NSpire Startup Slam

Are you ready to make waves in the startup world?

Get ready for the ultimate startup showdown! STartUP Northshore is bringing the NSpire Startup Slam back around for another exhilarating battle of innovation on Thursday, January 9th, 2025 at the historic Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts in Downtown Hammond. The 2025 NSpire Startup Slam, Presented by Chevron, is a highly anticipated pitch competition that showcases the innovation and entrepreneurial spirit of our local community. This live event features startup founders pitching their business ventures through a shark-tank style pitch to a panel of seasoned judges for a comprehensive package of cash and in-kind services from industry experts.

From now until midnight on Friday, November 8, entrepreneurs can apply for the chance to compete in this live, shark-tank style pitch competition. A maximum of three finalists will be selected to pitch their business to a live audience and a panel of judges at the NSpire Startup Slam for a comprehensive prize package complete with cash funding and high-quality in-kind services, mentorship opportunities, and access to a network of investors and industry professionals. The inaugural NSpire Startup Slam (2023) featured a prize package totaling $25,000 in grant funding paired with over $35,000 of in-kind services. All three 2025 finalists will receive a cash prize of at least $2,500.

Who can compete in the NSpire Startup Slam?
Businesses must:
  • Be located on the Northshore (St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, or Washington Parish) OR are willing to locate their base of operations to the Northshore for at least 2 years,
  • Actively participate in the Northshore entrepreneurial ecosystem,
  • Be in business for five years or less, or be an existing business creating a new division or entity, or generated less than $1,000,000 in annual revenue in 2023,
  • Be incorporated as a limited liability company, an S corporation or a C corporation, and
  • Have a scalable, high-growth business model with a strong management team.
*Nonprofit organizations and previous NSpire Startup Slam winners are not eligible to enter.
Judgement Criteria:
  • Concept
  • Business Model
  • Market & Traction
  • Team
  • Commitment to and potential impact for the Northshore
Think you have what it takes? Apply now!

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* 1. Your First Name

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* 2. Your Last Name

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* 3. Email Address

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* 4. Company Name

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* 5. Company Website

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* 6. What City, State are you applying from?

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* 7. List any co-founders if you have any

Your application is not final until you submit a STartUP Northshore formatted Executive Summary and a Pitch Deck.

Either email your executive summary and pitch deck to vcaronna@sttammanycorp.org or paste a drive link to the documents below (please make sure your privacy settings are set to "Anyone can view").

For Executive Summary templates and information, download our STartUP Northshore Executive Summary Template & Hubspot Executive Summary Template.

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* 8. Executive Summary Drive Link:

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* 9. Pitch Deck Drive Link:

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* 10. Have you taken part in any STartUP Northshore Programs before?

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* 11. If you win the NSpire Startup Slam, will you locate your business to the Northshore (St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, or Washington Parish)?

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* 12. If you win the NSpire Startup Slam, will your company actively participate in the STartUP Northshore entrepreneurial ecosystem?

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