Civilian and government Space travel is rising, and commercial Space habitats are being funded and constructed. These exciting developments have created an urgent need to address the many challenges for humans to survive a Space journey and thrive in Space for extended periods. The BE 2024 Business Challenge is a global competition for Space entrepreneurs focused on aspects of human spaceflight and habitation. This inaugural Challenge will culminate with a Finals event in November 2024, during which noted industry expert judges and partners will award cash prizes and in-kind offerings to the top finalist.
Innovative and forward-thinking Business Verticals for this challenge include, but are not limited to:
Any startup involved in the above or similar Business Vertical is welcome to apply and become an Applicant, as long as they are legally registered in a US State Department Treaty Country. Categories of startups are limited to these stages: Idea, Early, and Growth as generally outlined below:
IDEA STAGE:
EARLY STAGE:
GROWTH STAGE:
2024 Business Challenge participants will be judged on their business viability, go-to-market approach, investability, and social impact. 2024 Business Challenge participants will be evaluated based on a point system, taking the following criteria and their weights into consideration:
PRODUCT – 20%
• Traction, Customer Validation, Value Proposition, and Differentiation
POTENTIAL – 20%
• Market Need, Market Potential, Market Share, and Competitive Advantage
PREDICTABILITY (BUSINESS MODEL) – 20%
• Scalability, Revenue, and Growth
PEOPLE – 20%
• Experience, Track Record, and Talent
PRESENTATION – 20%
• Presentation and Communication Skills
Eligibility
The competition is open to individuals or teams.
Competition organizers and judges are not eligible for any awards.
Copyright and Intellectual Property
By submitting an entry, applicants agree to permit BE and all affiliated organizers to mention their names, affiliations, and head-shot pictures in connection with the competition. Copyright of the submitted entries shall remain with the applicants. However, by submitting an entry, all contestants agree that BE and all affiliated organizers are granted non-exclusive reproduction rights regarding all submitted material.
If you or your organization are interested in providing judges or sponsorship donations, click on the link below to access the prospectus.
Prizes
At least $250,000 in cash and prizes will be announced.
Questions?
Any questions about the 2024 BE Business Challenge should be sent to Stepahn Reckie at Stephan@beyondearth.org!
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What does the top finalist get for winning the competition?
The winners of the 2024 Business Challenge will receive a TBD cash and in-kind prizes. They will also receive global exposure through media recognition from all the event journalists. Select sponsors will also be providing additional prizes to be announced.
2. How many companies will be selected for the semi-finals?
The top 3 companies in each category will be selected for the semi-finals among the applicants.
3. How long will each company pitch for during the finals?
Each startup will be allocated 5 minutes to pitch followed by 5 minutes of Q&A from the judging panel at the Grand Finale.
4. Are there any capitalization restrictions for the applicants?
There are no restrictions on the amount of capital raised.
5. Who will be evaluating my application?
The Application Review Committee will consist of representatives from the Space Industry, VCs, entrepreneurs, and angel investors.
6. Is there an application fee?
No
