
2.6.24 | Taos Ski Valley, NM
February 6, 2024
Entrepreneurs and investors alike are all-too-familiar with a typical elevator pitch. We think New Mexico is known more for its elevations than its elevators. Ski Lift Pitch brings New Mexico’s best startups and world-class VC funds together for a special event. And no, there are no elevators involved. Not the usual kind, anyway.
Alongside this year’s Presenting Sponsor, the Outdoor Recreation Division, we welcomed pre-seed and seed-stage startups headquartered in or growing in New Mexico to apply.
Applications open: December 4, 2023
Apply Here
Presenting Sponsor, Outdoor Recreation Division
Ski Lift Pitch: What to Expect
Previous Ski Lift Pitch Winners
- 2015: Taos Bakes
- 2016: UbiQD
- 2017: EquiSeq
- 2018: Twistle
- 2019: Medicheck
- 2020: Relativity6
- 2022: Parting Stone
- 2023: Rhea Space Activity
- 2024: Could be you! Applications open 12/4!
Ski Lift Pitch 2024
What You’ll Experience
- Audience of investors, economic developers, peers, customers, and more
- Three pitches on the ski lift with investor judges
- Scores are tallied and 3 finalists are given the chance to give a 5 minute pitch along side of their slide deck for a chance to win $10,000
- Judges are a combination of investors, economic developers, and successful entrepreneurs.
- Initial Pitches must be given by someone who is able to ski/snowboard down the mountain, no rides down are provided
- The final presentations can be given by someone who does not ski.
Eligibility:
- Pre-seed and Series Seed Startups
- Headquartered in New Mexico or NM Ties
- High-growth and Scalable Companies
- Companies must represent scalable businesses that have proven potential for significant high growth potential.
- High Growth means the business can achieve significant and rapid expansion in terms of revenue, customer base, market share, or other key performance indicators in large addressable markets.
- Scalable means your business should showcase the ability to expand operations and increase revenue without incurring a corresponding rise in operational costs.
- Companies must represent scalable businesses that have proven potential for significant high growth potential.
Pitch Judging Criteria:
- Team
- Founder is clear and compelling; other core team experience, skills, and network instills confidence that they can execute on the vision.
- Product
- The company’s product, service, platform, network, ect., is disruptive and timely, addressing an interesting and important problem.
- Market
- The company is focused on a sizable and underserved market that presents an opportunity for ROI.
- Traction
- The company’s growth in the last year is impressive and shows that relative to their stage, they have great velocity and potential for scale.
- Competitive Advantage / Differentiation
- The company has a strong advantage over competition or alternatives both now and in the future thanks to strong IP, a hard-to-replicate approach, or other “unfair advantage(s)
Apply Here
2024 Investor Judges
More judges to be announced soon!

Market President
Wells Fargo

Principal & General Partner
PVP Seed Fund

Director
NM Outdoor Recreation Division
Finalist Judge
Taos is a four letter word for steep. Are you up to the challenge?
The Ski Lift Pitch Contest winner will receive $10,000 cash, but all selected contestants will have the opportunity to spend invaluable time with the venture and angel investor judges!