Purpose
The Forge AI Pitch aims to:

• Showcase “Deployment Ready” AI and AI-adjacent startups from across Pennsylvania, highlighting the innovative work happening statewide.
• Give companies exposure to potential investors, providing a direct platform for our companies to connect with VCs, angel investors, and other funding sources.
• Demonstrate Pennsylvania's AI capabilities, broadening the perception of the state's significant advancements in the AI sector across all regions.
• Promote Pittsburgh resources, highlighting the robust resources available to AI companies within the Pittsburgh ecosystem.

Scope
The Challenge will focus on:

• AI and AI-adjacent startups from across Pennsylvania, meaning companies located anywhere in the state working directly with or closely related to artificial intelligence.
• Companies with substantial AI-enablement that are deployment-ready. We're looking for ventures past the conceptual stage, with AI technologies ready for implementation or already in use.
• AI Product-based solutions including software, hardware, physical, and AI-enabled, will all be considered
• More mature startups, as opposed to academic or student projects, that have a clear business plan and are actively seeking growth capital.
• Startups must have a pilot-ready or active technologies, a viable path to market, and defensible intellectual property.

Selection Criteria
Judges will prioritize companies demonstrating:

• Deployable technology and readiness for adoption: Solutions must be functional and easily integrated into an operational environment.
• Beta versions or pilots ready: Startups with working prototypes or ongoing pilot programs are preferred.
• Efficient use of AI to accelerate development cycles and achieve quicker business results: How effectively AI drives business outcomes is key.
• Novel solutions with defensibility: Unique AI applications that are difficult for competitors to replicate, potentially through patents or proprietary algorithms - no wrappers.
• Business viability and growth potential.
• Companies must be headquartered in Pennsylvania.