Call for Applications: Women in AV & Tech Startup Prize 2026

Application Deadline: April 22, 2026

About the Prize

Applications are open for the Women in AV & Tech Startup Prize 2026. The Women’s Entrepreneurship Prize is a global competition supporting early-stage women founders with bold ideas and serious execution potential. This initiative aims to back builders, not just ideas, and to create real opportunities for women founders in the AV (Audio Visual) ecosystem. The goal is simple: surface serious founders, reward strong thinking and execution potential, and provide early support to projects that can become real companies in the industry.

What They Are Looking For:

The prize seeks founders who:

• Know their market
• Can think rigorously about execution
• Are committed to building a real business
• Bring fresh perspectives on real problems
• Have strong ideas that move the industry forward (whether new approaches or smart evolutions of what already exists)

Important: They care more about substance than polish, and more about progress than promises. Polish, buzzwords, and hype will not outweigh weak fundamentals.

Prize Benefits

The winner will receive:

• $15,000 cash prize
• Visibility and optional follow-up conversations with the jury or sponsor (note: this is not a promise of investment)

Eligibility Criteria

The competition is open to projects at idea stage, prototype stage, or early company stage.

Eligible ventures must:

• Be woman-led or woman-founded
• Operate in AV (Audio Visual) or closely related sectors such as:

• Media technology
• Collaboration solutions
• Live events
• Immersive technologies
• Workplace innovation
• Adjacent tech fields

• Be no more than 2 years old at the time of application
• Be at idea, prototype, pilot, or early revenue stage

Note: A registered company is not required at the time of application. Solo founders and early teams are welcome.

Judging Criteria

Submissions will be evaluated on:

• Relevance and importance of the problem – Is this a real problem worth solving?
• Credibility and clarity of the solution – Does the solution make sense and address the problem effectively?
• Understanding of the market and customer – Does the founder know who they are building for and why?
• Strength of the founder’s insight and positioning – Does the founder have a unique perspective or advantage?
• Business logic and execution potential – Is there a viable path to building a real business?

Note: Polish, buzzwords, and hype will not outweigh weak fundamentals. Overproduced slides will not score higher than clear thinking.

Application Requirements

Applicants must submit:

1. A short pitch deck (20 slides maximum)
2. A short video of the founders talking about their relevant experience and why they can take this product to market

The submission must clearly cover:

• The problem you are solving and for whom
• Your solution and why it’s different or better
• The target market and customer – who will buy or use this?
• Why you or your team are well positioned to build this
• The business model – how this can make money
• Current status – idea, prototype, users, revenue, pilots, etc.

Application Tip: Clarity matters more than design.

How to Apply

Click on the link to the application website to apply.

Application Link: Click here

Why This Prize Matters

The AV (Audio Visual) and related technology sectors have traditionally been male-dominated, with women founders facing significant barriers to funding and visibility. Early-stage ideas—especially those without a registered company or revenue—are often overlooked by traditional investors.

The Women in AV & Tech Startup Prize addresses this gap by:

• Welcoming idea-stage ventures – no company registration required
• Focusing on substance over polish – clear thinking matters more than fancy slides
• Providing non-dilutive funding ($15,000 cash prize with no equity taken)
• Offering visibility and connections to industry leaders
• Supporting solo founders and early teams at the very beginning of their journey

For a woman founder with a bold idea in AV, media tech, or immersive technologies, this prize could be the catalyst that turns a concept into a company.

For More Information: Visit the Official Webpage of the Women in AV & Tech Startup Prize