Foundation2025
The mechanic is defined
A time-constrained pitch inside a physically constrained environment, with a live decision at the end. The Palooza is documented as a repeatable format.
Format v1 · Documented
About Palooza
The elevator pitch, built into a platform
.
The Palooza Elevator Pitch is a 60 second pitch inside a constrained environment, with a live decision at the end. The same mechanic powers live investor events, a 12-week online accelerator and a media format — designed to replicate in iconic venues worldwide.
60s
Pitch format
015
Format variants
0212 wk
Online accelerator
032%
Equity per startup
04Palooza HQ · London · Est. 2025
Operators✦Producers✦Storytellers✦Investors✦Showrunners✦Founders✦Operators✦Producers✦Storytellers✦Investors✦Operators✦Producers✦Storytellers✦Investors✦Showrunners✦Founders✦Operators✦Producers✦Storytellers✦Investors✦
Origin & mission
Born from a broken format.
The best founders rarely meet the right investors. And when they do, the format is broken — sixty slides, twenty minutes, zero memory the next morning. Palooza replaces that with a 60 second pitch, a live decision, and a structured route into capital, mentorship or media exposure.
Concept · Format render
The mechanic in action.
01 — Origin
A repeatable system, not a one-off show.
The Palooza is documented as a system: a core mechanic (60s pitch, constrained environment, live decision), a live event format, an automated online accelerator and a media format. The same mechanic adapts across startup investment, corporate innovation, sales, charity and entertainment.
02 — Mission
Compress the distance.
Between an extraordinary idea and the people who can fund it, mentor it or buy it. 60 seconds is not a constraint — it's a forcing function for clarity, conviction and consequence.
60s
Per pitch
Live
Decision point
2%
Equity / startup
Manifesto
The pitch deck is dead.
Long live the lift.
Four principles we run every event, accelerator cohort and partnership against.
01
The mechanic is sacred.
A time-constrained pitch, a constrained environment, a live decision. Every variant we build keeps this core mechanic intact.
02
Constraint creates clarity.
60 seconds is not a marketing line — it's the forcing function. If the idea can't survive the lift, it isn't ready for the boardroom.
03
One format, many rooms.
Startup investment, corporate innovation, sales, charity, media. Same mechanic, different audiences and outcomes.
04
Replicable by design.
Iconic venues, local partners and an automated online accelerator make the format scale without losing its edge.
Our story
One format. One roadmap.
Where the format came from, where it is now, and what the next twelve months look like.
01year in
and only getting louder
- Build2026
Accelerator & funnel
The 12-week automated online accelerator is designed, alongside the founder funnel, AI feedback workflows and the paid Startup Readiness Course.
12 weeks · Automated - Variants2026
Five format variants
Investor, corporate, sales, charity and media variants are formalised — each running on the same elevator mechanic with different outcomes.
5 variants · One mechanic - Pre-seedNow
Raising £225,000
Capital builds the founder acquisition engine, the accelerator platform, the investor database and the first live event activations.
£225k · Pre-seed - Year 01Next
First live events
Launch elevator-pitch events in iconic venues across priority markets, with investor partners on the day-of decision panel.
Iconic venues · Worldwide - Year 02+Next
Equity portfolio compounds
The 2% equity model across accelerator graduates compounds into a long-tail venture portfolio, alongside event, course and sponsorship revenue.
Portfolio · Long-tail upside
The directors
The people running the room.
Operators, producers and investors. Six directors. One unreasonable standard.
MR
Director / 01 LondonMRMike Rebello
Founder of The Palooza
Founder of The Palooza Elevator Pitch. Brand, strategy and opportunity-led growth, with roots at IMG.
AW
Director / 02 LondonAWAndrew Wilson
Media & Experience
Multimedia producer with nearly 30 years across TV, radio, film and live events. Fellow of the Entertainment Agents' Association.
SH
Director / 03 LondonSHShelley Hirst
Co-founder, The Amigos Network
B2B technology growth via performance-backed, service-led subscription models. Builds market share for global brands and funded start-ups.
DR
Director / 04 LondonDRDavid Ramm
Advisor — PE, VC & M&A
20+ years advising IP-rich and technology-led businesses on private equity, venture capital and M&A across life sciences and fintech.
OC
Director / 05 HullOCOwen Clater
Angel Investor · Becks & Clates
CEO of Becks & Clates and one of the UK's youngest employers. Scales B2B brands internationally with deep personalisation and operational rigour.
The thesis, in one line
“Most pitch competitions are forgettable. The elevator format is unforgettable — by design.”
Repeatable
Replicable
Scalable
Applications open · Online accelerator
Apply for the accelerator.
Most serious applicants are accepted into the 12-week automated online accelerator for a 2% equity agreement. Earlier-stage founders are routed to the paid Startup Readiness Course (from £149).
- 12-week automated curriculum
- AI feedback on deck, video pitch & financials
- Place in the investor-ready Palooza database