their work. It was founded in 2008 by Facebook co-founder Dustin Moskovitz and ex-engineer Justin Rosenstein, who both worked on improving the productivity of employees at Facebook. It focuses on allowing users to manage projects and tasks online without the use of email. Each team can create a workspace. Workspaces contain projects, and projects contain tasks. In each task, users can add notes, comments, attachments, and tags. Users can follow projects and tasks and, when the state of a project or task changes, followers get updates about the changes in their inboxes.

http://www.asana.com

Webflow

Webflow is a professional drag and drop tool built for designing websites using responsive web design best practices. Webflow is a cloud-based software as a service (SaaS) that allows designers to build production-ready, responsive websites without any coding knowledge required. It allows designers to accomplish most aspects of web development and website distribution through a visual editor that provides the pixel-for-pixel design precision found in desktop graphic design applications such as Adobe Photoshop.

http://www.webflow.com

Conclusion

What tools and resources do you use on a daily basis? Leave a comment or share them with me via email:

hello [at] chasedittmer . com

January 16, 2018

Personal Goals for 2018

2017 was a big year for me. I accomplished a lot, but I also dropped the ball in some areas. Overall, I would say that it was a successful year. However, I’m nowhere near where I want to be.

I’m writing this list and making it public primarily for myself. I want to hold my self-accountable for accomplishing my goals and there is no better way than making my goals public and accessible to anyone.

I plan to add to this list as I reach the goals, add additional goals, and refine the goals listed below.

1) Track every dollar I spend.

2) Drink less alcohol.

3) Move to California.

4) Write a blog post/article every week.

5) Record one podcast episode every week.

6) Eat less meat and eat more vegetables.

7) Prioritize intermediate fasting.

8) Road trip across the states.

9) Get 1% better every day.

10) Read 20 books in 2018.

I’m working on writing a piece on my professional goals for 2018 and plan to share that in the near future. So, stay tuned for that.

January 16, 2018January 17, 2018

2018 Startup Pitch Competition Guide

Guide to the best startup pitch competitions in 2018.

The startup landscape is competitive. High stakes and even higher potential for disruptive growth and success are lucrative rewards for those unafraid of the challenge, but this also makes the competition particularly fierce.

Winning a pitch competition can yield anywhere from $100 to $100,000 in cash and professional services.

Win or lose, entering a contest is a clever way to meet investors and industry experts with whom you couldn’t rub elbows otherwise.

Each competition that we have carefully researched offers networking and resource opportunities for every participant.

Notes:

Competitions are listed in no particular order.

As information changes and new competitions are created, I will make every effort possible to update this list. Create an alert for this page so you will be notified every time this page is updated.

Do you know of other startup pitch competitions which aren’t on this list? Shoot me an e-mail at hello [at] chasedittmer.com

Last Updated: 1/17/2018

Arch Grants Startup Competition

Entry Deadline: Applications Open February 1st

Description: The Arch Grants Global Startup Competition awards $50,000 equity-free cash grants and pro bono support services to innovative, scalable, and job-creating startups that agree to locate their business in St. Louis for at least one year.

What You Can Win: $50,000 in equity-free funding.

Location: St. Louis, Missouri

Link: https://archgrants.org/

G-Startup Worldwide

Entry Deadline: 2/1, 2/1, 3/1, 4/1, 8/1, 8/1, 8/1, 8/1

Description: G-Startup Worldwide is a global startup competition held around the world to find the most innovative, early-stage startups, invest $1,000,000 in them, support them with a global network and enable them to change the world.

What You Can Win: $250,000

Location: Dubai, Tel Aviv, Beijing, Riyadh, Silicon Valley, Sao Paulo, Jakarta, Bangalore

Link: http://g-startup.com/

Hello Tomorrow Challenge

Entry Deadline: N/A

Description: As a global not-for-profit created by deep tech entrepreneurs, our mission is to highlight, empower and connect the most promising deep-tech enterprises across the globe to accelerate the transfer of breakthrough technologies into real-world solutions.

What You Can Win: €100,000

Location: Paris

Link: https://hello-tomorrow.org/startups

MIT 100k Entrepreneurship Competition – Launch

Entry Deadline: N/A

Description: MIT Launch is a comprehensive business plan competition in which teams compete to plan, prototype, and prepare their venture for the marketplace. Semi-finalists are expected to present not just prototypes but full business plans. They receive funding and elite mentorship along the way, and finalists present onstage to a 1,200+ live audience from Cambridge, Boston, and beyond.

What You Can Win: $100,000

Location: Boston

Link: http://www.mit100k.org/launch/

New York StartUP! 2018 Business Plan Competition

Entry Deadline: N/A

Description: The New York Public Library, supported by the Citi Foundation, is proud to announce the 8th Annual New York StartUP! Business Plan Competition for New York-based startup entrepreneurs. Entrants can win up to $15, 000 to start their business, as well as gain practical insights about starting and growing a business, while using the comprehensive small business resources at NYPL’s Science, Industry and Business Library (SIBL).

What You Can Win: $15,000

Location: New York

Link: https://www.nypl.org/help/services/startup

Quick Pitch 2018

Entry Deadline: N/A

Description: The Quick Pitch Competition is one of the most recognized angel investor events in the nation showcasing talented entrepreneurs who are given 2 minutes each to pitch their business to an expert panel of judges, and a large audience of investors, business executives and community leaders who select the winners. The judges are given 3 minutes each to provide feedback on the pitches, which in turn helps influence the audience in their voting decision. Our 10 company finalists will receive invaluable coaching, and the top 3 winners will be awarded a combined amount of $50,000 in cash, plus additional business services from some of our generous sponsors.

What You Can Win: $50,000

Location: San Diego

Link: https://quickpitchsd.com/

Startup Battlefield – Dubai

Entry Deadline: 1/18/2018

Description: Startup Battlefield brings the world’s top early-stage startups together on one stage to compete for the coveted Disrupt Cup, a $50,000 prize, and the attention of media and investors. The judges include TechCrunch editors as well as top VCs and entrepreneurs, and past winners include names like Vurb, Dropbox, Mint, Yammer and many more. Participation is entirely free and open.

What You Can Win: $50,000

Location: Dubai

Link: https://apply.techcrunch.com/

Startup Festival 2018

Entry Deadline: 7/10/2018

Description: The $100k Investment Prize is the most coveted title at the event. We bring together a group of fantastic angel investors, and in a matter of 48 hours crown the title of the $100k Investment Prize winner. This prize is open to ANY startup at the event- no pre-registration required.

What You Can Win: $100,000

Location: Montreal

Link: http://www.startupfestival.com/startups/

TechCrunch Disrupt

Entry Deadline: N/A

Description: TechCrunch Disrupt is the world’s leading authority in debuting revolutionary startups, introducing game-changing technologies and discussing what’s top of mind for the tech industry’s key innovators. Disrupt gathers the best and brightest entrepreneurs, investors, hackers, and tech fans for on-stage interviews, the Startup Battlefield competition, a 24-hour Hackathon, Startup Alley, Hardware Alley, and After Parties.

What You Can Win: $50,000

Location: San Francisco, CA

Link: https://techcrunch.com/event-info/disrupt-sf-2018/

The Startup Conference

Entry Deadline: 4/15/2018

Description: The competition is open to startups that have raised less than $2M in funding and are less than 4 years old. There is a sweetspot in our heart for self-funded startups, so even if you are one solo entrepreneur in your garage, as long as you came up with something great, do apply!

What You Can Win: $120,000(?)

Location: Redwood City, CA

Link: http://thestartupconference.com/startup-competition/

U Pitch Competition

Entry Deadline: 8/1/2018

Description: U.Pitch brings together the best students from a cross-section of universities in this ultimate national elevator pitch competition. In just 90 seconds, students compete for national recognition and a prize pool of $10,000. They also have the opportunity to showcase their idea or startup in front of hundreds of entrepreneurs, investors, business leaders and other students from the entrepreneurial community.

What You Can Win: $10,000

Location: Chicago, IL

Link: https://futurefounders.com/startup/upitch/

The Postcode Lottery Green Challenge

Entry Deadline: 6/1/2018

Description: The Postcode Lottery Green Challenge is one of the world’s largest competitions in the field of sustainable entrepreneurship. Green start-ups from all over the world can submit their promising sustainable business plans. The winner will receive €500,000 to further develop the product or service and to bring it to market. The runner-up will receive €200,000 and the three other finalists receive €100,000 each. An international jury selects the winner and runner-up.

What You Can Win: €500,000

Location: Amsterdam

Link: http://www.greenchallenge.info/

Inventive Labs 2018 Pitch Competition

Entry Deadline: N/A

Description: Be one of eight cognitively-diverse teams to compete for a variety of prizes. To be eligible, teams must have at least one primary member that self-identifies as being ADHD, dyslexic, autistic or some form of learning difference. Applicants are selected based on their business idea, team member’s skills and background, and the team’s ability to execute. In addition to the prizes being offered, representatives from multiple angel investment groups will be present at the pitch competition. The competition will be open to the public and covered by the press.

What You Can Win: Over $200,000 in prizes

Location: Amesbury, MA

Link: http://www.inventivelabs.org/pitchcompetition2/

Know Identity 2018 Startup Pitch Competition

Entry Deadline: N/A

Description: The KNOW Identity Startup Pitch Competition brings together the world’s leading early-stage startups for a live on-stage battle. The top 10 startups that apply will get to present in front of a panel of distinguished investors, members of media, and identity experts. The winner will take home the $10,000 grand cash prize and the prestige of winning the KNOW Identity Startup Pitch Competition

What You Can Win: $10,000

Location: Washington D.C.

Link: https://www.knowidentityconference.com/startup-pitches/

2018 SPARKTank: 4th Annual Student and Faculty Startup Pitch Competition

Entry Deadline: N/A

Description: Startup teams from around Brandeis compete for up to $50,000 in prizes in our 4th annual SPARKTank competition. Teams will present their ideas for innovations in high tech, social enterprise, business-to-business, and consumer products to a group of judges, and the winners will receive funding, mentorship, and support as they strive to make a difference in the world through entrepreneurship.

What You Can Win: $50,000

Location: Waltham, MA

Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2018-sparktank-4th-annual-student-and-faculty-startup-pitch-competition-tickets-41759952141

Penn Aerospace Pitch Competition

Entry Deadline: 2/2/2018

Description: The Penn Aerospace Pitch Competition is a contest for enterprising students to present aerospace startup ideas at the University of Pennsylvania on February 24th, 2018.

What You Can Win: $8,500

Location: Philadelphia, PA

Link: http://www.pennaeropitch.com/

Rhode Island Business Plan Competition 2018

Entry Deadline: 4/2/2018

Description: The Rhode Island Business Plan Competition aims to create and foster growth companies in Rhode Island that will increase local employment. It’s all about helping established and emerging entrepreneurs achieve their dreams. The Competition encourages plans for new businesses, as well as from early-stage companies. An early stage, or seed stage, company typically is at the inventor stage where there is an idea, a concept, or even a product, but little or no income has been generated yet.

What You Can Win: Prizes consisting of cash and in-kind services, expected to exceed $200,000 in value.

Location: Rhode Island

Link: http://www.ri-bizplan.com/About/AbouttheCompetition.aspx

Tulane Business Model Competition

Entry Deadline: 1/26/2018

Description: College entrepreneurs are invited to enter the 18th annual Tulane Business Model Competition for a chance to win more than $40,000 in cash and prizes for promising startup ventures. Hosted by the Albert Lepage Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Tulane’s A.B. Freeman School of Business, the competition seeks early-stage ventures that demonstrate a market-tested ability to adapt to customers’ needs. It is open to ventures led by one or more students enrolled in a college or university.

What You Can Win: $40,000

Location: New Orleans, LA 70118

Link: http://freeman.tulane.edu/lepage/tulane-business-model-competition