Initiate at DISTRIBUTECH

We ask a variety of questions including questions on your solution/ product, funding, customers, and team. There is also a place to upload an optional pitch deck.

 

Traction	No traction at all	Soft traction (press coverage, social followership, etc…)	Test users/pilot/convincing non-financial KPIs (downloads, pre-orders)/raised significant funding from investors	Generating first revenues	Generating significant revenues (operatively positive on a monthly basis)	Sustainable profit (significant profit)
Team	Single founder, no team	Small team, not very experienced	Complementary team with little experience	Complementary team with significant experience	Experienced, complementary team including serial entrepreneur(s)	Experienced complementary team including serial entrepreneur with exit
Product	No innovation, imitation of existing products and services	Low innovation – localization of proved business models from abroad.	Some innovation – incremental improvements of existing products and services	Innovative new solution or business model addressing customer needs	Competitive technological innovation/advantage	Very strong innovation or protected IP
Market	Market does not exist/no market need	Small market, well served by competitors or equally good substitutes	Large market, well served by competitors or equally good substitutes	Attractive niche in small market with unique solution/position	Attractive niche in large market with unique solution/position	Very large in mostly underserved market with the right offering

• Less than 25 employees
• No more than $10M raised in funding through VCs, accelerator/ incubator programs, public grants, personal network (friends and family)
• Stages we accept: 
  • Seed Stage (working on a product)
  • Early Stage (prototype ready and close to market)
  • Early Growth Stage (we're out there and making money)

• The total cost is $1,500 for startups who apply and are accepted into the program
• The total cost is $2,800 for startups who would like to skip the application process and automatically be accepted into the program

 

• One (1) kiosk within the initiate pavilion on the show floor. Each kiosk will include:
  • Back wall with printed logo
  • Counter with locking cabinet
  • One (1) standard stool
  • One (1) electrical outlet
• 15-minute pitch on the Initiate Stage
  • One person will have a total a 15-min to speak/present on their company to a panel of judges
  • Can include Q&A
  • Pitch deck/presentation visible on screen within the space
• Branding including in the following locations
  • On the event website
  • On the mobile app
  • Within the printed event guide
  • On social media
• One (1) full conference pass ($1,065 value). This includes:
  • Access to the keynote
  • Access to the conference sessions
  • Access to the trade show floor
  • Lunch on Tuesday and Wednesday
  • Access to all networking events including the opening reception and networking event
• Two (2) exhibit hall passes ($570 value). This includes:
  • Access to the keynote
  • Access to the trade show floor
  • Lunch on Tuesday and Wednesday
  • Access to all networking events including the opening reception and networking event

• Internet
• Monitor
• Extra seating

You will receive much more publicity in the Initiate program and the cost is much lower than a traditional booth ($950 vs. ~$5,000). We encourage the participating startups to choose one or the other.

While there is not a cash prize, the top three startups will receive: 

• A physical award to display
• An interview with one of Clarion’s content directors
• A press release on DISTRIBUTECH’s media brand
• A free 10x10 booth at DISTRIBUTECH 2025