Ruby Central

Showcase your startup. Elevate the Ruby ecosystem. Purpose The RubyConf Pitch Competition — The Ruby Runway — celebrates innovation within the Ruby ecosystem. This competition spotlights startups built with Ruby, offering founders visibility, connections, and financial support to accelerate their growth. If you’re a Ruby-powered startup ready to take the stage, this is your chance to share your story, connect with investors and industry leaders, and compete for up to $30,000 in cash prizes plus in-kind partner awards. Eligibility To apply, your startup must: • Be built using Ruby as a core technology. • Have raised less than $500K in total funding to date. • Be an incorporated or legally structured business entity. • Apply to a regional semifinal (open globally). What to Submit Applications must be submitted directly through this page using the Apply button. Deadline to submit April 17, 2026 at 11:59PM ET Documents Executive Summary • Max 2 pages • PDF or Word Pitch Deck (10–12 slides, PDF) covering: • Problem • Solution / Product • Market Opportunity • Business Model • Traction & Milestones • Financials & Projections • Value Proposition • Competitive Landscape • Go-to-Market Strategy • Ruby Technology Stack • The Ask (funding, partnerships, etc.) Competition Structure Phase 1 – Open Call (Applications) • Open globally for 6–8 weeks • Judges review full pitch videos and documents for deeper evaluation Phase 2 – Regional Semifinals (Virtual) Hosted by region: North America • Latin America • Europe • Africa • Asia-Pacific Each semifinal selects 2–3 winners to advance. Phase 3 – RubyConf Finals (Live) Top 10 startups present live at RubyConf. Prize Structure Up to $30,000 in total cash prizes, plus strategic in-kind partner support, will be awarded to the top startups presenting at the RubyConf Finals. Grand Prize — Ruby Runway Winner $7,500 - $15,000 - Official title: Ruby Runway Startup of the Year - Featured spotlight across Ruby Central and RubyConf communications - Investor introduction package curated by the judging panel - Priority access to Ruby ecosystem technical mentors and advisors Second Place — Innovation Award $4,000 - $7,500 - Featured startup showcase across Ruby Central channels - Investor and partnership introduction opportunities - Advisory sessions with ecosystem technical leaders Third Place — Rising Builder Award $2,500 - $5,000 - Recognition during RubyConf closing ceremony - Ecosystem mentor introductions - Founder visibility across Ruby community platforms Audience Choice Award $1,000 - $2,500 - Selected by live audience voting during the RubyConf Finals - Highlighted across RubyConf and Ruby Central communications - Community spotlight recognition within the global Ruby ecosystem Partner & Ecosystem Awards (In-Kind) In addition to cash prizes, finalists may receive partner-sponsored support packages, which may include: - Cloud infrastructure credits - Developer tooling and platform subscriptions - Legal and incorporation advisory sessions - Product growth and go-to-market advisory support - Security and infrastructure consulting - Open source mentorship and contributor onboarding support These awards are designed to ensure that participating startups not only receive financial support but also gain the technical, strategic, and ecosystem backing needed to scale successfully. Finalist Recognition All RubyConf Finalists will receive: - Official RubyConf Pitch Competition Finalist designation - Global promotion across Ruby Central communications - Direct introductions to ecosystem partners, sponsors, and investors - Invitation to participate in the Ruby startup founder network Slack channel Prize & Eligibility Disclaimer All prize amounts are listed in U.S. dollars and are subject to verification of eligibility requirements and compliance with all competition rules. Ruby Central reserves the right to adjust prize structures, substitute equivalent awards, or decline to issue awards if eligibility or compliance requirements are not met. Cash awards are subject to applicable tax reporting requirements. Recipients are responsible for any taxes, fees, or reporting obligations associated with prize acceptance. Finalists and winners may be required to provide proof of incorporation, technology eligibility, and other documentation prior to award distribution. Prize amounts and in-kind awards are subject to sponsor funding availability. Ruby Central reserves the right to modify, substitute, or reallocate prize awards based on sponsor participation, funding confirmation, or operational requirements while maintaining the overall integrity of the competition. Final prize amounts and in-kind packages will be announced prior to the RubyConf Finals.