June 13th, 2025

Startup
World
Cup

Don't miss the world's largest startup competition, coming to Tulsa! Oklahoma's top founders will compete for a spot on the international Startup World Cup stage and $1M in investment. Whether you pitch, support, or attend- be part of the excitement.

Apply to pitch Join The Audience

Powered by Pegasus Tech Ventures, the Startup World Cup is a global conference and competition that brings together the world's top startups, VC's, entrepreneurs and world-class tech CEO's.

Gradient is the official host of the Oklahoma regional competition on June 13th- and our winner will pitch live at the global competition in San Fran!

let's talk prizes

What you get

when you win the Oklahoma regionals!

A chance to compete for the $1M Grand Prize

A professionally designed pitch deck

$5k cold hard cash towards your travel to San Francisco

Industry-expert mentorship leading up to your big pitch

Get Involved

Pitch, support, or join the audience!

Be a part of the world's largest startup competition,
happening right here in Tulsa.

Apply to Pitch

Applications close May 16

Take the stage at Oklahoma’s premier startup competition on June 13 for a shot at major prizes and national recognition. The winning team advances to the global semi-finals in San Francisco to compete for the $1M grand prize.

Gain exposure and credibility in front of investors and industry leaders
Win prizes and resources to help scale your startup
$5K cash to travel San Francisco
Join a global network of top startups and innovators

Apply Now

Become a Supporter

Limited Spots Available

Empower the next wave of entrepreneurs and fuel innovation in Oklahoma. Contribute through sponsorship, mentorship, and resources to support startups on their journey.

Contribute financially to the success of Startup World Cup and the founders it supports! Several sponsorship tiers available.
- Champion Sponsor- $5,000
- Visionary Sponsor- $2,500
- Celebration Sponsor- $5,000
- Launchpad Sponsor- $2,500
Volunteer your time to mentor the regional winner on their journey to the Grand Finale.

Request More Details

Attend the Event

Join the audience!

Join fellow entrepreneurs, business leaders, and startup enthusiasts for an inspiring day of pitches, networking, and innovation. Whether you're an aspiring founder, investor, or supporter, this is the place to be.

Network with top startups, investors, and business leaders
Connect with local talent and potential collaborators
Celebrate Oklahoma’s thriving startup ecosystem

Register to Attend

This Year's Startups

Our Connect programs thrive thanks to partners who share our vision, enabling impactful events, meaningful connections, and valuable resources.

Meet The Judges

Devon Laney

Chief Executive Officer

Jamie Leupen

VP of Marketing & Communications

Erin Haworth

VP of Systems & Operations

Alison Peta

Chief of Staff

things

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FAQs

Important Dates

May 16: Applications Close
May 23: Top 10 Announced
June 13: SWC Regionals @ Gradient
October 15: San Francisco Semi-Finals
October 17: San Fransisco Grand Finale

How can a startup pitch at the Grand Finale?

Startup World Cup hosts 100+ regional events across North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia. Each regional winner will fly to San Francisco to compete in the semi-finals!

What will the regional winning startups receive?

Startup World Cup will provide free event tickets to attend the Networking Party, and Grand Finale for the winning startup from each regional event. Gradient will provide $5k towards travel and 1:1 mentorship with industry experts.

What does the world champion get for winning the final competition?

The winner of the Grand Finale will receive US $1,000,000 prize in investment. It will either be in exchange for a portion of equity related to the most recent round of funding or a convertible note, depending on the size of the company and how much funding they have raised.

Regional Sponsors

Cornerstone Partners provide invaluable support for Gradient’s long-term initiatives, driving operational sustainability, programmatic growth, and community innovation.

Startup
World
Cup

What you get