The Finalists have been chosen! Watch the Awards Ceremony LIVE on Oct 10th and find out who will be crowned Startup Battleground Champion.
Show the World Your Next Real-Time Solution
RTE Startup Battleground is the early-stage startup competition for founders, entrepreneurs, and enthusiasts from around the globe who are shaping the future of how we live, work and play in real-time together.
Got a blazing solution the world has yet to hear about? Now’s your chance to show off how your product can inspire, engage and transform lives.
Take the virtual stage to pitch your startup, and you can win part of the $25,000 prize pool!
COMPETITION SCHEDULE
OCTOBER 3 – 12:00 PM PDT
Finalists pitch LIVE at RTE2022.
OCTOBER 10 – 2:30 PM PDT
Watch the Awards Ceremony LIVE from the City View at Metreon in San Francisco and online at RTE2022
PRIZES
First Place
$15,000
Second Place
$5,000
Third Place
$3,000
Audience Choice Award
$2,000
ELIGIBILITY
EARLY STARTUP
Less than $3 million raised in total funding
INCORPORATED
Less than three years from incorporation
RTE IMPLEMENTATION
Have RTE elements in the product (voice, video, messaging, and more)
OPEN TO ALL
Not limited to Agora users
AVAILABLE PRESENTER
C-level or co-founder is available to present live
PRESENT LIVE
Agree to present live at the final pitch
Don’t miss the deadline. Submissions are open until September 23rd, and all finalists will be notified by September 30.
VOTE FOR THE FINALISTS
Select your favorite startup and cast your vote for the Audience Choice Award.
Abby is a Livestreaming Shopping Platform which acts as a bridge between Brands and Online Shoppers.
Agora World is a social experience platform that empowers creators to build the world of their dreams.
At Breaker Nation our goal is to help musicians launch their careers and connect with fans to promote their music.
The health & wellness industry’s first-ever democratized e-learning platform for educators and coaches.
blabla is an audio-based community platform where anybody can host their live audio streams and connect.
We build Digital Training Officers and AI powered e-Learning platforms for enterprises in North America and the EU.
TennisONE is the ultimate global, mobile tennis app for fans, players and coaches! Follow ATP and WTA tennis anywhere.
The e-sport gameshow platform for NFTs through video and competition. A new way to bring utility to your NFTs.
Application Closed
The submission period is now closed but tune in for the Awards Ceremony on October 10th! Register now for your free tickets to RTE2022.
Cast your vote:
Voting is now closed. Please tune in Monday, October 10th at 2:30 pm PDT for the Awards Ceremony when we’ll announce the First, Second, Third and Audience Choice Award Winners. May the best startup win!
JUDGING CRITERIA
Problem to Be Solved
Competitive Analysis
Team Assessment
Target Market
RTE Use Case
Business Model
Solution Details
Go-to-Market Strategy
Investment Proposal
Overall Presentation Quality
JUDGES
Todd Embley
Host
Startup Program Director
Agora
Ekta Dang, Ph.D
CEO & Founder
U First Capital
Robert De-Monts
Executive Advisor
MIT Alumni Angel Investors
Sue Xu, Ph.D
Managing Partner
Amino Capital
APPLICATION MATERIAL
Your pitch deck, is your ticket to the next round of the competition. It can be in any format, including PowerPoint and PDF.
Please explain the following points in your deck:
- What is the problem you are solving?
- What is the solution/platform you created?
- How is your product/solution empowering real-time engagement (RTE)?
- What is the market size?
- What is the updated traction/achievement so far? (How many users? How many sessions are hosted? etc.)
- What is the projected revenue/traffic for your platform?
What You Should Expect
Want a taste of the competition? Check out last year’s recording!
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to build my app with Agora?
A: No, you don’t have to. This competition is open to all qualified startups. You can use any of the vendors for your real-time experience features such as video, audio, and messaging. You will be judged equally as any other contestant.
What types of startups can apply?
A: Your startup must have raised less than three million dollars, have been incorporated less than three years, and have real-time engagement features built into your platform, such as video, audio, and messaging.
Will there be an investment option?
A: The winning prize will be an equity-free grant prize. There will be VC firms and investors among the judges and audience. However, the investment option is not guaranteed.
How will Agora use my product?
A: This competition will not imply in any way that Agora will use the winning team’s product.
Will Agora take any equity in my company?
A: The winning prize will be an equity-free grant prize.
What is the process after I submit this application form?
A: Judges and Agora staff will review all the submissions and select the nine finalists. The nine finalists will be announced and invited to an exclusive online pitch training workshop and orientation. Finalists will pitch live on October 3, 2022. The winner will be announced on October 10, 2022, at the RTE2022 conference in front of thousands of attendees and our esteemed judges.
What materials do I need to submit along with the application form?
A: A pitch deck, is the most important asset for advancing to the next phase of the competition. Remember to show data and traction and include all the topics listed here:
- What is the problem you are solving?
- What is the solution/platform you created?
- What is the market size?
- What is the updated traction/achievement so far? (How many users? How many sessions hosted? Etc.)
- What is the projected revenue/traffic for this platform?
The design of the slides is essential, but it is not the most critical factor. We want to see your platform’s data, traction, and market potential.
After the submission, when do I hear back from Agora if I have been moved to the next stage?
A: We will announce and contact all the finalists in September. Please check your mailbox and spam folder for emails from us.
How about the IP (Intellectual Property) right by participating in this competition?
A: The IP rights are still owned by the original owner. Participating in this competition doesn’t change IP rights.
Is the winning prize attached to equity of the company?
A: The winning prize is an equity-free award.
What if my pitch deck is confidential?
A: For the first-round selection of the competition, your pitch deck will only be shared and reviewed by Agora staff and judges. You can adapt your pitch deck for the external audience if you are among the finalists. But you have to attend, present, and show the pitch deck during the live session of the final round of the competition.
