New York City’s Premier Pitch Competition Returns

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NYC’s Premier Pitch Competition Returns

New York, United States – June 2, 2026 / Founders Live NYC /

After a multi-year hiatus, Founders Live, one of the most well-known pitch competitions globally, will make a return to NYC on June 26th. The official relaunch event will take place at 6:00pm at The Yard—Herald Square (106 W 32nd St, New York, NY 10001) and is open to NYC-area founders and investors and anyone looking to learn more about the city’s unique technology landscape.

Startup-focused events, like Founders Live, are an increasingly important part of NYC’s technology ecosystem, giving the city’s most innovative leaders a forum to share early-stage projects, take questions, and collect feedback, as well as form the connections they need to be successful in the early stages of growth.

Founders Live NYC City Leader, Rion Haber, said of the event: “The startup community in New York City is unmatched; our goal is to become the most important launch point for the ideas that are powering it.” The organization’s founder and CEO, Nick Hughes, added that he is “ecstatic to have NYC back as one of over 150 cities hosting an event globally.”

While innovation has always been part of New York City’s DNA, the recent AI boom has created renewed competition for startups in the region, as well as the talent that fuels them. That means that growth across the city’s technology sector has been exponential over the last 24 months and shows no signs of slowing.

In addition to bragging rights, industry connections, exposure to potential investors, and sponsored prizes, Founders Live winners progress to a yearly competition between all event winners and go on to pitch against global competitors.

Event Participation

Anyone interested in Founders Live NYC can get involved by:

Founders and startup leaders who want to pitch can apply on the organization’s website.

Those wishing to attend can claim free tickets on the official Eventbrite page.

Organizations that are looking to reach the NYC area startup community, including founders, investors, and others, should message event organizers.

About Founders Live

Founders Live is a global network of entrepreneurs from over 150 cities and 55 countries around the world. The organization was built to inspire, educate, and connect founders at early-stage startups who value community-driven support and feedback. All Founders Live pitch competitions include 5 unique 99-second pitches and 4-minute Q&A sessions for each. Winners are advanced to regional, national, and eventually global competitions, where exposure can drive a range of investment opportunities and more. In addition to in-person events, Founders Live offers a new Backchannel community and Backstage Intelligence platform designed to help drive success for startup founders.

Media Contact

Founders Live, NYC

Rion Haber

nyc@founderslive.com

Founders Live, Global

Nick Hughes

Nick@founderslive.com