Deel, a leading global HR and payroll platform, has officially launched The Pitch, a landmark international startup competition aimed at discovering and funding the next generation of borderless founders. Designed to challenge traditional venture capital norms, the initiative focuses on identifying high-potential seed-stage startups based purely on merit, innovation, and execution—rather than geography, access, or networks. By leveraging Deel’s extensive global footprint, The Pitch seeks to democratize access to capital and visibility for founders worldwide.
With ambitions on a truly global scale, The Pitch is expected to engage more than 20,000 startups across seven regions, culminating in a total investment pool of up to USD15 million. Through a highly selective process, up to 100 regional winners will each receive USD50,000 in investment, while as many as ten global champions will be awarded USD1 million each to accelerate their growth. With a final selection rate of just 0.05 percent, the competition positions itself as more selective than many of the world’s most established startup accelerators.
Unlike conventional funding pathways that rely heavily on localized ecosystems, The Pitch introduces a new standard for global venture discovery. Startups are evaluated through expert-led assessments and data-driven insights designed to surface “high-signal” founders with scalable ideas. Applications are now open to seed-stage founders globally, with the journey leading to seven in-person regional finals hosted in major innovation hubs such as Singapore, New York, London, and Berlin, before culminating in a global finale scheduled for May 2026.
The competition is presented by J.P. Morgan and supported by an impressive lineup of partners, including Andreessen Horowitz, dLocal, Google, Orrick, Prodware, Ribbit Ventures, and Stripe. Together, these partners reinforce the competition’s credibility and global reach.
Through The Pitch, Deel underscores its commitment to empowering founders everywhere, regardless of borders. The initiative not only offers capital, but also global exposure, strategic validation, and access to an influential network—marking a bold step forward in shaping a more inclusive and borderless startup ecosystem.