1776 and Revolution Announce Challenge Cup Global Finals and Prize

Virtual semifinals, powered by UNION, with 20 selected finalists to compete for $100,000 sponsored by Revolution in Washington, D.C. in March 2018

Washington, D.C. -- Today, 1776 and Revolution announced that the Challenge Cup Global Finals will take place at The Anthem in Washington, D.C. in March 2018. Revolution will sponsor a $100,000 prize for the winning company.

“We are proud to partner with 1776 on the Challenge Cup because it is providing opportunity for more entrepreneurs from more places to access the support they need to grow their businesses,” said Steve Case, CEO and Chairman of Revolution LLC and Co-Founder of AOL. “Efforts like the Challenge Cup reinforce what we have always believed at Revolution: that great companies can indeed start and scale anywhere.”

The Challenge Cup Global Finals are also presented in partnership with 3 Pillar, Uber, HiMMS, Global Entrepreneurship Network, Washington D.C. Economic Partnership, Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh, and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), as part of their commitments to working with startups to bring innovative ideas to scale. By partnering with the Challenge Cup, established organizations are able to better discover and collaborate with startups across the globe.

Over the last seven months Challenge Cup competitions have taken place in 75 domestic and international cities, ranging from Raleigh to Boise and Mexico City to Accra, bringing together innovation communities around the world. Leading up to the Global Finals, semifinals will take place virtually on the innovation platform, UNION, to determine the 20 companies that will travel to compete for the $100,000 prize. UNION has powered the Challenge Cup since it launched in May 2017, acting as the main digital platform for the program’s application, content, virtual pitch coaching, and toolkits for the Challenge Cup hosts and competitors. For a full list of startups that will compete in the virtual semifinals in January visit the Challenge Cup website here.

“Startups are developing at breakneck speed and it’s critical we look beyond cities traditionally associated with innovation to bring a diverse set of ideas to market. Challenge Cup Global Finals will be the result of a 75 city search for the companies tackling some of the most complex, regulated problems we face today and we’re thrilled that the global startup ecosystem came together over the last several months to find our competitors,” said Evan Burfield, cofounder and chairman at 1776. “By partnering with Revolution, government, education and industry organizations, this goes beyond a pitch competition to deliver access to new connections and capital to startups regardless of their location.”

Since the program launched in 2013, the Challenge Cup has showcased that startups tackling complex challenges are emerging in places far beyond Silicon Valley. This year’s culmination will have scouted from more regions than ever before, casting a wide net to find startups in cities that have traditionally been overlooked as centers of innovation.

“The Challenge Cup experience was invaluable. It brought our startup ecosystem closer together and created connections for our business that we would not have had access to otherwise,” said Shaffi Mather, Founder & CEO of MUrgency, 2016 Challenge Cup winner. “When we presented at the 1776 Challenge Cup, we were only in one city in India. Now, our network is ready in 12 major cities in India and we have 1,000+ ambulances, 2,500 doctors and nurses, and 250+ emergency rooms onboard. The Challenge Cup was more than a pitch competition for us, it was a global stage to advance our company.”

For a full schedule and additional details, visit the Challenge Cup website.

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About 1776

1776 is the Northeast Corridor’s largest network of entrepreneurial incubators with 11 campuses in 4 states and the District of Columbia. We are a next-generation incubator serving a community of bold entrepreneurs and companies impacting their ecosystems.  For more information, please visit: www.1776.vc or follow us on Twitter @1776.

About Revolution

A Washington, DC-based investment firm founded by Steve Case in 2005, Revolution’s mission is to build disruptive, innovative companies that offer consumers more choice, convenience, and control in their lives. Revolution seeks to create significant value for companies that are attacking large, traditional industries with innovative new products and services. The Revolution team brings proven expertise in scaling up companies and helping to expand niche ideas into mass appeal. For more information, please visit: www.revolution.com or follow us on Twitter @revolution.

About UNION

UNION empowers startup ecosystems around the world. Our platform provides entrepreneurs, startup hubs and innovation teams with the best resources, networks and data architecture to transform their operations regardless of location. To learn more, visit UNION.vc.

CONTACT

Morgan Gress

morgan@union.vc

716-445-1509