Submission Process

Round 1

Evaluated on a rolling basis
Successful submissions meet the following criteria:
- Concept addresses a significant problem facing ophthalmologists and/or their patients
- Applicant commits to present at The Winning Pitch Finals event if selected as finalist
- Applicant has submitted at least a provisional application for patent for their idea by WPC submission deadline
- Our resources may help applicant complete provisional application for patent prior to submission deadline
Mentors are in limited supply and are provided on first-come, first-served basis, so submit application ASAP

Round 2

Semi-finalists advance on a rolling basis, immediately after successful review of Round 1 submission
Applicant paired with a mentor from The Winning Pitch Challenge mentor program
Mentor evaluates applicant concept, business model, etc. and provides feedback and advice on how to maximize impact of submission
Pitch deck is developed with input and guidance from mentor
Judges select top three submissions for Round 3—live delivery of pitches to the judges during The Winning Pitch Challenge Finals event
The Winning Pitch Challenge finalists represent concepts that the judges believe provide the most compelling potential solutions for significant retina or anterior segment problems

Round 3

Mentors provide feedback on PowerPoint deck and pitch delivery
Finalists pitch to judges during The Winning Pitch Challenge Finals event
Judges provide feedback on pitch and whether they would be interested in having additional discussions regarding a potential equity investment
$25,000 cash prize for first place, $15,000 cash price for second place, and $5,000 for third place to defray development costs