Alma Ascent is inviting early-stage immigrant-led startups from around the world to compete in a major pitch competition. The immigrant startups initiative is designed to support innovation driven by immigration, reflecting the organization’s core belief in the power of immigrant entrepreneurship.
Teams will vie for a total of $100,000 in critical funding by pitching their ideas live in Palo Alto on November 20, 2025.
Funding and benefits
The immigrant startups competition offers substantial prizes aimed at providing critical early-stage capital and recognition for successful founders .
The total prize pool is $100,000, which will be distributed between the top two finalists .
The first-place winner will receive $60,000, and the second-place winner will be awarded $40,000.
Alma Ascent supports founders not only with this real capital but also by providing immigration legal services as part of its commitment to immigrant innovation .
Who can apply for the immigrant startups competition?
To be considered for the competition, immigrant started startups must meet requirements related to their funding history and leadership .
While teams are welcome from anywhere in the world, they must be able to attend the final pitch event in the Bay Area of the United States.
The fundamental requirement is that the startup must be immigrant-led, meaning at least one founder was born outside the United States.
The application qualifications are as follows:
- The startup must be early-stage, having raised less than $2 million in total funding .
- At least one founder of the startup must be an immigrant, defined as someone born outside the U.S .
- The team must be able to be present in the Bay Area for the final pitch event.
Event details
The final live pitching event is scheduled to take place at the Alma HQ in Palo Alto.
This opportunity allows immigrant startups participants to present their innovative companies in a professional and highly supportive environment.
The requirement to be present in the Bay Area ensures that participants can pitch their startups directly to the judges and audience.
Deadline
The deadline for this application is November 6, 2025. (11:59)pm PST) visit Alma Ascent website to apply. Explore more global calls on our Opportunities page.
Summary not available at this time.
