Dripping Springs Sports Club and Living Security present
Hill Country
Startup Night
The Pitch Competition
The first founder showcase west of Austin. Five to ten Hill Country startups pitch to the whole room: angel and seed investors, founders and community leaders.
Why we are doing this
Founders are building out here. They should be seen out here.
There are real companies being built in the Hill Country. AI and software, consumer brands, health and fitness. Their founders work from Dripping Springs, Bee Cave, Lakeway, Spicewood, Driftwood and Wimberley. Most of the rooms where founders get noticed are thirty miles east.
Hill Country Startup Night brings that room home. One evening at the DSSC Warehouse where the people building here show their work to the founders, investors and community leaders who live here, and meet each other.
We are keeping it simple. Short pitches. Real questions from five judges. A cash prize for the winner, and a holiday donation to the charity they choose. Plenty of time around it to talk.
Dripping Springs Sports Club built the Warehouse as a place for this community to gather. A night for its founders is a good use of it.
The night
Four hours, start to finish
Thursday, December 3. All times Central. About 150 to 200 guests: angel and seed investors, founders and community leaders from across the Hill Country and Austin.
-
to 6:30 pm
Doors, cocktails and startup booths
Every selected startup has a booth. Come early, get a drink and meet the founders before they pitch. Food and drinks are served through the evening.
-
15 minutes
Welcome
Drew Rose, founder of Dripping Springs Sports Club and co-founder of Living Security, opens the night and introduces the co-hosts.
-
30 minutes
Fireside chat
A conversation with a well-known Hill Country founder about building a company out here. We will name the guest on this page once it is confirmed.
-
about an hour
Rapid pitches
Five to ten startups, one at a time, pitching to the whole room. Each founder gets three minutes, then two minutes of questions from the five judges.
-
10 minutes
Winner announced
The judges name the winner. A cash prize, plus a holiday donation to the charity of the winner's choice.
-
to 9:30 pm
Networking and booths
The booths stay open. Stay for a drink, find the founder you want to talk to, and make the introduction you came for.
Fireside chat
The judges
Five judges
Pitching
The startups
Apply to pitch
Building something in the Hill Country? Pitch it.
Raising a pre-seed or seed round? This night is built for you. You pitch to everyone in the room, and the room includes angel and seed investors from across the Hill Country and Austin.
Applications close Thursday, November 6.
Who can apply
- Your company is based in the Hill Country west of Austin: Dripping Springs, Lakeway, Bee Cave, Spicewood, West Austin, Driftwood, Wimberley or nearby.
- You work in one of these:
- AI
- Tech
- CPG
- Health
- Fitness
- Built for companies raising a pre-seed or seed round. Founders at other stages are welcome to apply.
- A founder can be in the room on December 3 to staff a booth and pitch.
How it works
Three minutes to pitch, then two minutes of questions from five judges. The judges choose the winner against published criteria. Nothing is left to chance. The winner receives a cash prize, and we make a holiday donation to the charity of their choice. Every selected startup also gets a booth for the evening.
Dates
- Nov 6Applications close
- Nov 11Pitching startups selected
- Nov 13Every applicant hears from us, whatever the outcome
- Dec 3Pitch night
Get involved
Here is where we need you
Sponsors
Fund the prize, the charity gift or the night itself. In-kind counts too.
Talk to Drew about sponsoringJudges and a fireside guest
Five builders and investors to judge, and one founder for the fireside chat.
Suggest a judge or guestStartups to pitch
AI, tech, CPG, health and fitness founders based in the Hill Country.
Apply to pitchIntroductions
Know a founder, investor or leader who belongs in the room? Connect us.
Make an introductionWith thanks to
Our sponsors
The night
Where
DSSC Warehouse
Dripping Springs, Texas
The Warehouse is Dripping Springs Sports Club's gym. For one night it becomes a stage, a room of seats and a row of startup booths.
The street address, parking and the guest entrance go out with every invitation.
Hold the evening
Most of the room is invited by the hosts. A limited number of places are open, and investors who back pre-seed and seed companies get priority. Ask for one and we will be in touch.