Startup of the Month
The monthly winner’s cover story, with a founder interview and press release.
Cover story01 — This month’s contenders
Cast your vote.
One vote per person each month.
Voting opens when this month’s first Startups of the Week are announced. See Startup of the Week
02 — How it works
Half the public. Half the editors.
The Pitch-Off rewards startups that can win over both experts and an audience, the same mix that makes a story travel.
50%Public vote
Readers, founders and investors vote for the startup they believe in most.
50%Editors’ score
Story, traction and pitch deck, scored by the PNWIRE editorial team.
03 — The calendar
Every week feeds every month.
WEEK 1MONTH END
Weekly features
A new Startup of the Week joins the month’s contenders every week.
Voting opens
Each contender can be voted for as soon as it’s featured.
Final week
Startups rally their communities while our editors score the decks.
Winner announced
The month’s winner gets the Startup of the Month cover story.
04 — Prizes
What the Pitch-Off leads to.
People’s Choice Award
Most public votes across the quarter’s three Pitch-Offs wins the quarterly People’s Choice Award.
Quarterly awardsStartup of the Year
Every monthly winner is in the running for the year’s cover story.
Startup of the Year05 — FAQ
Pitch-Off and voting questions.
Who competes in the Monthly Pitch-Off?
Every startup featured as Startup of the Week during that month, usually four or five.
How is the winner decided?
50% public vote and 50% the PNWIRE editors’ score for story, traction and pitch deck. The winner becomes Startup of the Month.
How many times can I vote?
One vote per person per month. Votes that look automated or duplicated are removed.
Can startups ask their community to vote?
Yes, and we encourage it. Share your voting link with customers, investors and followers. Buying votes or using bots disqualifies the startup.
What is the People’s Choice Award?
A quarterly award for the startup with the most public votes across that quarter’s three Pitch-Offs.
Explore all FAQs →
Still have a question? Contact our team or book a free consultation.
06 — Call to action
Want your startup in the Pitch-Off?
It starts with being Startup of the Week. Submit your pitch deck to the Global Pitch Competition.