Lightning Round
A programme by 1752vc
A live online pitch competition, with a five-minute pitch and questions, that selects startups for fast-track diligence into Accelerate.
At a glance
| Best for | Founders with traction who want a faster route into the Accelerate selection process. |
|---|---|
| Stage | Early revenue |
| Format | Online |
About Lightning Round
Lightning Round is a live online pitch competition run by 1752vc. Founders give a five-minute pitch followed by questions. Winners go straight to the final due diligence round for Accelerate and the firm's investment, which is not an automatic investment.
Who can apply
- The firm's page says it is open to all founders who submit a complete application, and asks for meaningful traction
- The firm's page describes the focus as founders building AI-native business products. The application portal describes early-stage technology startups in frontier tech, AI or deep tech.
- No nationality or residency rule is stated
How selection works: Finalists pitch live online. Winners move into the final diligence round for Accelerate.
How to apply: Apply to pitch through the application portal linked from the programme page. When we checked, the portal showed a final application deadline for the ninth round, so confirm the date there.
Where to apply
Other 1752vc programmes
- AccelerateA remote-first accelerator of about three months for early-stage startups with a product in market, tied to a direct investment from 1752vc.
- LaunchpadA self-paced, fully remote 12-week programme that takes an unvalidated idea to a validated one, for a refundable accountability fee.
- Ignite (Ignite Startup Academy)A 12-week programme of weekly modules and deliverables for founders with a first version, beta or initial customers, for a refundable accountability fee.
- Ignite DTCA 12-week programme for early-stage direct-to-consumer and consumer brands, for a refundable accountability fee.
- GTM AcceleratorA 12-week remote programme on go-to-market and founder-led sales for founders with a validated product and early traction.