New global startup competition The Pitch awards a US$1 million prize, Singapore to host 2026 regional finals

US-based HR technology company Deel has unveiled a new international startup competition aimed at identifying and backing the next generation of global founders. The programme, called The Pitch, is designed for early-stage companies and reflects Deel’s broader ambition to support promising startups regardless of where they are founded.

Targeted at pre-Seed, Seed and Series A startups, The Pitch requires applicants to have full-time founders and a registered legal entity. To enter, founders must submit a two-minute pitch video to enter.

Notably, while Deel says it is keen to elevate strong ideas from all around the world regardless of borders or economic status, every stage of the competition, from application to final presentation, will be conducted in English, and selected teams must be able to participate in person.

The company expects to engage more than 20,000 startups across seven global regions, with a total investment pool of up to US$15 million (approximately SG$19 million). The competition will unfold in several stages. After an initial review process, selected startups will advance to one of seven in-person regional finals taking place between March and May 2026 in major tech hubs including Singapore, New York, London and Berlin.

From these regional rounds, up to 100 startups will each receive US$50,000 (approximately SG$63,100) in Simple Agreement for Future Equity (SAFE) funding, along with travel coverage to attend the Global Finals. At the final stage, up to 10 winning startups will be awarded a further US$1 million (approximately SG$1.3 million) SAFE investment. Grand prize winners will receive the cash awards from both the regional and global award, winning an investment of US$1,050,000 (approximately SG$1,325,000).

Beyond funding, participants will gain access to Deel’s suite of startup perks and benefits, as well as membership in the company’s online startup community.

To determine which companies move forward, Deel says it will combine AI-driven analysis with human expert review, assessing various data points to identify startups with the strongest potential for success.  

The final selection rate is expected to be just 0.05%, making the programme more selective than many startup accelerators globally. At present, applications are open and closing dates vary by region. In Singapore, submissions close on May 6.