Have questions about StartUp Lehigh Valley at Musikfest? Find answers to frequently asked questions about attending, applying, and more.
About Pitching in the Contest
Entrepreneurs and founders of startups over the age of 18 are eligible to participate.
- Applicants must be 18 or older to apply.
- Applicants submitting on behalf of a business entity must have the authority to do so.
- All applications must be the original work of the applicant making the submission.Past winners are not permitted to compete again.
- Past finalists who presented live must demonstrate meaningful progress in their venture to be considered again.
- The review committee reserves the right to determine additional eligibility at its discretion.
- Submissions that are incomplete or fail to meet all stated rules and criteria may be disqualified or penalized at the discretion of the competition organizers.
Full Terms & Conditions will be posted with the application when it opens May 15, 2025.
No, but you must be beyond the idea stage with either active market traction or externally validated evidence of potential (e.g., pilot programs, letters of intent, significant user engagement, prototype, etc.)
Additional requirements:
- Must be founded within the past five years
- The company should offer a unique, innovative solution addressing a clear market need.
- Must operate in a market (or have plans to) with high growth potential and the ability to scale regionally, nationally, or globally.
- Must have a dedicated founding team able to execute on the venture but no more than 20 full time employees.
- The venture and founding team must be based in the U.S., with preference potentially given to those connected to the Lehigh Valley, either currently or in the future.
Prize money must be used for costs associated with advancing your start up business. For example:
- marketing/promotion
- product development
- equipment
- technology
- supplies
- working capital
- patent costs
Full terms & conditions will be posted when the application opens on May 15, 2025.
Finalists will be notified by the first week of July 2025.
Venue Information
Yes! Please join us on August 5, 2025 at the Musikfest Café in South Bethlehem from 6:30–8:00 p.m. as part of the annual Musikfest celebration. The event will also be broadcasted and streamed live on WFMZ Channel 69.
Before the live pitches take center stage, from 5 - 6 p.m., attendees can connect with the entrepreneurs at a "Meet the Pitchers" table display event. This pre-show gathering offers a unique opportunity to engage directly with the individuals behind the innovative ventures, learn more about their products and services, and ask questions in a relaxed and informal setting.
No, this year's event is free and open to the public as part of Musikfest.
The Fine Print
By submitting an application, applicants acknowledge and agree to the following terms:
Application Rules & Eligibility
In addition to meeting all details specified in the Application Criteria section:
- Applicants must be 18 or older to apply.
- Applicants submitting on behalf of a business entity must have the authority to do so.
- All applications must be the original work of the applicant making the submission.
- Submissions that are incomplete or fail to meet all stated rules and criteria may be disqualified or penalized at the discretion of the competition organizers.
Finalist & Awardee Responsibilities
- There is no charge or fees to participate in the competition.
- Finalists are responsible for their own travel and accommodation expenses
- Award winners are solely responsible for any tax implications related to prize money and must submit any required documentation & tax forms to the designated prize administrator before receiving funds.
- Prize funding will typically be disbursed to legally registered business entities. However, at the discretion of the competition organizers, funds may be awarded to individuals if a business entity has yet to be formed.
Intellectual Property, Confidentiality & Application Usage
- Applicants should not submit confidential, proprietary, or trade secret information in their application materials.
- StartUp Lehigh Valley and reviewers will not sign NDAs.
- Applicants retain all rights to their intellectual property and are responsible for ensuring they have necessary rights or licenses.
- Entry materials become the property of the competition. StartUp Lehigh Valley and its affiliates may use application content (e.g., company descriptions, abstracts, pitch decks, etc.) for research, education, program development, reporting, and other non-commercial purposes.
Media & Promotional Rights
- Finalists and awardees consent to participating in media interviews, event promotions, and post-competition marketing efforts.
- StartUp Lehigh Valley may use finalist and awardee names, company details, logos, pitch materials, and other information in promotional content, including press releases, website features, and social media.
- No applicant is required to disclose proprietary or trade secret information in public-facing promotions.
Withdrawal & Replacement Policy
- If a finalist withdraws, competition organizers may select a replacement finalist at their discretion.
- Finalists must confirm participation within one week after being notified of their selection.
- If a winner fails to meet the conditions of an award, StartUp Lehigh Valley reserves the right to reallocate the prize.
Additional Terms
- All applicants and award recipients must comply with these Terms and Conditions. Any violation will disqualify an applicant from the competition, and result in forfeiture of any awards the applicant received in connection with the competition.
- The competition organizers reserve the right to update these Terms and Conditions at their discretion. If any changes occur, all applicants will be notified accordingly.
- StartUp Lehigh Valley reserves the right to modify, postpone, or cancel the competition in case of unforeseen circumstances (e.g., natural disasters, public health emergencies, funding limitations).
- All decisions by the competition organizers and review committee are final.