Yes, as long as your startup is dependent on software development expertise to get to market and/or raise funding. You must also already have a well-developed Pitch Deck and UI/UX mockups of the product you are trying to develop or the part of the existing product you want to change or extend. It helps to have a team as well, versus just a single founder and no team to help with execution.

CodeLaunch is mostly for pre-MVP software technology startups. If your business has reached MVP already you may still be eligible. Startups that cannot scale their post-MVP startup, raise money, or ever have a chance at an exit, without more product development, PR, and growth, are also eligible. We have had many finalists who were well beyond MVP over the years and a few winners.

If your startup has already raised a significant investment, your product is launched and stable, you have customers and revenue growth, and you are not raising, then you are probably not a fit for CodeLaunch. We want to bring investment opportunities to our stage for active VC and Angels to have a good look at. We will be happy to give you an exhibit space at any event while our free exhibit space supply remains available.

CodeLaunch does not charge founders to apply nor do we take equity to compete in or win the startup competition. CodeLaunch believes technology consulting professionals can and should have an impactful role in our national startup ecosystem helping technology founders level up their product development, as an amenity, not as a fee-based service.

Each CodeLaunch Startup Competition has its own schedule. It starts with an application window, during which applications are accepted. Immediately after the deadline, the Selection Committee will begin reviewing all applications.

Generally, the period between the initial application review and the Finalists being announced is about 2 months. Finalists are announced 21 days ahead of the first travel day to the host city.

More details can be found on each startup accelerator’s event page, once active.

All you need to apply to the CodeLaunch Startup Competition is a polished pitch deck in PDF format and realistic-looking mockups or polished UI/UX wireframes, representing what you want to build. CodeLaunch does not take money, or equity, from applicants.

Each startup competition event will have a detail page that will automatically accept applications during the application acceptance window. Check back periodically to see if there is an open application window.

We take protecting early-stage startup ideas very seriously. This is why each CodeLaunch application comes with a built-in mutual NDA. Since the inception of CodeLaunch in 2013 we have never been accused by anyone of sharing their ideas and not one startup’s idea was ever stolen or even borrowed from.

Each “Finalist” has to make a decision about how much or how little they want to share the “secret sauce” of their idea once on stage. We have learned that this concern is mostly exaggerated and more common among less experienced founders. However, there are edge cases and sometimes holding a bit back may be the best course. It’s up to the founder to decide this, not CodeLaunch production teams.

CodeLaunch dev-shop teams and professional hackathon partners DO NOT take or keep any IP. All work product is provided to the finalists and owned by them.

CodeLaunch requires a healthy network of community partners, financial sponsors, and hackathon sponsors to be effective. A variety of relationships and sponsorships are always offered. For more information please reach out via our Contact Form.

Every CodeLaunch finalist has already won, whether they win the audience vote or not. The “winner” may be eligible for more seed services from some additional vendors. All finalists receive a professional hackathon in the days prior to the event and walk off the stage with that code and working product in hand – well equipped to gain interest and raise funding from angels, VCs, and others. All the CodeLaunch finalists are poised for success and ready for funding and the world’s best accelerators!