April 3, 2025

NYC

One Founder $1 Million

Peerless is a program and pitch competition for exceptional early-stage founders who are building businesses no one else can.

Apply Today

Applications Open October 15th

hosted by

About

Ecosystem of Excellence

In partnership with Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT), PEERLESS elevates exceptional founders from their earliest days through ongoing mentorship, intentional networking, and a $1M investment from AlleyCorp. Our goal is to create a more innovative and equitable venture ecosystem that scales the best ideas from founders of all backgrounds.

Lead Partners

supporters

Investment + Terms

One Founder. $1M.

The winner receives a $1M investment from AlleyCorp via an uncapped SAFE with 20% discount, subject to AlleyCorp's standard side letter provisions that include, but not limited to, investor rights, pro rata rights, information rights, and certain reporting requirements.

Apply Today

Apply Today

Investment + Terms

One Founder. $1M.

The winner receives a $1M investment from AlleyCorp via an uncapped SAFE with 20% discount, subject to AlleyCorp's standard side letter provisions that include, but not limited to, investor rights, pro rata rights, information rights, and certain reporting requirements.

Investment + Terms

One Founder. $1M.

The winner receives a $1M investment from AlleyCorp via an uncapped SAFE with 20% discount, subject to AlleyCorp's standard side letter provisions that include, but not limited to, investor rights, pro rata rights, information rights, and certain reporting requirements.

Visit Website

THE Main Event

April 3, 2025 at Google in NYC

Twenty applicants will be invited to compete in a virtual pitch, with five selected to pitch live on stage in April to an audience of 150 at Google’s headquarters in NYC.

Apply Today

Apply Today

THE Main Event

April 3, 2025 at Google in NYC

Twenty applicants will be invited to compete in a virtual pitch, with five selected to pitch live on stage in April to an audience of 150 at Google’s headquarters in NYC.

THE Main Event

April 3, 2025 at Google in NYC

Twenty applicants will be invited to compete in a virtual pitch, with five selected to pitch live on stage in April to an audience of 150 at Google’s headquarters in NYC.

View Directions

Visit Website

programming

Impactful programming

All applicants will be invited to a series of virtual and intimate networking events to meet and learn from experts across NYC's tech sector.

Apply Today

Apply Today

programming

Impactful programming

All applicants will be invited to a series of virtual and intimate networking events to meet and learn from experts across NYC's tech sector.

programming

Impactful programming

All applicants will be invited to a series of virtual and intimate networking events to meet and learn from experts across NYC's tech sector.

Visit Website

What
The winner
gets

Capital

$1M to scale your startup and build your team.

Pillsbury Legal Services

Up to $45,000 in no-charge corporate startup legal services tailored to fit the needs of the winner.

Hands-On Mentorship

Guidance from some of New York's highest-performing business builders.

purposeful Networking

Introduction to an ecosystem of successful investors and established founders.

Talent Pipeline

Access to highly qualified candidates for key early stage roles via Factor by Primary Ventures.

Tech:NYC Membership

Exclusive events, panels and perks from the city's leading tech advocacy and networking organization.

AWS Credits

$100k in AWS activate credits

July 18 2024

Our NYC Pitch Competition

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Apply Today

2024 Winner

Halo Braid Founder, Yinka Ogunbiyi

"PEERLESS was a game-changing opportunity for Halo Braid and totally transformed our company."

2024 Winner

Halo Braid Founder, Yinka Ogunbiyi

"PEERLESS was a game-changing opportunity for Halo Braid and totally transformed our company."

Visit Website

Visit Website

July 18 2024

Our NYC Pitch Competition

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Apply Today

Virtual Panels

Weekly Mastermind Sessions

Every Friday starting November 7th, all applicants are encouraged to attend a virtual mastermind session which will feature industry leaders who will share their experiences building startups. You will also have the opportunity to ask questions about the application process.

Virtual Panels

Weekly Mastermind Sessions

Every Friday starting November 7th, all applicants are encouraged to attend a virtual mastermind session which will feature industry leaders who will share their experiences building startups. You will also have the opportunity to ask questions about the application process.

Visit Website

Visit Website

key dates

10

.

15

Open

Application Live

Application Live

12

.

06

Open

Applications Close

Applications Close

02

.

10

Open

Announce 20 Finalists

Announce 20 Finalists

02

.

18

Open

Virtual Pitch Competition

Virtual Pitch Competition

03

.

03

Open

Announce Final Five

Announce Final Five

04

.

03

Open

Main Event

Main Event

questions

Read more about the SAFE agreement we will be using: "Discount, No Valuation Cap" here. You can also review the current AlleyCorp side letter template here.

After completing the online application, hundreds of applicants are narrowed down by our judges through two highly competitive selection rounds. The first round is virtual. The second round is an in-person pitch in NYC. We are evaluating the founding team, business model, traction, market opportunity and uniqueness of idea.

U.S. based companies that are technologically innovative that have not raised more than $2M.

Once you click the Apply button on this website, you will be linked to the application portal where you can create an account and apply.

You will be required to complete a questionnaire, submit your pitch deck, and upload a three minute video describing yourself and the impact you hope to make. We estimate that the entire application will take 30 minutes to complete.

Yes, the $1M investment is guaranteed to go to a single winner.

No. We are accepting applications from across the U.S., but the main event will take place in NYC.

Leadership + Advisory

Kevin Ryan

Founder, Alleycorp

Desiree Almodovar

Director, Alleycorp

Brenton Fargnoli

General Partner, AlleyCorp

Tanya Beja

General Partner, Alleycorp

Marshall Porter

General Partner, Alleycorp

Abe Murray

General Partner, AlleyCorp

Brannon Jones

Investor, AlleyCorp

Lisa Lewen

Partner, Primary Venture Partners

Ben Sun

Co-Founder, Primary Venture Partners

Youssef

Investor, AlleyCorp

Omar Njie

Principal, Alleycorp

Tom Ogletree

Director, Factor Fellowship

John Rice

Founder, MLT

Bunny Ellerin

CEO, Digital Health New York

Kevin Ryan

Kevin Ryan

Desiree Almodovar

Desiree Almodovar

Brenton Fargnoli

Brenton Fargnoli

Tanya Beja

Tanya Beja

Marshall Porter

Marshall Porter

Abe Murray

Abe Murray

Brannon Jones

Brannon Jones

Lisa Lewen

Lisa Lewen

Ben Sun

Ben Sun

Youssef

Youssef

Omar Njie

Omar Njie

Tom Ogletree

Tom Ogletree

John Rice

John Rice

Bunny Ellerin

Bunny Ellerin