Burning Heroes Founders Association hosted its London Pitch Competition on February 19, 2024, at the Home Grown Members' Club. The event was part of a global series of offline pitch competitions, with London as the second destination, furthering the Association's mission to foster innovation and provide startups with access to venture capital through its extensive network.
Lana Glygalo, Burning Heroes Founders Association, Co-founder
The Pitch Competition served as a strong platform for early-stage startups to showcase their innovations and connect with top-tier investors from VC firms such as Antler, Angels Den, Fuel Ventures, Green Angel Ventures, Humla Ventures, and Mount Fund. Startups from diverse industries, including SaaS, B2B, consumer apps, hardware, and green tech, competed in three categories: Best Startup, Best Product, and Best Business Model. Each category celebrated exceptional talent and groundbreaking ideas aimed at solving real-world challenges.
A special nomination, the ULTRA.VC Fast Track Award, offered $70K in initial investment and up to $100K in a follow-on round. ULTRA.VC, an early-stage investor with an in-house accelerator, supports startups not only in business growth but also in founder well-being through individual mentorship, focused tracking, and expert support.
Every participating startup gained valuable exposure, with the top five receiving feedback from venture capitalists, accelerators, and industry experts. Angels Den, a contest partner, offered free onboarding for fundraising on their platform with a discounted success fee. Winners also received media coverage from partners like Startups Magazine and Startup Reporter.
Harris Cheng, Co-founder of Jupitrr. Overall Winner of the Burning Heroes Pitch Competition London
The Winners of the Burning Heroes London Pitch Competition 2024
- Best Product - SPOKE: Awarded as the UK's top music-led mental wellness app, SPOKE combines personalized technology with science-backed, artist-led content creation, making mental wellness engaging and accessible by integrating with users' favorite music. SPOKE's mission is to make mental practices culturally relevant for the millions underserved by traditional wellness solutions.
- Best Startup - Jupitrr AI: Jupitrr AI transforms content marketing by automatically generating B-roll footage, including stock videos, GIFs, and web images. This innovative approach accelerates content creation, making it ten times faster for creators and streamlining the production process for marketing teams globally.
- Best Business Model - Carica: Carica is redefining the electric vehicle (EV) industry with its EV payment platform, offering a seamless and efficient solution for drivers to charge their vehicles, catering to the growing EV market.
- Special Nomination by Ultra VC - Voda: Recognized for its social impact, Voda is an LGBTQIA+ mental wellness app developed with leading LGBTQIA+ psychotherapists. The app aims to help LGBTQIA+ community members lead more fulfilling lives through affordable, accessible, and inclusive digital therapy.
The event fostered meaningful connections between startups and investors, aligning with Home Grown Club's mission to support entrepreneurial pioneers. As a private members' club, Home Grown provided an ideal venue for startups to showcase their business potential and network effectively.
The success of the London Pitch Competition underscores the importance of non-commercial platforms like the Burning Heroes Founders Association, the first startup awards created by founders for founders, with a mission to champion innovation and entrepreneurship.
