Sheboygan County, WI – Accelerate Sheboygan County (AccelSC.com), an initiative of the Sheboygan County Innovation Council (SCIC), funded by the Sheboygan County Economic Development Corporation (SCEDC), is partnering with the Startup World Cup to bring a regional pitch competition to the Weill Center in Sheboygan on September 8 th , 2025, starting at 5:30 PM.
The partnership with the global Startup World Cup series, hosted by Pegasus Tech Ventures and featuring more than 100 regional competitions worldwide, gives local startups the chance to pitch their ideas on a big stage. The winner in Sheboygan will advance to the Startup World Cup 2025 Grand Finale held in San Francisco in October to compete for a $1 million investment prize.
Not only will the Sheboygan winner earn a spot at the Grand Finale in San Francisco, they will also receive $2,000 in funding to cover travel or business expenses. The grand prize winner will be chosen by a panel of judges.
To join the competition and pitch your idea, applications are now open for founders who want the chance to compete. Apply by September 3 rd at: Pitchers Apply Here.
“Bringing this regional pitch competition to Sheboygan is another step towards positioning our county as a vibrant startup hub,” said Justin Vanneiuwenhoven, Chair of the SCIC. “We’re excited to showcase local and statewide innovation and provide entrepreneurs a direct path to global recognition.”
The audience will also play a role in the competition and get to choose the People’s Choice Winner. The People’s Choice Winner will be awarded a $1,000 cash prize.
It is free to attend the event as an audience member; please reserve your spot today at: Audience Member Registration.
With sponsorship by Carbliss you can enjoy free Carbliss hand crafted premium cocktails during the event with opportunities to connect with entrepreneurs, investors, and leaders who are all in support of Sheboygan County’s growing startup community.
“We want to thank those who support our mission to empower the next generation of entrepreneurs,” said Ray York, Business Counselor for the SCEDC and the Small Business Development Center at UWGB. “With event coordination from the entrepreneurs at the SCIC and Third Space Wellness, and financial support from Wells Fargo, Associated Bank, and the SCEDC, we are able to continue to expand our reach and scale the next generation of family-owned businesses in our communities.”
About Accelerate Sheboygan County:
Accelerate Sheboygan County, an initiative of the Sheboygan County Innovation
Council, fuels the local startup ecosystem through programming, events, and resources
that empower entrepreneurs to grow and scale in the region. Learn more at:
accelsc.com.
About Startup World Cup:
Startup World Cup is a premier global startup competition hosted by Pegasus Tech
Ventures. Featuring 100+ regional pitch events across six continents, winners advance
to the Grand Finale, where one startup secures a $1 million investment prize.
