How to run a demo day, step by step.
A demo day is judged by the founder and investor meetings that follow it, so these 8 steps build toward that, with MyStartupValley Events running the logistics.
Updated by the MyStartupValley team.
How it works
Two sides, one link. Scroll through the steps; the real screen changes beside them.
You, the organiser
Where both sides meet
Invite founders and investors who fit your event from MSV Find. Founders see how many investors here fit their sector and stage. Investor names stay private until both sides agree.
Founders, investors and mentors
What a good demo day delivers
A shortlist investors trust
Founders picked on deck, traction and team, not on who applied first.
The right investors in the room
Invited by sector and stage, registered on the same form as the founders.
Planned conversations
Every attendee knows who to meet before the pitches end.
Follow-ups that happen
Meetings scheduled within days, not lost in a WhatsApp group.
The 8 steps
- Fix the date, the venue and the number of pitch slots8 to 12 pitches of 5 minutes keeps investors in the room.
- Open founder applications 4 to 6 weeks outAsk for startup, sector, stage, deck, revenue and team. The demo day template lists the fields.
- Invite investors on the same linkInvestors fill four fixed fields: type, firm, sectors and stages.
- Shortlist 2 weeks outScore decks on team, market, traction and the ask. Accept the founders who pitch and tell the rest the same week.
- Send passes and the agendaEvery registrant has an Event Pass; post the agenda and halls on it the week before.
- Check people in with QRVolunteers scan passes at the door, offline if they must.
- Turn the room into meetingsAttendees see Who's here and their Top 5 to meet; founders send meeting requests to investors.
- Report the outcomeRegistered, attended, details swapped and meetings, in the event report for your team and funders.
Questions.
How many startups should pitch at a demo day?
8 to 12 is a good range: enough choice for investors, short enough to keep the room.
How early should applications open?
4 to 6 weeks before the event, with the shortlist out 2 weeks before.
What tool runs a demo day end to end?
MSV Events: one link for founder and investor registration, Event Pass with QR check-in, Top 5 to meet, meeting requests and an event report, at no cost to organisers.
More: Pitch event checklistNetworking at startup eventsDemo day reportJudging rubricVolunteer check-inSponsor deckImport attendees
Run your next startup event on MSV Events.
Registration, Event Pass, QR check-in, networking and meeting requests on one link.