The UNLEASH Startup Award will return to Las Vegas during UNLEASH America 2025, taking place at Caesar’s Forum between May 6-8.

Workplace technology is progressing exponentially, and the market continues to evolve as the economy, workplace, and technology grow rapidly.

The UNLEASH Startup Award is at the forefront of this technological revolution, showcasing the game-changing organizations and technologies shaping the future of work.

We’re giving the best and brightest HR Tech startups the chance to pitch their next-gen technologies.

The Startup Award takes place right on the show floor to deliver as much exposure as possible to our selected finalists.

At our most recent EMEA Startup Award at UNLEASH World 2024 in Paris this October, Ireland-based Welliba emerged triumphant with its pitch, delivered by Co-Founder and CCO Katarina Coppé.

Speaking to UNLEASH in the aftermath of Welliba’s victory, Coppé said of the win: “This is recognition that what we’ve launched to solve business problems is actually resonating with industry experts.

“It also shows that clients are actually sharing what they’ve learned and giving us their business. And this shows we’re on the path of helping customers solve key business problems: We’re very happy to have achieved that.”

What you need to know to enter

Entrance requirements for the next UNLEASH Startup Award:

• Must be a paid UNLEASH America exhibitor
• No more than Series A funding
• No more than five years old
• No more than 50 employees
• Fill out a questionnaire and share a 2-minute video submission (To be provided by your Customer Success Manager)
• For companies with more than 50 employees and/or founded more than five years ago, please contact the UNLEASH team to discuss your entry.

You can also check out UNLEASH’s top tips for entering!

Timeline

4 December 2024 – We are now open for entries, so start submitting your questionnaires and pitches!

5 February 2025 – Our expert judging panel will be revealed.

28 March – Applications close at midnight PST.  Put the date in your diary to make sure you don’t miss out!

7 May – The on-site finale at UNLEASH America where the five finalists will each give a four-minute pitch, and then face a four-minute Q&A with our industry judges.

The Grand Prize

Entering the UNLEASH Startup Award offers the best and brightest of the HR tech landscape unrivalled access to the top HR analysts, thought leaders and investors.

Past judges include Kathi Enderes, Chris Hoyt, Mike Bollinger, Sadie Bell, Benjamin Visser, and Katarina Berg.

The winner of the UNLEASH America Startup Award will receive a $50,000 UNLEASH Sponsorship package. (Details to be discussed with your account manager. Split equally between UNLEASH events exhibition sponsorship and UNLEASH Labs. Please note this does not cover stand design or build cost).

The best of luck to all entrants and we look forward to seeing you at UNLEASH America, 6-8 May, in Las Vegas!

Want more information?

UNLEASH will be sharing more information on the judging phase, FAQs and top tips from the judges soon!

But for more information on our Startup packages, which provide marketing opportunities to showcase your achievements, please contact:

Kennedy Cook, Startup & Investor Program Lead – at Kennedy@unleash.ai

Aniko Illes, Startup Ecosystem Sales Lead – at Aniko@unleash.ai or on 00 36 20 255 87 41