The iconic five-round boxing-style battle used today in Get in the Ring events all around the globe, was not planned for from the start. Originally the pitches were planned to be straight forward 3 minute pitches, by entrepreneurs solo on stage.

On the night before the first global final the founders came together for a rehearsal. During this rehearsal the realization came that a regular pitching format was nog sufficient to captivate and engage an audience and to really get the message of the startup across.

From their experience of investing themselves in startups, the founders based the pitching rounds on the most important topics that an investor in the audience wants to know about a startup. The 5 rounds were born. Next to that a boxing ring was already planned for. But how boring to put an entrepreneur solo in the ring. No glory without a battle. Furthermore, by putting 2 different startups in 1 ring, the audience has a much better way of comparing the startups and picking their favorite. The 1 vs 1 pitching was born.