Thank you for your interest in the Innovate!2010 program.

After a successful series of 14 Innovate!2010 Pitch Slams in Europe that began in Zaragoza, Spain and ended in Tallinn, Estonia, we're excited to be embarking on a North American Pitch Slam tour that will take the Innovate!2010 program to cities across the U.S. this summer and fall.

Companies selected as Semi-finalists to participate in Innovate! Pitch Slams:

• Pitch to a group of expert judges in front of an audience of local investors, entrepreneurs, tech executives, entrepreneurs and media.
• Are promoted globally as an Innovate!100 Semi-finalist
• Are exposed to over 100 angels, VCs and decision makers at Fortune 1000 companies ready to invest in working with startups
• Have the opportunity to compete for over $1M in Innovate! Challenge awards.

And it's all free for selected companies!

Here's how it works:

STEP 1: Apply Now!

Complete this application form to provide Guidewire Group's analyst team with pertinent details about your company. On the form, you will see a notation next to the information that will be considered public and may be used to promote your participation in the program (e.g. The month and year your startup was founded, Names of key executives, etc.). The other information will be kept private and will be used soley for the purpose of evaluating your company. The deadline to apply is 2 weeks prior to each Pitch Slam.

STEP 2: Be selected as a semi-finalist!re selected.

A select group of startups will be named as Semi-finalists and will be invited to deliver a pitch about their company at one of the upcoming Innovate!2010 Pitch Slam events. Selection is conducted by Guidewire Group analysts based on the clarity of your application, and you company's execution in the last year. (it doesn't matter what stage you are, just that you've accomplished things!)

STEP 3: Pitch for local exposure.

During each Innovate!2010 Pitch Slam, depending on the city, anywhere from 8 to 24 Semi-finalists will give a brief, five-minute pitch to an audience and our panel of expert judges. The startups will be evaluated by the judges and will be provided with a G/Score. Pitching at a Pitch Slam and receiving a G/Score makes you eligible to participate in the Innovate! Challenges for over $1M in prizes. Companies pre-selected to pitch attend for free.

STEP 4: Get promoted globally as part of the Innovate!100

Pitch videos for all of the Innovate!100 Semi-finalists will be used to promote the companies. In addition, eligible companies will be able to participate in the Innovate! Connections Program, that will provide introductions to over 100 angel investors, VCs and decision makers at Fortune 1000 companies. Startups with the top G/Scores will be named to the Innovate!100 list for 2010 and the Innovate! Challenges prizes will be awarded.

If you have any questions before you apply, please email innovate@guidewiregroup.com.

Innovate!2010 Pitch Slam Schedule

Applications are now being accepted for events in these locations:                                        

• Boston, MA - November 2, 2010
• Austin, TX - November 11, 2010

Note, there are still tickets and a couple of Entrepreneur Display Tables available for Silicon Valley and Los Angeles events.

The Innovate!2010 Program is produced by Guidewire Group with the generous support of a prestigious group of market-leading companies including Alcatel-Lucent, Best Buy, Cisco Systems, Comcast, Difference Engine, EMC, HP, HSBC, IBM, LaPoste, LG Electronics, Microsoft, Motorola, O2 Litmus, Oracle, PayPal, PWC, RIM, SAP, Silicon Valley Bank, SWIFT, Symphony Corporation and Verizon, dozens of early-stage investors, and marquee media partners. For more information about eligibility or the overall Innovate!2010 program, please visit the Program website.