A young African founder presenting to a team in a modern office — Photo: Mikhail Nilov / Pexels

Who this is for: Founders of pre-seed, seed and Series A startups in any country and any industry, with full-time founders and a product ready to pitch, who can travel to an in-person regional final in April or May 2027.

Deel, the global HR and payroll company, runs The Pitch, a worldwide startup competition. Up to 100 regional winners each receive a US$50,000 SAFE investment plus travel and accommodation to the Global Finals, where up to 10 startups win a US$1,000,000 SAFE each.

Status: waitlist open. Deel says it has “reached capacity for our direct application period” for 2027 and is now accepting applications through a waitlist, reviewed on a rolling basis and offered in the order received. Apply early.

At a Glance

Organiser	Deel
Regional prize	US$50,000 SAFE (20% discount to the next priced round, no valuation cap), plus travel and accommodation to the Global Finals
Global prize	US$1,000,000 SAFE (terms discussed with Deel’s investment team)
Winners	Up to 100 regional winners; up to 10 global winners
Who can apply	Pre-seed, seed and Series A startups in any country and any industry
Format	In-person, 2-minute pitch with slides, in English
Regional finals 2027	Paris (11 Apr), Berlin (18 Apr), London (26 Apr), New York (3 May), Tel Aviv (5 May), Singapore (10 May), Dubai (12 May)
Deadline	Rolling waitlist

About The Pitch

The Pitch is a global tournament for early-stage founders building across borders. Selected startups pitch live at one of seven regional finals; regional champions receive investment and go on to the Global Finals. The 2027 Global Finals date and location haven’t been announced yet.

What You Can Win

Regional winners: a US$50,000 SAFE with a 20% discount to your next priced round and no valuation cap, plus travel and accommodation to the Global Finals.
Global winners: a US$1,000,000 SAFE, on terms to be discussed with Deel’s investment team, plus the regional prizes.
Exposure to investors and judges at the regional and global events.

Know what a SAFE is. A SAFE (Simple Agreement for Future Equity) is an investment that converts into shares in your company when you raise a priced round. It’s not a grant: Deel becomes a future shareholder. Deel’s earlier terms say taking the investment is required if you win, with standard rights such as information rights.

Eligibility

Your startup is at pre-seed, seed or Series A stage.
You have full-time founders on the team.
You have a registered legal entity, or commit to incorporating before the competition.
You’re building a product or service with scaling potential and are ready to pitch.
You can be based in any country and work in any industry.
You can attend a regional final in person, and the Global Finals if you advance.

How to Apply

Join the waitlist through Deel’s application form.
Describe your startup: Deel asks for essential information about your company, product and traction. A pitch video isn’t required.
Choose a regional final you can reach. Dubai and London are the most practical for many African founders.
If selected, prepare a two-minute live pitch with supporting slides, in English.

Official The Pitch by Deel page · Support: [email protected]

Before You Apply: Travel and Visas

Deel covers travel and accommodation to the Global Finals for regional winners. The 2027 page doesn’t say it pays for travel to the regional finals, so budget for your own flight, and check visa requirements early. Dubai, London and Paris often need visas for African passport holders, and appointments can take weeks.

Tips

Lead with traction. Revenue, users, growth rate and pilots make the strongest case in a short form.
Practise a two-minute pitch. It’s very short: problem, solution, traction, ask.
Apply to the waitlist now. Spots are offered in the order submissions arrive.
Read the SAFE terms and talk to your co-founders before accepting investment.