100 FAQs

The 100 Frequently Asked Questions

How does The 100 work?

Until July 19, you can submit a pitch on the The 100 website. On July 27, we’ll announce The 100 selected to receive $1,000 each. Those 100 ideas have about two months to be fleshed out as projects. All of them must present at our September 20 Demo Day, where a minimum of 10 are selected for another $20,000 to keep incubating their projects.

If you are an aspiring entrepreneur looking for assistance, check out some community resources available to help you work on your idea.

Do you have to live in Grand Rapids, MI to submit?

It’s not a requirement to live in Michigan, but keep in mind we favor projects that will draw value from and create benefit back into our community.

I’m not able to record my pitch through the website.

Try using a different device: a laptop, smartphone or tablet. You can also contact us if you need troubleshooting help. If all else fails, join us at one of our events.

Computer instructions:
  • Click Record Video.
  • Your browser may prompt you to “Click to use Flash” and grant access to your camera . Make sure to allow access.
  • When you see yourself, click the red button to start. Timer starts a countdown from 1:40 (1 minute, 40 seconds). When you’re finished, your video is automatically saved.
  • To play back your video, click the black “Play” button. Or click the “Record” button to start over again. Type a description and click “Submit.”
iPhone/iPad instructions:

IMPORTANT: The camera on your iPhone/iPad does not automatically stop. Be sure to keep you pitch to 1 minute, 40 seconds (100 seconds). If you upload a video longer than 1:40, it will be cut off at 1:40.

  • Select “Record or Select a video file.”
  • Select “Take Video” to record your pitch. Tap the red button to start, tap to stop at 1:40.
  • When you’re satisfied, select “Use Video.” Select “Upload Video.”Type a brief description and select “Submit.”

Not working? Log in from another phone/tablet/computer.

Do you have to submit through the website or can you just come to Start Garden and pitch?

All pitches must be submitted through the website, either on your own or contact us for assistance.

Can I change my pitch after I record it?

After you submit a pitch, you are capable of resubmiting your 100 second video at any time with no restrictions. Do not submit another pitch about the same idea. Start Garden is not responsible to know which pitch is the correct one.

Can I pitch more than one idea?

Definitely. Pitch as many as you want. Just don’t submit multiple pitches about the same idea.

What kind of idea can I pitch?

Pitch whatever you want. Keep in mind, we expect the person who submits the idea to keep running with it if that person receives $1,000.

Can an existing business pitch?

Yes, a non-startup business can pitch if the 100-second pitch is for a project or innovation that is not part of their existing operations. An existing business can pitch a new project that could open up a new source of revenue. It cannot use the $1,000 just to fund the existing operations.

Good pitch example: An existing bakery wants to try out an online campaign to ship a new line of frozen cupcakes.

Bad pitch example: An existing bakery needs funds to help them pay the rent.

What happens if I win $1,000?

All The 100 chosen to receive $1,000 must present on the September 29 Demo Day.

Does Start Garden own a stake in these ideas if they’re submitted?

No. Neither the $1,000 or the $20,000 involves Start Garden taking any stake as a debtor or investor into a company.

Will Start Garden sign a non-disclosure agreement?

No, and we never have. With the volume of ideas we encounter each year, it’s not feasible for us to keep track of restrictions within all of the NDAs we could potentially sign. To better protect ideas, we don’t make the 100-second pitch videos public without permission from the person who submitted. Furthermore, any submitter can independently file a provisional patent on their idea before submitting.

What can I use the $1,000 for?

Whatever you need to drive your idea forward and make a compelling presentation on September Demo Day. It’s up to you.

How do people “flesh out an idea?”

We strongly encourage candidates to take an entrepreneur bootcamp or classes on business model/business plan creation. If selected as one of the 100 to participate at Demo Day, you will be asked to submit an Executive Summary  about your idea and show how your idea  becomes self-sustaining moving forward.

How do ideas selected for $1,000 receive payment?

Payment can go to an individual, a business or an assignee designated by the winner. The $1,000 is considered taxable income.

A W9 form must be submitted by the winner or the winner’s assignee to receive payment.

How can I win $20,000 at the September 20 Demo Day?

Only the 100 ideas selected to receive $1,000 present on the September 20 Demo Day. It is mandatory that they present.

Is Demo Day a pitch competition?

No. The 100 are not expected to perform a traditional pitch from a stage, although we strongly encourage they prepare an “elevator pitch” to deliver to the audience. Each presenter will be provided a small space to demo their project in the way that seems most fitting to them. Each of The 100 must be represented in person to be considered for the $20,000.

What size is my space at Demo Day?

Each of the 100 will be assigned 6×6 space on the Demo Day Floor. We will provide a table with a black linen but the rest is up to you.

Is The 100 only for certain people or neighborhoods?

There are no restrictions on who participates if they’re over 14 years old. Start Garden favors projects that will draw value from and create benefit back into our community. They also consider if The 100 can make a substantial difference getting the business off the ground. Ultimately, The 100 is here to level the playing field for anyone who thought trying out a new venture was outside their reach.

How does $1,000 launch a business?

We know $1,000 doesn’t launch a business. The $1,000 goes toward fleshing out a back-of-the-napkin idea, examining it as an entrepreneur and figuring out how it can become a self-sustaining venture.

A W9 form must be submitted to receive payment.

Why does The 100 give away $1,000 when 5×5 Night gives away $5,000?

Start Garden has never injected $100,000 into new ideas in such a short period of time. This initiative supports “back-of-the-napkin” ideas. When you look at what goes into a five-minute presentation on stage for 5 x 5 Night, it’s a lot. This $1,000 grant funds people to put in the work of fleshing out their ideas to the level you’d expect at 5 x 5 Night or another pitch competition.

How do people know their ideas won’t be stolen?

The 100-second video pitch submitted is not made public without permission from the submitter. The only people that will review the videos are Start Garden staff and members of the entrepreneur support community designated by Start Garden. This limits the people who can view ideas to very few.

However, if a submitter still wants more protection, we recommend filing a provisional patent through an attorney.

Is the $20,000 a grant or a loan?

The $20,000 is a grant. Start Garden does not take any stake as a debtor or investor into the idea. Prior to receiving the $20,000, we expect winners to present a use-of-proceeds plan toward how they reach the next step with their ideas.

What do you hope the results to be from The 100?

We want to deepen the culture of innovation for anyone that thought entrepreneurship was out of reach. Success for us looks like 10 new businesses or business projects operating in our community each year. Entrepreneurs teach us along the way how we as a community can support them.

So, out of 100 ideas, you hope 10 succeed?

Yes. We’d like all to succeed, however, it’s more important that we encourage trying, learning and moving forward. Moving forward can mean failing and going on to another idea. That’s fine with us.

Why are you doing this?

The 100 is a multi-year initiative to expand upon the community’s innovative ideas and how we go about funding them. It begins with seeding 100 ideas on an annual basis. In the future, we will explore how as a community we can better support them as they grow.

Still need help? Contact us