Thesis
2021 Render Competition
April 1, 2021 · Render Capital
Today we are excited to announce the opening of applications for our second annual Render Competition. The competition aims to make funding more accessible to local early-stage startups in the Greater Louisville region, and will help attract new entrepreneurs to the area who, through Render Capital’s support, are positioned to grow locally. Eight winning startups will be selected and awarded an investment of $100,000 each to help them grow.
“The Render Competition opens the door for early-stage startups to gain access to capital that has traditionally been difficult to acquire at this level,” said Marigrace Ragsdale, Senior Associate.
In addition to the investment, the eight winning startups will also receive free office space, over fifteen hours of one-on-one pro bono consulting, and memberships, discounts, and perks valued at over $1 million, made possible through the support of our generous partners.
Last year’s competition saw nearly 200 applicants from 18 states, five countries, and four continents, all from a variety of industries. The group was narrowed down to 15 finalists who were invited to pitch their ideas via the Virtual Pitch Event. The eight winners were BrainSTEM, Briocare, Moxie Girl, Roborus, SplitGym, Stuccco, True Adherence, and Unitonomy.
“We’re putting our community on the map as a region where startups and entrepreneurs can thrive and receive meaningful support as they grow. This competition is one of the many ways we are doing our part to support these entrepreneurs,” said Patrick Henshaw, Managing Director.
Companies from any industry can apply for the Render Competition, which aims to fund high-growth startups that are typically technology-forward and can grow quickly and significantly. These are companies that will most likely seek venture capital funding to fuel their growth into other markets. Startups from any location can apply; however, winners who do not live in the Greater Louisville region must relocate their headquarters to the area.
Sponsors for the Render Competition include Amplify Louisville, the Louisville Future of Work Initiative, UPS, Greater Louisville Inc., and Samtec.