For a startup team, few things are more valuable than the opportunity to pitch their business in front of seasoned investment professionals. And that is exactly what 50 founders gained from a series of pitch competitions hosted by Morgan Stanley’s Inclusive Ventures Group, which helps broaden access to capital for innovators and drive a more equitable investment landscape.
The global competitions—held in three cities in North America and four in Europe—aimed to reach innovators outside the usual startup hubs, such as New York and London, and expand the Morgan Stanley Inclusive Ventures Lab’s scope while building global ecosystems for entrepreneurs and early-stage investors. They attracted participants from more than a dozen countries and provided an opportunity to network with senior investment professionals from Morgan Stanley and other organizations.
“The goal of these pitch competitions is to facilitate an inclusive startup and venture capital ecosystem, where founders can showcase their companies and network with investors and other key players in the market,” said Selma Bueno, Global Head of the Morgan Stanley Inclusive Ventures Group.
Building an Entrepreneurship Ecosystem
Among the key objectives for these pitch competitions that the Inclusive Ventures Group runs each year is bringing together founders, investors and entrepreneurship experts—boosting the whole ecosystem, especially for innovators that might otherwise be overlooked. Judges this year came from a range of organizations in venture capital, banking and other industries.
The strongest businesses that the judges identified during each of the seven sessions are now being considered for seats in the Morgan Stanley Inclusive Ventures Lab (MSIVL), Morgan Stanley’s in-house accelerator program that broadens access to capital for start-up founders. Founded in 2017, MSIVL hosts early-stage technology and tech-enabled startups for five months, providing $250,000 or £250,000 along with mentoring and a tailored entrepreneurship curriculum. The latest cohort presented and pitched their companies to investors at a demo day and showcase in February, the culmination of the program.
“Our pitch competitions are a valuable way to advance more equitable innovation and educate startup founders and investors about the opportunity of being involved in Morgan Stanley’s Inclusive Ventures Lab,” said LaToya Wilson, Americas Head of the Inclusive Ventures Group.
This year’s pitch competitions provided access to a thriving ecosystem for all the participants, and each region’s session offered a unique experience.
Atlanta – Judges included Carla Harris, Senior Client Advisor at Morgan Stanley and founder of the Inclusive Ventures Group, Alice Vilma, Co-Portfolio Manager of Morgan Stanley’s Next Level Fund, and Baheejah Crumbley from Collab Capital. Jewel Burks Solomon, Managing Partner at Collab Capital, joined Harris on stage for a fireside chat, where she emphasized the importance of entrepreneurs having confidence about the value they bring to investors.
Montreal – Participants heard Sean Manahan, Morgan Stanley’s Head of Firmwide Innovation, describe what he looks for in startups as he searches for potential technology partners to help serve the needs of the firm.
Chicago – With a breathtaking view from the Willis Tower, these pitch sessions were broken up by insights from MSIVL alumna Disha Gulati, founder of Here Here Market, an online seller of curated artisanal food products. Judges for the day included Sidney Dillard and William Clayton, both from the Chicago-based investment bank Loop Capital, and Kristen Rossi, Global Head of Consumer Retail Investment Banking at Morgan Stanley.
Budapest – This session attracted seven companies from five countries around the region: Hungary, Estonia, Slovakia, Austria and Poland. They pitched to a diverse panel of judges, including Sári Miklós from the Budapest startup accelerator Design Terminal. The fireside chat addressed what’s driving startup growth in the region and the government policies that are supporting continued advancement. Participants also discussed AI’s impact on business models from the investor lens.
Paris – This session was held in Station F, the city’s large and iconic startup campus, and the day’s judges hailed from prominent venture capital firms. In a fireside chat, Benjamin Deplus, Partner at Breega Ventures and a two-time exited founder, shared reflections on his career, key trends shaping the French ecosystem and opportunities in AI. Deplus also discussed how to actively manage relationships, including how to manage a board.
Berlin – This event attracted local venture capitalists, along with founders from Germany, Norway, Switzerland and the Netherlands. Chanyu Xu, a serial entrepreneur and Co-founder of Her One, a female wellness brand, spoke about how to build a diverse team and source a complementary co-founder.
Glasgow – Participants heard from, among others, Michelle Howell, Head of Growth Investments at Scottish Enterprise, the government entity that supports and funds entrepreneurship in Scotland. Howell spoke about how public capital is kickstarting venture growth.
“We’re looking forward to continuing these global pitch competitions to provide valuable support to startup founders and to keep building an entrepreneurship and venture capital ecosystem,” said Sanghamitra Karra, EMEA Head of the Inclusive Ventures Group.
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