Applications Now Open for Tenth-Annual Ski Lift Pitch
This unique event gives up-an-coming entrepreneurs the chance to win $10,000 in funding and connect with potential investors – all while riding the ski lifts in Taos
November 26, 2024
ActivateNM, CNM Ingenuity, the New Mexico Office of Strategy, Science, and Technology, and the New Mexico Outdoor Recreation Division are excited to announce that applications are now open the tenth-annual Ski Lift Pitch, which will take place February 3-4, 2025 in the Taos Ski Valley.
“Ski Lift Pitch is a unique and incredibly beneficial event for New Mexico-based businesses not only because of the opportunity to take home a cash prize, but also because of the countless opportunities for networking and exposure during the two-day event,” says Lindsay Humphries, Senior Program Manager at CNM Ingenuity. “I’m excited to see the array of businesses that apply and I’m really looking forward to their pitches.”
This two-day event was created to take the elevator pitch to a new level, literally, with nine business founders pitching to potential investors while riding the lifts at Taos Ski Valley. All the founders get three chairlift rides, and three runs, and get to pitch a different investor each time. At the end of the day the investors select the top three businesses for a final pitch on the main stage and the winner takes home a $10,000 cash prize.
Any New Mexico-based business in the pre-seed or seed-stage is encouraged to apply. Businesses interested in applying must meet the following criteria:
- High Growth: The business can achieve significant and rapid expansion in terms of revenue, customer base, market share, or other key performance indicators in large addressable markets.
- Scalable: The business should showcase the ability to expand operations and increase revenue without incurring a corresponding rise in operational costs.
Applicants are required to submit a two-minute pitch video and an executive summary, but are encouraged to also include a pitch deck and a customer testimonial. Nine businesses will be selected based on team dynamic, product uniqueness, target market, traction, and competitive advantage. Applications are due by Jan. 1, 2025 by 11:59 p.m. MST.
“What really makes a business stand out from other applicants is their ability to paint a well-rounded picture of their team, vision, and product,” Lindsay says. “If you can show you have a knock-out team, a solid customer base, and a strategy for growth your application will shine.”
Ready to apply to Ski Lift Pitch? Start your application now!
About New Mexico Outdoor Recreation Division
The mission of the Outdoor Recreation Division, a division of the New Mexico Economic Development Department, is to increase equitable access to the outdoors for all New Mexicans, ensuring healthy outcomes, environmental stewardship, and economic prosperity. For more information, visit nmoutside.com or follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram at @NMOutdoorRec.
About the New Mexico Office of Strategy, Science, and Technology
The Office of Strategy, Science and Technology (OSST) was created to connect New Mexico’s innovation infrastructure to the commercial market. OSST strives to lead and execute programs that encourage and enable the startup, growth, and relocation of technology-based industries in and to New Mexico by focusing on growing and diversifying existing technology companies, rapidly commercializing technologies, and promoting research and development in emerging technologies.
About CNM Ingenuity’s ActivateNM
ActivateNM is a tailored, multi-tiered program that provides guidance, events, and resources to founders and startups across New Mexico. ActivateNM is part of CNM Ingenuity, an economic development arm of Central New Mexico Community College (CNM). For more information visit activatenm.com or follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, or Twitter at @ActivateNM