Origin Pitch 2026
A pitch competition for Minnesota builders, hosted as part of the 2026 MN Rising Professionals Conference.
A pitch competition inside the conference.
Origin House runs the pitch competition at the 2026 MN Rising Professionals Conference. Semifinalists are picked from written applications. Five finalists pitch live on stage in front of the room, and one winner is announced the same day.
- Who can apply
- Any business owner
- Revenue limit
- Under $500K
- Where
- University of St. Thomas, Minneapolis
- When
- September 26, 2026
- Format
- 5 minutes, then questions
- Cost to apply
- Free
A recognition gesture for the winner and finalists.
VC firms and angel investors in the audience, scouting.
From application to stage.
Applications
Apply with a short form and a five-to-ten-slide deck. Ten minutes if your deck is ready.
NowApplications openAug 29Applications closeSelection
We read every application. Ten builders move forward on September 5, then five finalists on September 10.
Sept 510 semifinalists notifiedSept 105 finalists notifiedLive pitch
Five minutes on stage at the MN Rising Professionals Conference, then questions from the judges. Winner announced that day.
Sept 26Live pitch at the MN Rising Professionals ConferenceSept 26Winner announced
Six things, and what each one is worth.
One scorecard, filled in by operators who have run the thing you are building.
Traction
25%What has actually happened. Customers, revenue, pilots, waitlists, anything real that we can check.
Problem clarity
20%Who hurts, how often, and what it costs them today. Specific beats broad every time.
Go-to-market
15%How you are reaching customers today, and how you plan to scale that channel as you grow.
The solution
15%What you built, why it fits the problem, and what makes it hard for someone else to copy.
Why you
15%Your reason for being the one to do this. Experience, obsession, or an unfair advantage.
Market opportunity
10%How big this gets if it works, and who else is already trying to get there.
Scored by operators, not a panel of strangers.
Apply to Pitch
Rising Entrepreneur of the Year
Great businesses start with someone willing to take the leap, and every so often, one of them stands out.
The Rising Entrepreneur of the Year is awarded to a founder whose vision, momentum, and impact deserve real recognition. It's given to someone building something worth paying attention to, and worth celebrating.
This award recognition comes with a special surprise as well.
What we look for
- A clear, compelling vision for the business
- Growth or traction that points to bigger things ahead
- A thoughtful or original approach to their industry
- A story that's still being written, in the best way
Know an entrepreneur doing great work? We'd love to hear about them. And if that sounds like you, you're welcome to nominate yourself.
NominateEverything people ask us first.
A conference ticket is needed to attend the event itself. Applying is free.