The Green Bay Packers, TitletownTech, and Microsoft have announced a new contest called the TitletownTech Startup Draft. It will offer a $1 million investment to a promising startup company. The winning company will be announced in a live-streamed event before the first round of the NFL Draft on April 24.
Startups from around the United States and Canada can apply. TitletownTech’s managing partner expects at least 5,000 companies to apply. “Each city kind of wants to put their stamp on the draft,” Packers president and CEO Mark Murphy said.
TitletownTech Startup Draft announced
“And I think this is one of those things. I think it really highlights the fact that this is a great place for entrepreneurs.”
To apply, companies must:
– Apply by March 16
– Be based in the United States or Canada
– Have less than $10 million in starting capital
The applicants do not need to be tech-related.
However, TitletownTech says it expects startups to focus on industries relating to Wisconsin’s strengths, such as advanced manufacturing, logistics, and agriculture. “Wisconsin and the upper Midwest have been exceptionally making things and moving things,” said TitletownTech managing partner Craig Dickman. Microsoft vice chair and president Brad Smith said, “I’ll argue that there’s very few places in the country or the world where you can find so many good people who will roll up their sleeves and help their neighbors, seize an opportunity, or solve a problem.”
The startup draft combine, where the companies pitch their ideas in person in Titletown, will be held in early April.
The winning company will be announced just before the first round of the NFL Draft.
Photo by; Adrian Curiel on Unsplash
