Applications are open for this year’s international Get In the Ring startup pitch competition that will feature entrepreneurs battling to win up to $1 million in funding.

To enter the face-to-face capitalist fray, go to this website. The online application deadline for U.S. startups is Aug. 15.

Last year’s Get In the Ring world champion was Kansas City’s own Toby Rush, a 25 Under 25® alumnus who successfully pitched his biometric security solutions company, EyeVerify, at the North American finals at the Kauffman Foundation and the global finals in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

Sponsored by the Kauffman Foundation, the 2014 Get in the Ring North American finals will be held Nov. 7 at the Midland Theatre, where for the first time five American finalists will compete along with five finalists from Canada and five finalists from Mexico. The determined entrepreneurs will enter a “boxing ring” armed with only their wits and their words to win over a respected panel of judges, including Brad Keywell, co-founder of Groupon and managing director of Lightbank; and Mark Hasebroock, serial entrepreneur and founder of Dundee Venture Capital.

How to Apply for Get In the Ring

U.S. entrepreneurs applying for Get in the Ring must meet the following criteria:

• The startup is no more than 5 years old.
• The founder is a U.S. citizen and is adept in the English language.
• The startup is a scalable and innovative business idea or model.
• The entrepreneur has a legal passport and is willing and able to travel to Rotterdam, the Netherlands, for the international finals.
• The entrepreneur is seeking funding of up to $1 million (if she or he wins the North American competition and her or his startup is determined to be worthy of financial support by investor judges at the Rotterdam finals).

For more information, visit kauffman.org/GITR. Questions may be directed to Neil Neumeyer at nneumeyer@kauffman.org or Katie Baker at kbaker@kauffman.org.