FAST PITCH SEATTLE 2017
Social Venture Partners (SVP) Fast Pitch highlights and propels social innovation in the Puget Sound Region and beyond. Innovators tackling societal challenges are paired with business and community leaders who help them accelerate their impact. Each year, 56 innovators compete in one of five tracks: startup nonprofit, established nonprofit, for-profit, high school, and university.
Throughout the four-month SVP Fast Pitch program, innovators hone their ideas and improve their pitches via clinics and coaching from professionals. In the past6 years, SVP Fast Pitch provided 15,000+ hours of coaching and $1M+ in grants and pro-bono services to 300+ social impact organizations tackling poverty, homelessness, inequity in education, prisoner recidivism, climate change, and other huge challenges.
The competition culminates on October 24, 2017 at the 7th Annual SVP Fast Pitch Seattle Final Showdown with 14 finalists pitching on-stage at McCaw Hall. Every ticket purchased is an act of philanthropy, and nearly 1,000 attendees enjoy an exciting evening of learning, connection and inspiration.
Do you have an innovative plan for changing the world? Are you a startup nonprofit, a new program in an established nonprofit, a for-profit startup, or a university or high school student? If so, apply to SVP Fast Pitch!
Applicants accepted into the program are called “Innovators.” They are assigned two coaches who help perfect their organization’s plan and pitch in preparation for the pitch clinics in August, the Quarterfinals in September, Semifinals in October, and the SVP Fast Pitch Final Showdown. Other innovator benefits include comradeship and inspiration from other innovators, a free ticket to the Final Showdown, media coverage, and connections to potential donors, investors and community leaders.
Innovators who make it to the Semifinals will have the opportunity to participate in the Innovator Showcase at McCaw Hall. Fourteen SVP Fast Pitch finalists will pitch on-stage in front of 1,000 social innovation supporters for a chance to win cash grants and prizes (worth $500 to $10,000+).
Online applications open May 16 and close by June 20.SVP Fast Pitch program participants will be announced in early July.
SVP Fast Pitch Seattle Propels Social Entrepreneurs
Become a SVP Fast Pitch Innovator
Years of SVPFast Pitch
For more info on applying to SVP Fast Pitch, please contact: “SVP Fast Pitch was a game-changer for me and Project Feast. The coaching, visibility, connections and funding greatly accelerated our work transforming the lives of refugees and immigrants in our community.”-Veena Prasad, 2013 SVP Fast Pitch Winner
Hours ofCoaching
Organizations Impacted
Grants &Services
bit.ly/svpfastpitchseattle
6
15K
300+
$1M
SVP Fast Pitch is a program of Social Venture Partners (SVP) Seattle. At SVP Seattle, 500+ Partners work together to build sustainable, inclusive communities in the Puget Sound region where everyone can thrive. Individual and corporate Partners pool funds for collective investments which are amplified by skills-based volunteering. Over the past 18 years, SVP has invested $25M and 35,000 volunteer hours to strengthen and scale more than 100 organizations tackling critical social challenges in our region.
Social Venture Partners: Where Passion meets Purpose
www.socialventurepartners.org/seattle/fast-pitch/
$250,001+ Pre-series A
Organization is 3+ years with a new program less than 3 years old
Organization is 0-3 years old. The company is at least at seed stage, with a minimum viable product.
Seniority
Budget
Location of Headquarters
Service Area
Government LegalEntity
Has a strong connection to the Pacific Northwest Region, defined as WA, OR, ID, and British Columbia
No limit
LLC, S-Corp, Corp, certification as a B corporation or legal designation as a Benefit Corporation; impact rating issued by a recognized third-party provider.
For-Profit
Puget Sound
Puget Sound
501c3 or sponsor no later than September 1st
Established Nonprofit
$250,000 or under
Organization is 0-3 years old
Puget Sound
Puget Sound
501c3 or sponsor no later than September 1st
StartupNonprofit
Founder must be a current undergraduate or a spring 2017 graduate at the time of application.
N/A
Puget Sound
No limit
N/A
UniversityVenture
Founder must be at 14 years old and current high school student or a spring 2017 graduate at the time of application.
N/A
Puget Sound
No limit
High SchoolVenture
N/A
All Innovators must participate in pitch clinics and all rounds of competition in-person.They must meet with assigned coaches for at least 20 hours.
FAST PITCH SEATTLE 2017 Eligibility Requirements