EQUALIZE 2024 Pitch Competition -Apply Now!

Established in 2020, Equalize is a comprehensive program designed to take national action around the disparity of women academic inventors forming university startups. Equalize participants receive education, a field-specific mentor, and access to networks that drive new entrepreneurial connections. Equalize candidates can include faculty, postdocs, and grad students in STEM disciplines. While mostly a virtual program, an in-person component is also planned in the future. Applications for the 2024 program are now open – please check the Pitchers page for more information.

Eligibility

• Pitchers must hold an academic appointment (tenured/tenure track/research) or a post-doc or graduate student position at an academic research institution as well as have a pending or issued patent or copyright.
• Product concept no more than 5 years from IND or product launch
  No formal incorporation required. However, if a startup has been formed, the company should not have raised more than $1M USD.
• Ability to attend at least a single 1-hour Zoom meeting per month January — June 2024 with their mentor
• Attendance and participation in the final pitch day: June 20, 2024
• Technology is a STEM innovation in one of these categories:
  • MedTech
  • Therapeutics
  • Physical Sciences

Timeline

• November 17, 2023 – Applications Due
• November-December, 2023 – Application Review
• Late December 2023 – Pitchers Announced
• January — June 2024 – Pitcher/Mentor monthly 1:1 meetings, 1 hr per month minimum, Education sessions (8 to 10 in total), Cohort meetings
• April 29 or April 30, 2024 – Planned in-person experiential learning day in Cambridge, MA (New for 2024!)
• May-June 2024 – 30 minute practice sessions
• June 20, 2024 – Virtual pitch event