Who: Idea or seed-stage startups ready to move FAST.
What: Show Don't Tell.
How: 5 startups compete against each other to see who can move the furthest from their starting point in a 12-week velocity competition.
Entry: Pitch Day - Startups compete for one of 5 spots in the Velocity competition by presenting a doable 12-week roadmap to validate and accelerate their business. Judges select the most promising roadmaps to move forward.
When: April 29th is Pitch Day. Friday July 25th is Demo Day.
Support: Startups receive weekly funding drops based on progress toward their roadmap goals
Pitch Day
12-Week Roadmap Requirements
Startups should demonstrate:
- Weekly milestones covering customer discovery, prototyping, validation, growth, and revenue
- Strategic use of resources aligned with funding and goals
- Must have a path to both customers and revenue within 12 weeks. Be ambitious. Your competition is.
Roadmap Samples
1. B2B Software Company - Idea Stage (Productivity tool for HR managers)
12-week Customer Goal: 10 Customers
12-week Revenue Goal: $1000 MRR
- Week 1: Interview 25 HR managers to validate pain points
- Week 2: Build clickable prototype and test with 10 users
- Week 3: Incorporate feedback into prototype and launch early access waitlist
- Week 4: Evangelize prototype and reach out to 50 new HR managers on Linkedin (continue 50/week each week hereafter)
- Week 5: Build MVP with 2 core features
- Week 6: Invite 5 early testers from waitlist
- Week 7: Setup Mailmerge and reach out to 1000 web scraped HR leads
- Week 8: Iterate MVP and implement user onboarding
- Week 9: Launch pilot with 3 paying businesses
- Week 10: Reach $500 MRR
- Week 11: Close & onboard 3 more business customers
- Week 12: Close & onboard 4 more business customers
2. B2C Software Company - Idea Stage (Habit Tracking App)
12-week Customer Goal: 500 Downloads
12-week Revenue Goal: $50 MRR
- Week 1: Interview 50 people with habit-building goals to validate demand
- Week 2: Build clickable prototype and test with 10 users
- Week 3: Incorporate feedback and build MVP with 1 habit module
- Week 4: Launch beta sign-up landing page and begin social outreach
- Week 5: Add 2 more habit modules and a leaderboard
- Week 6: Launch beta with 25 early testers
- Week 7: Launch app on TestFlight and Google Play Beta
- Week 8: 75 new beta testers
- Week 9: Introduce paid tier and begin upsell tests in beta group
- Week 10: Reach $500 MRR from paid users
- Week 11: Launch referral program and email onboarding flows
- Week 12: Reach 1000 total downloads and $1000 MRR
3. B2C Hardware Company (Ergonomic kitchen tool)
12-week Customer Goal: 50 Pre-Orders
12-week Revenue Goal: $2500 in Pre-Order Sales
- Week 1: Interview 30 home cooks and chefs to validate concept
- Week 2: Create 3 CAD design options for feedback
- Week 3: 3D print and test first prototype version
- Week 4: Run feedback sessions and revise design
- Week 5: Finalize prototype and print 10 units for user testing
- Week 6: Launch pre-order landing page and start email capture
- Week 7: Film demo video and launch influencer outreach
- Week 8: Secure 25 pre-orders via Instagram + newsletter push
- Week 9: Partner with 2 local kitchen stores for limited trials
- Week 10: Reach $1500 in pre-order revenue
- Week 11: Secure 25 more pre-orders via pop-ups and email
- Week 12: Reach 50 total pre-orders and $2500 in revenue
4. CPG Company (Adaptogenic wellness beverage)
12-week Customer Goal: 250 Units Sold
12-week Revenue Goal: $2500 in Sales
- Week 1: Interview 20 health-conscious consumers to validate product idea
- Week 2: Develop 3 test flavor formulas and source sample ingredients
- Week 3: Conduct taste test with 25 people and gather feedback
- Week 4: Iterate and conduct broader taste test in shelf-stable formula with 50 people
- Week 5: Decide on flavors. Design label and packaging with compliance in mind
- Week 6: Source packaging and finalize costs
- Week 7: Launch pre-order website with lifestyle content
- Week 8: Drive first 100 pre-orders via IG/influencer marketing
- Week 9: Sell 50 more units through pop-up sampling events
- Week 10: Reach $1500 in revenue and 150 units sold
- Week 11: Launch DTC ad campaign and email marketing
- Week 12: Reach 250 total units sold and $2500 in revenue
Winning
The startup that's come the farthest from their starting line wins. Be prepared to show evidence of learning, traction, iteration, and momentum.
