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The Sacramento Kings are taking applications for their 10th Capitalize: Technology contest, a startup competition for emerging companies in the region.
The Sacramento Kings are taking applications for their 10th Capitalize: Technology contest, a startup competition for emerging companies in the region.
Startup companies located within 70 miles of Golden 1 Center are eligible to apply on the Kings Capitalize website by midnight Feb. 7.
“For 10 years, the Capitalize program has provided invaluable coaching and resources to local startups, helping them grow their businesses while showcasing their innovations on a global stage,” said John Rinehart, the Kings’ president of business operations, in a news release.
Capitalize: Technology is styled after March Madness where startup companies advance in a bracket tournament after a series of pitch rounds, the final of which includes fan votes at a Kings home game.
The winner gets $10,000, to be awarded during halftime of the April 9 game between the Kings and the Denver Nuggets at Golden 1 Center.
In the contest, some 16 companies go through the first round, and are winnowed down to eight by Feb. 14. Those eight companies get pitch coaching, leading up to a pitch session March 12 at Golden 1 Center in front of local and Northern California investors.
The top four contenders are announced the next day, and they create videos about their startups for fan votes. Fan voting on social media opens March 17 through game day April. 9.
The contest is presented by digital license plate company Reviver, the innovation partner of the Kings and current jersey patch partner, as well as Fidium Fiber and the city of Sacramento’s Office of Innovation and Economic Development.
“As a past participant of the Capitalize: Technology contest, we can’t overstate the impact this program has had on our growth,” said Neville Boston, Reviver co-founder and chief strategy officer, in a news release. “This competition is a game-changer for local startups, and we’re proud to support its efforts to empower the next generation of innovators.”
Capitalize: Technology is the longest-running of the Kings’ Capitalize contests, which also includes Capitalize: Food.
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