Deadline: September 23, 2025
Applications are open for the Serena Williams Pitch Contest 2025. For Serena Willams Masterclass’ 10th anniversary, they are giving one member the chance to share their business idea with investor, CEO, and tennis legend Serena Williams. The winner will receive $15,000 and a chance to spend a day with Serena Ventures in New York City! This is your moment to get noticed, funded, and mentored by one of the most influential entrepreneurs and investors in the world.
Prize
One (1) Grand Prize will be offered. The Grand Prize will consist of:
- Review of business pitch deck by Serena Williams;
- A virtual meeting for one (1) person with Serena Williams for one 30-minute session to discuss business pitch deck;
- A $15,000 start-up budget from Sponsor (awarded as a corporate check or wire transfer to Winner);
- An in-person meet-and-greet and lunch for one (1) person with partner(s) and expert(s) from Serena Ventures at their New York City office;
- Economy air travel for one (1) person to New York City and ground transportation to/from airport and hotel (if and as needed), and transfers between hotel and Serena Ventures office (if and as needed);
- Local hotel accommodation for two (2) nights in New York City in one (1) room (room and room tax only) (if and as needed); and,
- $500 spending money (awarded as a corporate check or wire transfer to Winner).
Eligibility
- Open to current U.S. residents (excluding Alaska, Arizona, and Hawaii).
- Entrepreneurs with a bold, innovative business idea.
- Those committed to watching Serena’s MasterClass tennis course before entering.
Selection Criteria
Finalist Submissions shall be judged, and the Winner will be selected, according to the following criteria with each criteria being weighted equally:
- Deeper Dive into the Product: Elaborate on how your product or service addresses the problem you are trying to solve.
- Traction: Demonstrate traction and quantifiable progress since the initial pitch.
- Core customer: Define your ideal customer profile, including their demographics, psychographics, needs, and pain points. Explain how your product or service directly addresses their needs.
- Go-to-market strategy: Detail your plan for reaching your target customers, including your marketing, sales, and distribution channels. Explain how you will acquire and retain customers.
- Competition: Identify your competitors and discuss how your approach is different.
- Scalability & Growth Plan: Present a roadmap for future growth, including milestones, expansion plans, and how you intend to achieve significant scale. Include key metrics and projections.
Application
For more information, visit Serena Williams Pitch Contest.
