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APPLICATIONS OPEN

Apply to pitch at AI Startups
Demo Day

Get in, and you get more than a stage: pitch coaching, warm investor intros, and real help getting to San Francisco.

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Late October 2026

Applications open

Submit the short form on this page. We review applications on a rolling basis, so apply early.

November 2026

Applications close

We review applications and shortlist the strongest companies building ambitious, globally minded businesses.

Late November 2026

Decisions

Our selection panel picks the final 100 startups. Every applicant hears back, either way.

December 2026

Onboarding

Selected founders receive the program details, pitch guidelines, and everything they need to prepare for Demo Day.

December 2026 – January 2027

Pitch preparation

Refine your pitch, sharpen your story, and get ready to meet investors.

26 January 2027

Demo Day

Pitch to hundreds of investors in San Francisco, connect with fellow founders, and build relationships with the people who can help take your company further.

What we look for.

Corridor fit

At least one India-based founder, usually with a Delaware C-corp and operations in India.

Building with AI

Agents, applied AI, or AI infrastructure.

Stage

Pre-seed to Series A, raising now or within six months.

Traction

Revenue, users, pilots, or fast growth.

Live product

In the hands of users, not just a deck.

Credibility

A known accelerator, existing investors, or revenue.

Building a more inclusive founder ecosystem

We’re targeting 50% women founders among participating startups.

More than a demo day.

Every selected founder goes through a structured program before pitching. In the four to six weeks before the event, we get you ready so your 90 seconds land. Completing it is part of securing your slot.

90-second pitch workshop

Hook, traction, and close, built for a single stage minute.

Advisors coaching

Group sessions and recorded 1:1 practice with people who have raised and invested.

US fundraising etiquette

How US investors decide, what a hot intro means, and how to follow up.

Cultural calibration

Direct communication, and the mistakes founders make in investor rooms.

Standardised slides

One template and coaching on it, so the stage looks premium.

Rehearsals

A full run-through before the event. No surprises on the day.

Your SF founders guide

Coming to San Francisco should be about building your company, not figuring out the logistics. We help selected founders make the most of their time in SF, from getting settled to meeting the right people.

Accommodation resources

Access resources and recommendations to help you find a place to stay in San Francisco during Demo Day.

Visa guidance

Guidance and supporting documentation to help you prepare for your trip.

Your SF founders guide

Practical tips on getting around, where to go, and making the most of your time in the city.

Side events

Firesides, founder dinners, and mixers to connect with the startup ecosystem beyond the main event.

Warm investor introductions

Investors flag the founders they want to meet. We facilitate warm introductions, with context, the same week.