Introducing The Cold Start: pitch your startup live at Cloudflare Connect for $500,000 in credits
Hi everyone, Shii-chan here! Today's news is an event announcement for startups.
Cloudflare Blog
blog.cloudflare.com
What was announced?
The Cloudflare Blog announced The Cold Start, a startup competition. Five early-stage companies each get five minutes on stage at Cloudflare Connect to pitch.
Why it matters
This isn't a technical announcement. It's an event for the Cloudflare ecosystem, and the application deadline is close, so eligible founders should check it soon.
What changes
Each of the five selected startups gets:
- 5 minutes to pitch, followed by 3-5 minutes of questions from judges
- Travel to San Francisco funded by Cloudflare
The winner also receives:
- $500,000 in Cloudflare credits
- A San Francisco billboard takeover
- An invitation to the VIP speakers dinner
Dive Deep
Here are the details and requirements:
- When: Monday, October 19, 2026, 4:00-5:00 p.m. PDT
- Where: Moscone West, San Francisco
- Application deadline: Friday, October 2, 2026
- Eligibility: early-stage companies based in the US and Canada that have raised less than $10 million
- Judges: Matthew Prince (Co-founder & CEO), Michelle Zatlyn (Co-founder & President), and Dane Knecht (CTO)
Cloudflare says it wants interesting ideas clearly explained rather than polished presentations. It's looking for founders who have found a real market need and have a compelling vision, in any industry.
Wrap-up
- Five companies pitch for five minutes each on October 19, 2026
- The winner gets $500,000 in credits, a billboard, and a VIP dinner
- Open to US and Canadian early-stage companies with under $10 million raised
- Applications close on October 2, 2026
If that sounds like your startup, this one is for you!
