What are the qualifications to apply to Start-Up Alley?

• Your company must be incorporated / in operation fewer than three years.
• Your company must not be funded by a technology company.
• A company may exhibit for a maximum of two years.
• Prior RTN Start-Up Alley winners are not eligible.

Proof of eligibility required. 

How many companies get selected?
Our judges will select semi-finalists to be showcased in Start-Up Alley at MURTEC 2023.

What are the fees?

The non-refundable application fee is $200. This fee will put your company and nomination in front of our judges for preliminary consideration. This fee does not guarantee placement in Start-Up Alley. If you are selected as a semi-finalists, you will be eligible for a spot in Start-Up Alley, and your $200 application fee will be credited towards your entry fees. 

If you are NOT selected to be at RTN’s Start-Up Alley for MURTEC 2023, you will have the option to apply your $200 application fee to join the RTN community as a Start-Up Member. 

If selected, the MURTEC Start-Up Alley participant fee is $4,800. The participant fee includes:

• One year of RTN Start-Up Membership (Current RTN Members: $4,800 fee includes your RTN 2023 Start-Up Membership renewal. Your renewal will start when current RTN membership expires.)

• Official Start-Up Alley Exhibit at MURTEC 2023

• Two Conference Passes to attend MURTEC 2023

• Chance to Pitch to Top Restaurant Judges
   

How does the judging work? 
The judges will evaluate the Start-Up Alley submissions. They will narrow the field down to the Top semi-finalists, who will be offered the coveted spots to participate in Start-Up Alley. 

At the live event, the judges will tour the Alley and listen to fast-pitch demos from every contestant. The current judges will use a specialized scorecard and strategic deliberation to collaboratively decide on the Top 3. The incumbent judges will tour the Alley at their leisure, and have the option to attend deliberations and weigh in at their leisure.

Check out our incumbent and current judges here.

What is the exhibit like?
The exhibit is a 30" high-top table inside the MURTEC pre-function corridor. Tables will be assigned by MURTEC and include a sign for the table with your company logo.

Any other literature, laptops or equipment must be supplied by the participant and must fit on the highboy table. 110v power will be provided at your table upon request at no additional charge. Standard hotel WiFI will be available. 

See videos of the booth tours from 2022 to get an idea of how your space will look and feel.

What happens if I am among the Top Finalists?
The judges at MURTEC will narrow down the semi-finalists to the top finalists – those hot start-ups will take the MURTEC Main Stage where they will be asked questions by the judges. MURTEC attendees will cast their votes for the winner of Start-Up Alley at MURTEC 2023! The winning company will be featured in Hospitality Technology magazine and RTN!

Check out last year’s live coverage from the MURTEC stage!

Questions?
Feel free to direct any questions to info@restauranttechnologynetwork.com.