BryceTech Start-Up Space Pitch Competition

Innovation drives the space industry.

BryceTech and AIAA are sponsoring the first ever BryceTech Start-Up Space Pitch Competition at ASCEND26 in Washington DC, May 19-21. ASCEND26 is

• The premier, outcome-focused, interdisciplinary, space event
• Accelerating building our off-world future
• Attended by > 2,000 participants annually

BryceTech champions, partners with, and reports on the start-up space ecosystem. We work with emerging space companies, innovators, investors, and government partners to provide data-driven insights on the start-up space economy.

BryceTech launched this competition to

• Highlight and support high-potential startups with innovative concepts
• Showcase innovators in our community building technologies that will transform space
• Strengthen collaboration between entrepreneurs, start-up investors, and stakeholders to expand the commercial space ecosystem

We invite start-ups from across space and space-adjacent industries to submit an application to the pitch competition. We are asking for start-ups (series A or earlier) which fit within one or more of the following topic areas, drawn from AIAA’s Technologies Transforming Aerospace 2026. Find more details on each of these topic areas in the full report.

Download the full report

The application asks for short answers to these three questions (more detail in the application):

1. What is the product or service offering?
2. How does it benefit potential customers, and who are they?
3. What is the evidence that there is a need for this?

Applications must be completed and submitted by April 19th for consideration. You can read about these specific terms and conditions here.

BryceTech’s start up space experts will down-select to five finalists based on our assessment of:

• Fit within at least one of the 10 technology areas identified
• Promise and understanding of the target market
• Viability of the solution
• Evidence of customer interest in the concept
• Overall impact of the solution in market size or importance to the industry

• A 5-minute pitch session slot in person in front of our panel of judges at ASCEND26 in Washington, DC
• (1x) registration for AIAA ASCEND26 to participate in the competition in person
• Opportunity to present their concept to the broader ASCEND26 audience in a panel session within the BryceTech Investment and Innovation Track on Wednesday May 20th

Startups will pitch their concept in a closed-door session in front of our judges from across venture capital and commercial space. Judges will assess the pitches and select one winner.

One winner will be announced at the BryceTech Start-up Space Pitch Competition Panel. The one winner will receive:

• A Start-up Space advisory package from BryceTech including:
  • Market analysis, sizing, and competitive assessment targeted at the start-ups market segment
  • Two advising sessions from BryceTech CEO and Harvard Business School Entrepreneur in Residence, Carissa Christensen
  • One data visualization, graphic, or infographic from BryceTech’s in-house space graphic artist
• From AIAA, you will receive a prize package designed to accelerate your growth and visibility within the global aerospace community:
  • CM Accelerate Corporate Membership (1 year) – One-year startup corporate membership at the tier appropriate to your company’s size and funding stage, unlocking access to AIAA’s network of 33,000+ aerospace professionals, policy advocacy resources, workforce benefits, and startup-specific programming including CTO Summit access and Tech Spotlight webinar inclusion.
  • ASCEND27 Conference Registrations – Four (4) complimentary full conference registrations to ASCEND27, AIAA’s premier forum at the intersection of commercial space, innovation, and industry leadership.
  • ASCEND27 Exhibit Space – One (1) 10x10 raw booth space at ASCEND27 in a mutually agreed upon location, subject to floor plan availability.
• Publicity from BryceTech and AIAA celebrating their win!