Ever
since
Startup
Alley
first
launched in
2017,
the
pitch
competition
has
helped
catapult
the
success
of
a
long
list
of
legal
technology
startups
and
become
a
seminal
event
of
the
American
Bar
Association’s
annual TECHSHOW.
I
am
thrilled
to
say
that
the
competition
is
returning
for
its
ninth
year,
and
applications
officially
open
today
for
legal
tech
startups
to
enter
to
compete
for
a
spot
at TECHSHOW
2025,
which
takes
place
in
Chicago,
April
2-5,
2025.
Out
of
all
the
entries
received,
15
startups
will
be
selected
to
participate
in
a
live
pitch
competition
that
will
be
the
opening
event
of
this
year’s
TECHSHOW
on
the
evening
of
April
2,
2025.
In
addition
to
the
pitch
competition,
the
15
finalists
will
be
highlighted
as
exhibitors
in
a
special
Startup
Alley
section
of
the
conference
exhibit
hall.
Application
form
for
2025
ABA
TECHSHOW
Startup
Alley.
Again
this
year,
I
will
be
coordinating
the
competition,
in
collaboration
with
the
TECHSHOW
planning
board.
Read
on
for
full
details.
How
Will
the
Startups
Be
Selected?
The
application
period
for
the
competition
starts
today.
Startups
interested
in
participating
must
complete
this
application
form. Applications
must
be
received
by
11:59
p.m.
Pacific
Time
on
Friday,
Dec.
13,
2024.
From
all
applications
received,
a
panel
of
five
judges
will
select
25
finalists.
On
Jan.
6,
2025,
descriptions
of
each
of
the
25
finalists
will
be
posted
on
the
ABA
TECHSHOW
blog,
on
this
blog,
and
on
Above
the
Law,
and
readers
will
be
invited
to
vote
for
their
favorites.
The
15
startups
that
receive
the
most
votes
will
be
selected
for
Startup
Alley.
Winners
will
be
announced
on
Feb.
11,
2025.
What
Are
the
Criteria
for
Applying?
The
competition
is
limited
to
startups
that
meet
the
following
criteria:
-
Your
company
has
been
in
business
fewer
than
five
years. -
Your
product
or
service
is
targeted
to
lawyers
or
legal
professionals,
not
to
consumers. -
Your
company
has
achieved
some
demonstrable
traction,
either
in
users,
revenue
or
financing. -
You
were
not
one
of
the
Startup
Alley
finalists
selected
to
present
at
Startup
Alley
in
2017-2024.
(Semifinalists
who
were
not
among
the
final
15
remain
eligible
to
reapply.)
Most
importantly,
your
company
should
be
innovative,
meaning
that
it
addresses
a
need
not
met
by
other
products
or
services
currently
on
the
market
or
that
it
does
so
in
a
way
not
currently
done
by
others.
What
Happens
If
My
Company
Is
Selected?
The
15
winning
finalists
will
face
off
in
a
LIVE
pitch
competition
that
is
TECHSHOW’s
signature
opening
night
event.
Each
startup
will
have
2.5
minutes
to
present
its
pitch
in
front
of
an
audience
of
TECHSHOW
attendees.
At
the
conclusion
of
the
pitches,
attendees
will
vote
to
select
the
most
innovative
company
as
the
winner.
In
addition,
all
15
startups
will
be
provided
space
at
a
discounted
cost
to
exhibit
their
product
or
service
in
a
special
Startup
Alley
located
within
TECHSHOW’s
exhibit
hall.
-
Each
startup
will
be
provided
space
in
a
uniform,
pre-installed
booth.
You
will
not
need
(or
be
allowed)
to
bring
a
booth
of
your
own. -
Each
startup
will
be
responsible
for
the
booth
fee
of
$1,500.
This
is
a
significant
reduction
off
the
standard
booth
cost.
You
are
welcome
to
seek
sponsors
to
underwrite
all
or
part
of
this
cost. -
Each
startup
is
responsible
for
its
own
travel
and
hotel
expenses
to
Chicago.
What
Do
Startups
Get
Out
of
This?
ABA
TECHSHOW
is
one
of
the
world’s
pre-eminent
legal
technology
conferences.
All
of
the
participants
gain
exposure
to
a
large
and
diverse
audience
of
legal
professionals,
including
practitioners,
academics,
consultants
and
others.
In
addition,
TECHSHOW’s
audience
includes
legal
journalists,
bloggers,
industry
analysts
and
investors.
The
winner
of
the
opening
night
pitch
competition
will
receive:
-
Free
10×10
booth
space
at
the
2026
TECHSHOW. -
Free
12-month
listing
on
the
ABA
Legal
Technology
Resource
Center’s
Buyer’s
Guide. -
$5,000
credit
to
use
towards
advertising
in
ABA
Law
Practice
Division
media. -
A
profile
of
the
company
on
my
LawSites
blog.
Additionally,
each
of
the
15
finalists
will
receive
a
free
one-year
premium
listing
in
the LawNext
Legal
Technology
Directory.
Who
Are
the
Judges?
The
judges
this
year
who
will
select
the
final
25
contestants
are:
-
Julie
Bays,
TECHSHOW
2025
co-chair. -
Steve
Embry,
TECHSHOW
2025
co-chair. -
Heidi
Barcus,
TECHSHOW
2025
co-vice-chair. -
Patrick
Wright,
TECHSHOW
2025
co-vice-chair. -
Bob
Ambrogi,
Startup
Alley
organizer.
Apply
Now!
There
is
no
cost
to
apply
and
the
application
form
is
relatively
painless
to
complete.
We
look
forward
to
reading
your
submissions.
Questions?
Send
them
my
way:
ambrogi-at-gmail.com.