Google to hold Asia-wide pitch competition for startups

Google is calling on tech startups across Asia to join its pitch competition.

The tech giant is set to stage Google Demo Day Asia on September 20 in Shanghai, China, where chosen startups will get the chance to pitch their businesses to investors.

Selected startups will be mentored by Google on how to deliver a pitch, on top of an all-expense-paid trip to China where they will meet founders of successful Chinese startups and venture capitalists.

Startups opting to join the competition must be incorporated and headquartered in Asia, must have raised at least $50,000 and is actively raising $1 million to $5 million within six months of the event, and have tractions through revenue and customer growth.

This is the first time Google is bringing the competition to Asia. In a statement, Mike Kim, partnerships manager of Google for Entrepreneurs, said startups that have participated in the program since 2014 have raised $273 million worth of funds.

“There are thousands of cutting-edge startups working on the next big idea in the region, and we want to give [them] a global stage,” Kim said.

Startups can apply online until July 11.