Best of the Midwest
Best of the Midwest
Pitch. Compete. Break Through.
Applications are live through August 10th, 2026
Startup Pitches
Speakers
Networking
Technology
Venture Capital
Startup Pitches
Speakers
Networking
Technology
Venture Capital
Best of the Midwest Overview
Best of the Midwest Overview
Your Chance to Pitch & Accelerate Your Startup’s Future
Your Chance to Pitch & Accelerate Your Startup’s Future
Iowa Startup Week is bringing the Midwest's most ambitious founders to one stage and we're looking for the innovations that will change the world.
The Best of the Midwest Pitch Competition is your chance to put your startup in front of the investors, advocates, and decision-makers who can help you scale.
Iowa Startup Week is bringing the Midwest's most ambitious founders to one stage and we're looking for the innovations that will change the world.
The Best of the Midwest Pitch Competition is your chance to put your startup in front of the investors, advocates, and decision-makers who can help you scale.
The perfect fit
The perfect fit
What We Are Looking For
What We Are Looking For
If you're building something scalable, something that solves a real problem, something that could travel well beyond the Midwest — we want to hear from you.
If you're building something scalable, something that solves a real problem, something that could travel well beyond the Midwest — we want to hear from you.
Your startup is Midwest based in Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Kansas, Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, or Nebraska
Your startup is Midwest based in Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Kansas, Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, or Nebraska
Annual revenue under $1M
Annual revenue under $1M
You're building in one of our focus verticals:
You're building in one of our focus verticals:
You're building in one of our focus verticals:
AgTech & Food Innovation - From precision agriculture to alternative proteins, this vertical is built for founders reimagining how we grow, move, and feed the world.
CleanTech & Energy - Founders building the infrastructure for a lower-carbon future: renewable energy, grid modernization, water technology, and sustainable materials.
HealthTech, MedTech & Therapeutics - From care delivery platforms to medical devices to drug discovery, this vertical spans the full spectrum of health innovation.
Industrial & Supply Chain Tech - Hardware, automation, robotics, logistics software, and the technology connecting global supply chains.
FinTech & InsurTech - Payments, lending, wealth management, insurance infrastructure — founders rebuilding financial services from the ground up.
Enterprise Software - Pure-play software companies solving real business problems at scale.
AgTech & Food Innovation - From precision agriculture to alternative proteins, this vertical is built for founders reimagining how we grow, move, and feed the world.
CleanTech & Energy - Founders building the infrastructure for a lower-carbon future: renewable energy, grid modernization, water technology, and sustainable materials.
HealthTech, MedTech & Therapeutics - From care delivery platforms to medical devices to drug discovery, this vertical spans the full spectrum of health innovation.
Industrial & Supply Chain Tech - Hardware, automation, robotics, logistics software, and the technology connecting global supply chains.
FinTech & InsurTech - Payments, lending, wealth management, insurance infrastructure — founders rebuilding financial services from the ground up.
Enterprise Software - Pure-play software companies solving real business problems at scale.
What You Get
Funding
$25,000 in cash and in-kind services to help you grow.
Funding
$25,000 in cash and in-kind services to help you grow.
Funding
$25,000 in cash and in-kind services to help you grow.
Perks
A stage, a spotlight and a room full of the right people.
Perks
A stage, a spotlight and a room full of the right people.
Perks
A stage, a spotlight and a room full of the right people.
Support
Real guidance: before, during and after the final pitch.
Support
Real guidance: before, during and after the final pitch.
Support
Real guidance: before, during and after the final pitch.
How to Apply
Applications close August 10th, 2026
Step 1
Submit Your Application
Apply online (follow the link on this website to our portal) on or before August 10th, 2026 at 11:59pm CST. All submissions final.
Step 1
Submit Your Application
Apply online (follow the link on this website to our portal) on or before August 10th, 2026 at 11:59pm CST. All submissions final.
Step 1
Submit Your Application
Apply online (follow the link on this website to our portal) on or before August 10th, 2026 at 11:59pm CST. All submissions final.
Step 1
Submit Your Application
Apply online (follow the link on this website to our portal) on or before August 10th, 2026 at 11:59pm CST. All submissions final.
Step 2
Semi-Finalists Announced
Our Semi-Finalists will be notified by 5pm CST on Friday, September 11th. At that time, we will require summary financials and formation documents.
Step 2
Semi-Finalists Announced
Our Semi-Finalists will be notified by 5pm CST on Friday, September 11th. At that time, we will require summary financials and formation documents.
Step 2
Semi-Finalists Announced
Our Semi-Finalists will be notified by 5pm CST on Friday, September 11th. At that time, we will require summary financials and formation documents.
Step 2
Semi-Finalists Announced
Our Semi-Finalists will be notified by 5pm CST on Friday, September 11th. At that time, we will require summary financials and formation documents.
Step 3
Buyer's Club Showcase
30 semi-finalists will be invited to present in-person at an exclusive, invitation-only showcase attended by venture capital investors from across the Midwest.
Step 3
Buyer's Club Showcase
30 semi-finalists will be invited to present in-person at an exclusive, invitation-only showcase attended by venture capital investors from across the Midwest.
Step 3
Buyer's Club Showcase
30 semi-finalists will be invited to present in-person at an exclusive, invitation-only showcase attended by venture capital investors from across the Midwest.
Step 3
Buyer's Club Showcase
30 semi-finalists will be invited to present in-person at an exclusive, invitation-only showcase attended by venture capital investors from across the Midwest.
Step 4
The Big Stage
3 Finalists compete on the evening of October 1, 2026 at Hoyt Sherman Place in Des Moines in front of a packed house and a prize purse that could change everything.
Step 4
The Big Stage
3 Finalists compete on the evening of October 1, 2026 at Hoyt Sherman Place in Des Moines in front of a packed house and a prize purse that could change everything.
Step 4
The Big Stage
3 Finalists compete on the evening of October 1, 2026 at Hoyt Sherman Place in Des Moines in front of a packed house and a prize purse that could change everything.
Step 4
The Big Stage
3 Finalists compete on the evening of October 1, 2026 at Hoyt Sherman Place in Des Moines in front of a packed house and a prize purse that could change everything.
The Prize
A non-dilutive prize purse that goes directly into your business + in-kind services and benefits from our partners across the region.
Get started
Get started
Interested in Sponsoring? Let’s Talk.
FAQs
FAQs
Got Questions?
Got Questions?
What does it cost to attend?
What does it cost to attend?
Are sponsorship opportunities available?
Are sponsorship opportunities available?
Who should attend Iowa Startup Week?
Who should attend Iowa Startup Week?
Do I need to have a startup to attend?
Do I need to have a startup to attend?
Iowa Startup Week is a week-long event in Des Moines, Iowa designed to celebrate and platform entrepreneurship in the Midwest.
© Iowa Startup Week. All rights reserved.
Iowa Startup Week is a week-long event in Des Moines, Iowa designed to celebrate and platform entrepreneurship in the Midwest.
© Iowa Startup Week. All rights reserved.
Iowa Startup Week is a week-long event in Des Moines, Iowa designed to celebrate and platform entrepreneurship in the Midwest.
© Iowa Startup Week. All rights reserved.
Iowa Startup Week is a week-long event in Des Moines, Iowa designed to celebrate and platform entrepreneurship in the Midwest.
© Iowa Startup Week. All rights reserved.