Snowflake Startup Challenge

Snowflake Startup Challenge

Offers the Snowflake Startup Challenge as a competition for top data cloud startups with equity investment pathways.

Eligibility · Global — open worldwide

The Snowflake Startup Challenge is an annual equity investment competition run by Snowflake Inc. in partnership with the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), targeting early-stage startups building innovative applications and products on Snowflake's AI Data Cloud. The competition awards equity investments rather than non-dilutive cash grants. The grand prize winner receives a potential equity investment of up to $500,000; two additional finalists each receive up to $250,000 in potential equity investment. Ten semi-finalists receive blog features highlighting their application and team.

The grand prize package also includes mentorship from NYSE-listed company executives, two passes and a presentation slot at Snowflake Summit, marketing exposure, and the exclusive opportunity to ring the NYSE opening bell. The 2026 cycle selected three finalists — Twine Security Ltd., LGND AI Inc., and Airrived Inc — and the 2027 competition cycle is currently accepting registrations of interest on the Snowflake website.

Eligibility is open globally to for-profit early-stage startups building on Snowflake's AI Data Cloud. Specific application deadlines and detailed eligibility criteria are published in the official competition rules when the cycle opens. Because the award is structured as a potential equity investment rather than a cash grant, founders accepting the prize will face dilution. Companies seeking non-dilutive funding should treat this programme as an investor-engagement event rather than a grant opportunity, while still benefiting from the brand association, enterprise sales relationships, and investor network access that come with finalist status.