Pitch Submission

Interested early-stage quantum startups can apply to pitch by submitting the completed application form online. Any startup with a focus on Quantum solutions that has raised less than $10M in funding is eligible to apply or those in pre-seed or seed level funding stage.

The contest is open to the public, participants must be 18 years of age or older. Participants authorize the Competition organizers to contact them via email. Late application submissions will not be accepted and the application deadline will not be extended.

A participating applicant/startup who makes it to the Pitch competition stage must take part in the Pitch in order to be eligible to receive any money or prize award. Scores rendered by the judges will not be disclosed to the Competition participants, and the judges’ decisions are final and are not subject to review.

Applications will be evaluated on their uniqueness, feasibility, financial viability, and market desirability. Ten finalists (5 for Quantum and 5 for Photonics) will be selected who will pitch live at the in-person event on October 8, 2025. The deadline to submit a pitch for consideration is August 30, 2025.

The winner of the pitch competition will receive a potential $100,000 investment from Qubits Ventures, subject to terms and conditions.

SVIYP applies a very detailed investor readiness assessment process to the start-ups that apply to the Montana Photonics and Quantum pitch event. This process runs through a due diligence-level examination of all critical aspects of a start-up’s development status and operations. The goal is to present a cohort of companies that are all investment-ready.

The individual steps are:

• Application to the event through the Qubits website
• Initial assessment by SVIYP of each company’s current state of investor readiness
• Qualified acceptance or rejection of each company after the initial assessment
• Discussion with qualified accepted companies to review areas of improvement
• Iterative process to improve each company’s pitch deck
• Practice pitching with SVIYP staff
• Final selection of ten companies for inclusion in the pitch event

It is expected that the process will take up to two months per company from application to final approval. A last run-through will be conducted one to two weeks prior to the event on October 8th.

Article 1 — Participation And Eligibility

By executing this agreement Participant agrees to participate in the Contest.  Participant must promptly provide all information reasonably requested by Qubits, which may include a summary of its business, to be eligible to participate.  Participant acknowledges that failure to provide such information promptly may result in losing its opportunity to participate in the Contest.  To the extent Qubits Ventures determine that Participant’s participation in the Contest may harm the reputation of Qubits Ventures or other Contest participants, Qubits Ventures may cancel Participant’s participation in the Contest at any time.

By participating, Participant agrees to accept the Qubits Ventures’ and/or their partners’ decisions relating to the content and outcome of the Contest as final and binding. If the Participant uses fraudulent or misleading methods or otherwise attempts to circumvent contest rules, it may be removed from the Contest at the sole discretion of Qubits Ventures.

Article 2 — Contest Schedule and Structure

Qubits Ventures shall determine the schedule and structure of the Contest, including, without limitation, the judges and judging criteria, in its sole discretion.  The official language of the Contest is English.

Article 3 — Prizes

Contest prizes shall be awarded in accordance with the schedule and structure of the Contest published by Qubits Ventures, as interpreted, and which may be modified at any time, by Qubits Ventures in its sole discretion. In case a winner is disqualified for any reason, Qubits Ventures will grant the prize to an alternate participant as determined in its discretion. Participant agrees to comply with any and all local laws and regulations of their jurisdiction, including in connection with any prize. Any applicable taxes and delivery, convenience, bank charges and other fees incurred by the payment of a prize shall be borne entirely by the winning participant.  

Article 4 — Intellectual Property and Publicity

Participant understands and agrees that Qubits Ventures and Qubits Ventures’ partners shall have the right, where permitted by law, to print, record, publish, broadcast, distribute, and use in any media now known or hereafter developed, in perpetuity and throughout the world, without limitation, the Participant’s entry, presentation, name, portrait, picture, voice, likeness, image, statements about the Contest, and biographical information for news, publicity, information, trade, advertising, public relations, and promotional purposes, solely in connection with the Contest, without any further compensation, notice, review, or consent.

Participant further agrees that all information provided by Participant in connection with the Contest may be used, without limitation, by any bona fide potential investor participating in the Contest (a “Potential Investor”) to evaluate a potential investment in Participant and that Qubits Ventures shall have no liability, whatsoever, to Participant in connection with sharing such information with a Potential Investor.

Participant represents and warrants that it has the unrestricted right to use all content provided or made available by Participant in connection with the Contest and that it shall obtain any third party consents and/or licenses required for Qubits Ventures or its partners to exercise their rights under this agreement.  If Participant infringes upon the intellectual property right of another in connection with this Agreement, Participant may be disqualified from the Contest at the sole discretion of Qubits Ventures.  Participant is fully responsible at all times for the protection of Participant’s intellectual property within the framework of participation in the Contest.  

If content made available or provided by Participant is claimed to constitute an infringement of any proprietary or intellectual proprietary rights of any third party, Participant shall, at Participant’s sole expense, indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Qubits Ventures and Qubits Ventures’ partners from and against any suit, proceeding, claims, liabilities, loss, damage, costs or expenses arising out of such infringement or suspected infringement of any third party’s right.

In consideration of receiving a prize (if applicable), Participant grants Qubits Ventures and any Qubits Ventures’ partner that sponsors the Contest the right to communicate positively through any communication means, internally and/or externally, concerning the award of a prize to Participant during the one-year period after the Contest concludes, including, without limitation, by using Participant’s name, likeness and participation in the Contest.  

Article 5 — Contest Cancellation

Qubits Ventures reserves the right (on its own and partner’s behalf) to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Contest should fraud, a Force Majeure Event or other cause beyond Qubits Ventures’ control corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, or proper conduct of the Contest.

Article 6 — Limitation of Liability, Disclaimer of Warranties, Indemnification

Neither Qubits Ventures or Qubits Ventures’ partners nor any of their respective agents shall be liable to Participant under this Agreement in contract, tort (including negligence) or otherwise for any loss of profits (whether direct or indirect), revenue, goods, use, anticipated savings, goodwill, reputation or business opportunity or for any indirect, incidental special or consequential loss arising under the Agreement (whether or not reasonably foreseeable and even if it had been advised of the other incurring the same). Qubits Ventures, Qubits Ventures partners’ and their respective agents’ total liability in contract, tort (including negligence) or otherwise arising in connection with this Agreement shall be limited to US$10,000.   Participant agrees and acknowledges that Qubits Ventures nor any of their respective agents shall be liable to Participant for any reason in contract, tort (including negligence) or otherwise in connection with any discussions, interactions or business dealings between Participant and a Potential Investor.  THIS LIMITATION WILL APPLY NOTWITHSTANDING THE FAILURE OF THE ESSENTIAL PURPOSE OF ANY REMEDY.  THIS LIMITATION OF LIABILITY REFLECTS THE ALLOCATION OF RISK NEGOTIATED AND AGREED TO BY THE PARTIES AND THE PARTIES WOULD NOT ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT WITHOUT THIS LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY.  

EXCEPT FOR THE WARRANTIES SPECIFIED IN THIS AGREEMENT, QUBITS VENTURES DOES NOT MAKE ANY WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY WARRANTIES REGARDING THE CONSUMMATION OF AN INVESTMENT BY A POTENTIAL INVESTOR, THE COMMERCIAL VIABILITY OF THE TERMS OF ANY SUCH INVESTMENT OR THE LIKELIHOOD OF WINNING ANY PRIZE, AND QUBITS VENTURES HEREBY DISCLAIMS ALL OTHER WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED.

If there is any claim or third-party action arising out of Participant’s interactions and/or business dealings with a Potential Investor, including, without limitation, any claim or third-party action where Qubits Ventures is subject to discovery requests as a third party, Participant shall, at Participant’s sole expense, indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Qubits Ventures and Qubits Ventures’ partners (excluding the Potential Investor involved in the claim or third-party action) from and against any suit, proceeding, claims, liabilities, loss, damage, costs or expenses arising out of such claim or third-party action.

Article 7 — Miscellaneous

Qubits Ventures may, at its sole discretion, assign any of its rights and/or delegate its duties to any third party at any time. Participant may not assign its rights or delegate its duties, and any assignment or delegation by Participant without the previous written consent of Qubits Ventures shall be null and void.

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California regardless of conflict of laws principles. In the event of any dispute arising under this agreement, the parties hereby agree that jurisdiction for any claim or dispute arising from or related to this Agreement resides in the federal and state courts situated in Santa Clara County, California.

Qubits Ventures shall not be liable for any loss or damage arising from any event beyond its reasonable control, including but not limited to flood, extraordinary weather conditions, pandemic, earthquake, or other act of God, fire, war, insurrection, riot, labor dispute, accident, actions of government, communications, power failure, or equipment or software malfunction or any other cause beyond its reasonable control (each, a “Force Majeure Event”).

This Quantum & Photonics Startup Pitch Competition Participation Agreement (this “Agreement”) describes the terms and conditions related to the functioning of the 2025 Quantum Startup Pitch Competition (hereinafter the “Contest”) organized by Qubits Ventures (“Qubits Ventures”). By participating in the Contest, the Participant agrees to be bound by this Agreement and confirms that it has fully read, understood and irrevocably accepts the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

Article 1 — Participation And Eligibility

By executing this agreement Participant agrees to participate in the Contest.  Participant must promptly provide all information reasonably requested by Qubits, which may include a summary of its business, to be eligible to participate.  Participant acknowledges that failure to provide such information promptly may result in losing its opportunity to participate in the Contest.  To the extent Qubits Ventures determine that Participant’s participation in the Contest may harm the reputation of Qubits Ventures or other Contest participants, Qubits Ventures may cancel Participant’s participation in the Contest at any time.

By participating, Participant agrees to accept the Qubits Ventures’ and/or their partners’ decisions relating to the content and outcome of the Contest as final and binding. If the Participant uses fraudulent or misleading methods or otherwise attempts to circumvent contest rules, it may be removed from the Contest at the sole discretion of Qubits Ventures.

Article 2 — Contest Schedule and Structure

Qubits Ventures shall determine the schedule and structure of the Contest, including, without limitation, the judges and judging criteria, in its sole discretion.  The official language of the Contest is English.

Article 3 — Prizes

Contest prizes shall be awarded in accordance with the schedule and structure of the Contest published by Qubits Ventures, as interpreted, and which may be modified at any time, by Qubits Ventures in its sole discretion. In case a winner is disqualified for any reason, Qubits Ventures will grant the prize to an alternate participant as determined in its discretion. Participant agrees to comply with any and all local laws and regulations of their jurisdiction, including in connection with any prize. Any applicable taxes and delivery, convenience, bank charges and other fees incurred by the payment of a prize shall be borne entirely by the winning participant.  

Article 4 — Intellectual Property and Publicity

Participant understands and agrees that Qubits Ventures and Qubits Ventures’ partners shall have the right, where permitted by law, to print, record, publish, broadcast, distribute, and use in any media now known or hereafter developed, in perpetuity and throughout the world, without limitation, the Participant’s entry, presentation, name, portrait, picture, voice, likeness, image, statements about the Contest, and biographical information for news, publicity, information, trade, advertising, public relations, and promotional purposes, solely in connection with the Contest, without any further compensation, notice, review, or consent.

Participant further agrees that all information provided by Participant in connection with the Contest may be used, without limitation, by any bona fide potential investor participating in the Contest (a “Potential Investor”) to evaluate a potential investment in Participant and that Qubits Ventures shall have no liability, whatsoever, to Participant in connection with sharing such information with a Potential Investor.

Participant represents and warrants that it has the unrestricted right to use all content provided or made available by Participant in connection with the Contest and that it shall obtain any third party consents and/or licenses required for Qubits Ventures or its partners to exercise their rights under this agreement.  If Participant infringes upon the intellectual property right of another in connection with this Agreement, Participant may be disqualified from the Contest at the sole discretion of Qubits Ventures.  Participant is fully responsible at all times for the protection of Participant’s intellectual property within the framework of participation in the Contest.  

If content made available or provided by Participant is claimed to constitute an infringement of any proprietary or intellectual proprietary rights of any third party, Participant shall, at Participant’s sole expense, indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Qubits Ventures and Qubits Ventures’ partners from and against any suit, proceeding, claims, liabilities, loss, damage, costs or expenses arising out of such infringement or suspected infringement of any third party’s right.

In consideration of receiving a prize (if applicable), Participant grants Qubits Ventures and any Qubits Ventures’ partner that sponsors the Contest the right to communicate positively through any communication means, internally and/or externally, concerning the award of a prize to Participant during the one-year period after the Contest concludes, including, without limitation, by using Participant’s name, likeness and participation in the Contest.  

Article 5 — Contest Cancellation

Qubits Ventures reserves the right (on its own and partner’s behalf) to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Contest should fraud, a Force Majeure Event or other cause beyond Qubits Ventures’ control corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, or proper conduct of the Contest.

Article 6 — Limitation of Liability, Disclaimer of Warranties, Indemnification

Neither Qubits Ventures or Qubits Ventures’ partners nor any of their respective agents shall be liable to Participant under this Agreement in contract, tort (including negligence) or otherwise for any loss of profits (whether direct or indirect), revenue, goods, use, anticipated savings, goodwill, reputation or business opportunity or for any indirect, incidental special or consequential loss arising under the Agreement (whether or not reasonably foreseeable and even if it had been advised of the other incurring the same). Qubits Ventures, Qubits Ventures partners’ and their respective agents’ total liability in contract, tort (including negligence) or otherwise arising in connection with this Agreement shall be limited to US$10,000.   Participant agrees and acknowledges that Qubits Ventures nor any of their respective agents shall be liable to Participant for any reason in contract, tort (including negligence) or otherwise in connection with any discussions, interactions or business dealings between Participant and a Potential Investor.  THIS LIMITATION WILL APPLY NOTWITHSTANDING THE FAILURE OF THE ESSENTIAL PURPOSE OF ANY REMEDY.  THIS LIMITATION OF LIABILITY REFLECTS THE ALLOCATION OF RISK NEGOTIATED AND AGREED TO BY THE PARTIES AND THE PARTIES WOULD NOT ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT WITHOUT THIS LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY.  

EXCEPT FOR THE WARRANTIES SPECIFIED IN THIS AGREEMENT, QUBITS VENTURES DOES NOT MAKE ANY WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY WARRANTIES REGARDING THE CONSUMMATION OF AN INVESTMENT BY A POTENTIAL INVESTOR, THE COMMERCIAL VIABILITY OF THE TERMS OF ANY SUCH INVESTMENT OR THE LIKELIHOOD OF WINNING ANY PRIZE, AND QUBITS VENTURES HEREBY DISCLAIMS ALL OTHER WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED.

If there is any claim or third-party action arising out of Participant’s interactions and/or business dealings with a Potential Investor, including, without limitation, any claim or third-party action where Qubits Ventures is subject to discovery requests as a third party, Participant shall, at Participant’s sole expense, indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Qubits Ventures and Qubits Ventures’ partners (excluding the Potential Investor involved in the claim or third-party action) from and against any suit, proceeding, claims, liabilities, loss, damage, costs or expenses arising out of such claim or third-party action.

Article 7 — Miscellaneous

Qubits Ventures may, at its sole discretion, assign any of its rights and/or delegate its duties to any third party at any time. Participant may not assign its rights or delegate its duties, and any assignment or delegation by Participant without the previous written consent of Qubits Ventures shall be null and void.

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California regardless of conflict of laws principles. In the event of any dispute arising under this agreement, the parties hereby agree that jurisdiction for any claim or dispute arising from or related to this Agreement resides in the federal and state courts situated in Santa Clara County, California.

Qubits Ventures shall not be liable for any loss or damage arising from any event beyond its reasonable control, including but not limited to flood, extraordinary weather conditions, pandemic, earthquake, or other act of God, fire, war, insurrection, riot, labor dispute, accident, actions of government, communications, power failure, or equipment or software malfunction or any other cause beyond its reasonable control (each, a “Force Majeure Event”).