Workplace Innovation $5M--TechCrunch Disrupt--Black Sea $300K

Hello startup people! Here’s the latest drop on Grants, Pitch Competitions, Awards, and Summits.

Quick note about the Workplace Innovation Now Challenge: while technically they want non-profits to apply (and I don’t list those opps here in this newsletter), it’s such a large grant with a tech focus and they do allow for fiscally-sponsored projects. So find that Lead Organization and apply!

~Diane

💪 The Biggies

Newly Added: Grants, Pitch, Awards, Summits

🎤 Pitch Competitions

🎤 Womenpreneur Pitch-A-Ton – N5 Million
Africa; Female-Led | Oct 3 | Apply Here

🎤 Brewbound Live Pitch Slam – $35,000 in services
Food & Bev | Oct 15 | Apply Here

🎤 Plan B Network CypherTank Pitch Competition – Up to $450,000 investment
Bitcoin | Oct 15 (my guess) | Apply Here

🎤 DigitalHealth PitchFest – Pitch at Rewired 2026
UK; HealthTech | Nov 21 | Apply Here

💰 Grants

💰 Idea Leap Grant – $30,000
Georgia; Tennessee; all business | Oct 27 | Apply Here

💼 Events

💼 TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 – 10,000+ attendees
San Francisco; All Tech | Oct 27–29 | Apply Here

🔨 Challenges

🔨 Eco-Innovation Challenge – $300,000
Black Sea; Sustainability | Nov 14 | Apply Here

🔨 Workplace Innovation Now Challenge – $5,000,000
Future of Work; AI; Culture | Dec 11 | Apply Here

🏆 Awards

🏆 4YFN Awards 2026 – €20,000
HealthTech; FinTech; Mobile | Oct 22 | Apply Here

Closing Soon! Last Chance!

🎤 Pitch Competitions

🎤 Catalyst by Beemok Pitch Competition – $1,000,000 investment
South Carolina; All Tech | Sept 30 | Apply Here

🎤 Adventure Pitch Fest – $10,000
New Mexico; Outdoor; Health & Wellness | Sept 30 | Apply Here

🎤 Agora Venture Competition – $10,000
DC, Maryland, Virginia; Female-founded | Sept 30 | Apply Here

🎤 Pitch Finland Cybersecurity – €10,000
Cybersecurity | Oct 1 | Apply Here

🎤 VC Pitch Day 2025 – Secure investor meetings
Canada; Scaling Tech; Life Science | Oct 1 | Apply Here

🎤 Venture135 Pitch Competition – $200,000 investment
FinTech; InsurTech; Underrepresented | Oct 3 | Apply Here

🎤 HuCapital Pitch Competition – $5,000 + VC consultation
AI | Oct 3 | Apply Here

🎤 Womenpreneur Pitch-A-Ton – N5 Million
Africa; Female-Led | Oct 3 | Apply Here

💰 Grants
💰 OpenAI Cybersecurity Grant Program – $100,000
AI; Privacy; Agentic Security | Sept 30 (rolling applications) | Apply Here

💰 Encompass Health Therapy Grants – $60,000
Rehab and Inpatient Care | Sept 30 | Apply Here

💰 AT&T She’s Connected Small Business Content – $50,000
Female-Founded | Sept 30 | Apply Here

💰 Dairy Business Innovation Grants – $100,000
Dairy; Food & Bev; Manufacturing | Sept 30 | Apply Here

💼 Events
💼 Roadmap to Billions – Keynotes; Mentor marketplace
Toronto; Black, Women founders | Oct 5–6 | Apply Here

💼 The MedTech Conference – 3,500+ attendees
San Diego; MedTech; Healthcare | Oct 5–8 | Apply Here

💼 MEMA Aftermarket Technology Conference – Networking; Demos
Missouri; Sustainable Mobility; EV | Oct 5–7 | Apply Here

💼 Independent Hotel Show – 4000+ buyers
London; CPG; Hospitality Tech | Oct 6–7 | Apply Here

💼 Smart City Expo – Masterclasses; Networking
Miami; Sustainable Communities | Oct 6–8 | Apply Here

🚀 Accelerators
🚀 L’Oreal Groupe Sustainable Innovation Accelerator – Co-develop products with L’Oreal
Beauty Industry | Sept 30 | Apply Here

🔨 Challenges
🔨 Tech FoundHER Africa Challenge 2025 – $100,000
Africa; Women-led | Sept 30 | Apply Here

🔨 Orsted Digital Innovation Challenge – £50,000 + Pilot program
UK; Wind Farm; Operations; Maintenance Ops | Oct 3 | Apply Here

🏆 Awards
🏆 Egypt’s Entrepreneur Awards – Recognition
Egypt; All Tech | Sept 30 | Apply Here

🏆 Startups 100 Index 2026 Awards – Recognition
UK; All Startups | Oct 3 | Apply Here

One Hour Pitch Deck: Bootstrapped founder-friendly services to get you a big step forward in your journey. Deck upgrades, grant content, or get the same due diligence reports VC’s use when screening your deck. Book a 15-min clarity call at onehourpitchdeck.com to learn more about positioning your startup for funding.

🚪 Beyond the Deal Room curates grants, pitch competitions, awards, and tech summits for 6,000+ founders, VC’s and startup organizations. Over $60M global opportunities, mostly non-dilutive, are available across all verticals each year.

Disclaimer: I receive no compensation for promoting any of these events. While I try to be as accurate as possible when posting requirements such as deadlines, it’s your responsibility to confirm all requirements.

📣 Who am I? Your biggest cheerleader. Connect with me on LinkedIn.