TiE Women Program 2026 — Global Pitch Competition for Women Founders — Frequently Asked Questions

It is a global pitch competition organised by TiE for women entrepreneurs. Founders present their startups to judges and investors after clearing screening rounds, and the programme also provides mentorship, investor and mentor networks, and membership of a community of women founders. The competition is conducted online.

The listing does not disclose any cash prize amount. The stated benefits are non-cash — pitching to a panel of judges and investors, structured mentorship, access to a global network of investors, mentors and industry experts, and entry into a supportive community of women founders. You should plan on the exposure and support rather than a stated cash award.

The programme is open to women founders and co-founders of startups in any industry or sector. The company must be female-founded or co-founded, the woman founder or co-founder must hold at least 33% equity, and the business must be less than seven years old — meaning it was registered after January 1, 2019. Early-stage and growth-stage ventures both qualify.

No. Idea-stage startups are explicitly not eligible. Your venture needs to be a registered company that falls within the age limit, so a business that exists only as a concept cannot enter the competition.

The female founder or co-founder must hold at least 33% equity in the company. This is a condition of entry, not a stake that the programme takes from you.

The company must have been registered after January 1, 2019, which means it has been in business for less than seven years at the time of application. Startups older than that fall outside the eligibility window.

The listing does not require DPIIT recognition or MSME registration. The conditions it sets out relate to who founded the company, how much equity the woman founder holds, the company's registration date, and the stage of the business.

No deadline is specified in the listing. Since no closing date is published, it is safest to complete your application through the official registration link as early as you can rather than waiting for a date to be announced.

No equity stake is mentioned anywhere in the published details, and no investment amount is disclosed either. The focus is on pitching, mentorship and network access for women founders.

Applications are submitted through the official TiE Women pitch platform. Interested founders should complete the application form on that platform at https://tiewomen.pitchday.pro/demoday/events/1710/companies/add.