The 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐅𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 by FoundersFight.Club might just be the coolest pitch format in the German startup ecosystem.🏆
🥊𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐭 𝐔𝐩The competition pits startups against each other in boxing match style direct face-offs. Each startup is matched with a worthy opponent, creating a series of one-on-one battles. Yes, this includes walk on songs and ideally a boxing ring.🎶
⏱️𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬
1️⃣ Opening Pitch: Each entrepreneur has one minute to present their case
2️⃣ Attack and Defend: The red corner attacks while the blue corner defends for one minute
3️⃣Role reversal: Roles switch, with blue attacking and red defending
⚠️𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐭What makes Founders Fight Night truly unique is the absence of traditional pitching tools. There are no screens, no slides, and no visual aids. Contestants must rely solely on their words, passion, and entrepreneurial spirit to make their case.
🎖️𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧After the initial bout judges ask a single "haymaker question" to each contestant and an expert influencer gives a preference trying to sway the crowd in one direction.Ultimately, the audience votes publicly by holding up colored cards to determine the winner.
🕶️ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫This format ensures high audience engagement and mimics the real startup world, where the market (represented by the audience) ultimately decides a startup's success. The set up transforms the often dry pitching process into an adrenaline-pumping spectacle, testing not just ideas but also the entrepreneurs' resilience, quick thinking, and ability to inspire under pressure.
Thanks for Jan C. Küster for inviting us to take part in Novembers BUILDINX edition and congrats to figth champion Anna Dieckhöfer from SLAPStack.
What is your favourite pitch event and format?
