The Startup Showdown
A live pitch competition on the BUILD track's main stage, Day Two of AIXP 2027. Founders pitch in front of the room — and in front of the Industry Day executives and investors who judge every round.
April 14–16, 2027 · POST HTX, Houston
One requirement: the Exchange
Every entrant must hold an AIXP Exchange company profile to apply. The Exchange Floor is where companies get discovered at AIXP — your profile is your entry ticket to the Showdown. No profile, no stage. Set one up before applications open.
The judging rubric
Three criteria. That's the whole scorecard.
Execution
Have you built something real? Judges weigh what exists today — working product, real users, and proof the team can ship.
Product Clarity
Can you say what it does, who it's for, and why it wins — in plain language, without the jargon? Confusion on stage loses points.
Real-World Viability
Is there a market, a business model, and a reason this company exists in five years? Judges fund durable businesses, not demos.
Win the room
The winning startup takes the Showdown title on the main stage, in front of the full Day Two audience — with introductions to the Industry Day executives and investors in the building. Prize package details drop with the full run of show in October.
Judged by the buyers
The judging panel is drawn from Industry Day attendees — the executives and investors who come to AIXP to evaluate real companies. These are the people who sign contracts and write checks, not celebrity judges reading a script.
Get on the stage
Pitch, judge, or put your name on the stage itself. Applications open to Exchange profile holders first.