• To make an application to pitch, first read the eligibility criteria and the terms & conditions below to make sure your start-up is eligible to apply.
• Register your interest via the form in the “How to apply” section before Monday, 10th February 2025.
• When your form has been accepted (there may be a delay of up to 48hrs), you will receive instructions on how to submit your application. The application consists of uploading four one-minute videos in which you describe certain aspects of your business (the instructions will provide more detail). Applications must be uploaded by noon on Wednesday, 12 February.
• An independent panel then reviews all the applications to shortlist the six finalists.
• The six finalists will be notified of their selection by Tuesday 18th February.
• If selected as a finalist, you must be available on Tuesday 25th February (in person) for a short pitch coaching session and event publicity (photography & videography) on our Grangegorman campus. More details on this will be supplied once the finalists are announced. And of course, you must be available in-person to do the live pitch on the 7th March.  
• If you are not a finalist but would like to be in the audience, then see below for details on applying for audience tickets.
• We look forward to seeing you there!

This competition is open to start-ups who meet one of the following eligibility criteria:

• Is a registered TU Dublin student
• Is currently completing, or has previously completed, an Entrepreneurship programme with TU Dublin (e.g. New Frontiers)
• Is registered with the CRO (as a limited company) and is based in the Dublin City, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Fingal or South Dublin local authority areas
• Is registered as a client with a Local Enterprise Office in Dublin City, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Fingal or South Dublin local authority areas
• Or is based in the Dublin City, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Fingal or South Dublin local authority areas and are not registered with any other Local Enterprise Office

Note: Other Terms and Conditions apply.

• The Start-up must have received less than €50,000 Euro of external investment or government funding to date (received or committed) by the date of the final.
• The Start-up must have less than €100K total sales to date.
• The Start-up is not more than 3 years old.
• The Start-up consents to the application information and video being shared with TU Dublin staff and 3rd parties involved in the organisation & delivery of the pitch event.
• If shortlisted for the live final, the start-up consents to pitching live to an invited panel and a general audience (not subject to an NDA).
• Disclosure of commercially sensitive data or intellectual property during the course of the event is at the discretion of the entrant. Organisers are not liable for any resulting loss.
• The Start-up consents to the event being recorded (whether officially or unofficially on personal devices by audience members).
• The Start-up consents to participate in publicity/media activities prior, during and after the event.
• Proposals that are considered unethical or excluded from normal funding criteria for Local Enterprise Offices (or Enterprise Ireland) will not be considered (e.g. gambling, property development, etc.).
• Applicants warrant that they are a founder, owner or director of the startup, that the project proposal is their own work, and they are not representing a third party.
• The Applicant will be the person submitting and primarily featuring in the videos; undertaking the pitch coaching & publicity and performing the live pitch, if shortlisted for the final.
• Your business must be owned or controlled in Ireland. You may be asked to provide your CRO number (if incorporated) or PPS number (if no company has been registered).
• You must have an Irish personal or company bank account, to which any prize money can be transferred.
• The offer of free office space is only available during the period of 1st May 2025 to 30th April 2026 (12 consecutive months), in your preferred TU Dublin campus incubator (Blanchardstown, Grangegorman, or Tallaght), subject to availability.
• Hot desk award is for three consecutive months in your preferred TU Dublin campus incubator (Blanchardstown, Grangegorman, or Tallaght), subject to availability. Commencing and finishing between 1st April 2025 and 31st October 2025.
• Previous Pitch Perfect finalists (and their businesses) are not eligible.
• Cash equivalents or other substitutions are not available for any non-cash award.
• Organisers reserve the right to withdraw finalists or withhold prizes in the event that false or incorrect information are provided at any stage during the competition process.
• The decision of the shortlisting panel and judging panel at the live pitch is final.

Register your interest in entering your start-up business in the pitching competition by completing this form:

Get Tickets - on sale on 05 February 2024

Watch Dublin's top entrepreneurial talent battle in front of an audience of hundreds to win cash prizes and more for their start-up. This is not to be missed, so make sure to get your free ticket!!

Audience tickets are available via Eventbrite only (available on 05 February 2025).

We welcome teachers and lecturers who wish to take their student groups to this event to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs. If you want to take a large group to Pitch Perfect, please contact StartUp@TUDublin.ie.