LaunchKC—the annual competition that will award $50,000 grants to 10 startups this fall—will begin taking applications on April 1. The entry deadline isn’t until July 6.

That’s more than 90 days. And, according to LaunchKC chairman Drew Solomon, a lot of applicants are going to need every one of them. His advice: Start on your entry now.

“It’s a very comprehensive application,” said Solomon, who’s also the vice president of business and job development at the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City. “They should apply sooner rather than later.”

Case in point: Each entry must include a two-minute pitch video that explains the startup’s product or service.

The good news, though, is that LaunchKC will host “office hours” when entrepreneurs can get help with different aspects of the application. The organization will also connect applicants with experts who can assist them as they refine their arguments for winning LaunchKC.

The winners will be named during this fall’s Techweek Kansas City, which will run Sept. 12-18. (Twenty finalists will be identified by Aug. 19.)

In addition to the $50,000 grants, winners will receive free office space for a year and other support services. “There’s a lot more going into the prize package than cash,” Solomon said.

About 500 companies applied for last year’s first-ever LaunchKC competition. Based on early inquiries, organizers are expecting even more applications this year, Solomon said.

We can expect an update soon on how the 2015 class of LaunchKC has been doing, but so far, the news is very good, Solomon said. “We are seeing great growth in all of the grant winners—in revenue, jobs, in follow-on investment that they’ve been able to get.”