Propel Earth Presents: The NYC Founder Pitch Competition In Partnership with Catalyst Intro
- Date
- 2026-02-27
- Location
- Cancelled, New York, NY, USA
- Host
- Propel Earth
About this event
Founders need more than a room and a mic to make a pitch matter. They need sharp feedback, the right introductions, and an audience that understands what it takes to build. Propel Earth Presents: The NYC Founder Pitch Competition In Partnership with Catalyst Intro brings those pieces together for an in-person evening in New York built around live pitching, real conversation, and the kind of networking that can actually move a company forward. If you care about early-stage momentum, this is the kind of event that rewards showing up in person. Whether you're building, backing, or exploring what's next in tech, you'll be in a room designed for connection as much as competition. About the Event This event is a founder pitch competition with a strong community layer around it. At its core, the night is about seeing founders present their ideas live, in front of a room of peers, supporters, and ecosystem participants who are paying attention. Because this event is presented by Propel Earth in partnership with Catalyst Intro, the format naturally sits at the intersection of startup storytelling, founder visibility, and curated in-person networking. It is not just a passive audience experience. The pitch competition creates a focal point, but the broader value comes from what happens before, between, and after the presentations. Expect an audience that spans more than one role in the startup world. Some attendees will come to pitch or support founders. Others will come to meet ambitious builders, learn how people are framing their businesses, and discover new opportunities for collaboration. Set in New York and built as an in-person gathering, the event is especially relevant for people who value local founder energy and want to participate in a room where introductions can turn into follow-up meetings quickly. What to Expect The evening begins at 7:00 PM EST on Thursday, February 26 and is structured around live interaction. While every attendee may engage differently, you should expect a rhythm that combines arrival, conversation, founder presentations, and post-pitch networking. A likely flow for the night includes: Check-in and arrival with time to settle in and meet other attendees Opening remarks or framing to set the tone for the competition and community Founder pitches, where builders present their companies or ideas live Audience engagement and reactions, with the room responding to what stands out Networking after the competition, when the most useful conversations often happen The pitch portion is the centerpiece, but the surrounding time matters just as much. Before the competition, you'll have a chance to get a feel for who's in the room. During the pitches, you'll hear how founders communicate vision, traction, and urgency under real conditions. Afterward, you can continue the conversation with people you genuinely want to know better. This event also works well for people who learn by observing. Even if you're not pitching, seeing how founders frame problems, explain markets, and handle attention from a live audience can be extremely useful. There is practical insight in watching what lands clearly and what creates follow-up interest. Why Attend If you're a founder, this event gives you access to something increasingly valuable: concentrated attention from the right room. Pitching is one thing; pitching where the audience includes potential collaborators, connectors, and supporters is another. Events like this help founders test their message, build visibility, and start conversations that continue after the event ends. If you're part of the broader tech community, the value is just as strong. You will get a direct look at who is building, how people are thinking, and where the energy is within the local startup scene. In a time when so much interaction happens online, there is real advantage in hearing ideas live and meeting the people behind them face to face. You should attend if you want: Exposure to emerging founders and fresh ideas A more dynamic alternative to standard networking mixers Meaningful startup conversations anchored by a live program A chance to make introductions or discover potential partnerships Insight into how strong founders present under pressure There is also a social dimension that matters. Because the event brings together people across tech, community, networking, meetup, and social circles, it creates a more approachable atmosphere than a narrowly transactional industry gathering. You can come ready to talk business while still expecting a warm, conversational room. Practical Details This is an in-person event taking place in New York, USA, at Cancelled. If being physically in the room matters to you, this is exactly that kind of night: live pitches, live reactions, and live introductions. Date and time: Thursday, February 26 7:00 PM EST Because the event centers on a competition format, arriving on time is a good idea. Getting there at the start gives you the best chance to settle in, meet people before the pitches begin, and follow the full arc of the evening rather than dropping into the middle of the program. This event is best approached with a little intentionality. If you're a founder, be ready to speak clearly about what you're building. If you're attending to network, think ahead about the kinds of people you hope to meet. And if you're coming to learn, bring your curiosity: the strongest takeaway may come from one conversation after the formal program ends.
Who should attend
This is for people who want more than casual small talk and are looking for a startup event with real substance, live energy, and useful introductions. - **You’re a founder** who wants to pitch, sharpen your story, or meet people who can open doors after the event. - **You’re building in tech or around startups** and want to stay close to what early-stage founders in NYC are working on right now. - **You’re a connector, operator, or community-minded professional** who enjoys helping the right people meet and wants to do that in a room full of ambitious builders. - **You’re an investor, scout, or startup supporter** who prefers seeing founders present live and getting a feel for how they communicate in person. - **You’re exploring the startup world** and want an event with structure, not just open-ended mingling, so you have something concrete to react to and discuss. - **You value in-person networking that starts with shared context**—in this case, live founder pitches that make follow-up conversations more specific and more useful.