The Data Streaming Startup Challenge

The Data Streaming Startup Challenge is a global competition for early stage startups to showcase their innovative data applications using Confluent as a critical component of their infrastructure. Startups will compete for the opportunity to receive equity funding from Confluent, marketing exposure, and exposure to venture capitalists interested in investing in real-time data opportunities.

• Win an investment from Confluent
  • Up to $1M in investments will be distributed to the winner and finalists with the most innovative applications that use Confluent as a key part of their infrastructure.
• Pitch to industry luminaries and VCs
  • Judges will include Confluent CEO Jay Kreps as well as partners from top VCs such as Sequoia, Benchmark, and Index.
• Promote your business on-stage at Kafka Summit London
  • Winners and runners up will present live at Kafka Summit London, and will be promoted across Confluent marketing material.

This challenge offers startups the chance to win a grand prize of up to US$500,000 in equity investment from Confluent, alongside substantial marketing exposure and mentorship from venture capitalists and Confluent co-founders.

Prize Information

• Top 10
  • Blog featuring top 10
  • $5000 in Confluent Cloud Credits
  • 2 passes to Kafka Summit London
• 3 Finalists
  • Up to $250,000 in investment
  • Pitch to industry luminaries and VCs
  • Present at Kafka Summit London 2024
• Grand prize
  • Up to $500,000 in investment
  • Featured in Confluent marketing channels
  • Chosen from 3 Finalists

What they’re looking for?

• Leadership
  • Does your team have the skill sets and ability to execute?
• Opportunity
  • What is the market opportunity? What are you solving for your customers?
• Creativity
  • How is your application unique, and what is your competitive advantage?
• Confluent Usage
  • How do you leverage Confluent? What specific features do you use?

Eligibility Criteria

• To be eligible to enter the Startup Challenge, the Startup must, as of its entry date and through the date the Winner is announced, have been established within the last 5 years; have less than USD $10 million in funding; be a valid entity in good standing; be a C corporation, LLC or other entity reasonably acceptable to Confluent
• The individual representing the Startup must be 18 years or older at the date of the entry and must be a director, officer, general manager, owner, or founder of the Startup.

Requirements

• Build an application that uses Confluent as a key component of your data infrastructure
• Submit a pitch deck highlighting your core value proposition, how you use Confluent Cloud, and details about the current state of the business (current funding, founder backgrounds, etc.)
• Submit a demo video (5 mins) highlighting your application and how it uses Confluent
• Be an entity that is early stage (Less than 5 years old, and has raised less than $10M to date)

For more information, visit Confluent.