Pitch Lift: 2026 SEMI-FINALS 🔑

Welcome to the Pitch Lift Semi-Finals. This is a pitch game show built around a real elevator pitch. Founders step into an elevator and pitch their company in 30 seconds flat. The cage locks. The doors close. Now perform.

This isn’t a pitch competition where the best company wins. It’s where the best pitcher wins.

All year, seven founders a month have earned a key. Tonight, every key winner from every round returns to the elevator for one last shot. Only 7 advance to the January Finale, where one founder walks away with $100,000 cash. 💵

Every key winner of the year. One elevator. Seven spots. No second chances.

What to expect:

The year’s best pitchers, head to head, in an actual elevator

Expert judges and multi-time founders deciding who moves on and who goes home

The biggest room of the year at the stunning 101 Arch Street (think gold chandeliers, red carpet, VIPs)

Open bar + passed hors d’oeuvres

Live band

Drama, confessionals, LED walls: full production, turned all the way up

CROWD FAVORITE 🏆: Disagree with the judges? At the end of the night, the room votes for its favorite founder.

FOUNDERS: This is the round that decides your year. Pack the room with everyone you know and make them loud. Your crowd could be the difference between going to the Final and going home.

Whether you’re here to pitch or here to watch, you’ll want to be in the room when the Final Seven are named.

RUN OF SHOW:

Public Doors: 6 PM, networking

Elevator Opens: 7 PM, the show begins

Crowd Favorite Awarded: after the pitches conclude

Final Seven Announced: 9 PM

Pitching Founders: Check-in opens at 4:30 PM and closes at 5:30 PM sharp. Late = disqualified. No exceptions, not even for key winners.

Semi-Finalists: If you can’t make it, update your RSVP at least 48 hours before the event. Your spot is one another founder fought all year for. No-shows are permanently banned from Pitch Lift.

Guests: Dress to impress. This is the night of the year.

The elevator doesn’t wait. And after tonight, only seven founders get back in.