#United States #Las Vegas #SMEs #Alibaba.com #CoCreate Pitch

Alibaba.com Launches CoCreate Pitch: A $1 Million Global Competition for SMEs and Entrepreneurs

On June 26, 2025, Alibaba.com publicly announced an exciting initiative: the CoCreate Pitch competition. This event is designed to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as well as entrepreneurs from around the globe, offering them a chance to win a share of a substantial $1 million prize pool. The competition is set to take place during the company’s flagship CoCreate event, which will be held in two key locations: Las Vegas, USA, on September 4-5, 2025, and London, UK, on November 14, 2025.

Aiming to Empower SMEs

Coinciding with World Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Day on June 27, this initiative showcases Alibaba.com’s ongoing commitment to enhancing business opportunities for global SMEs. The platform aims to address financial challenges and provide valuable mentorship that can help in propelling innovative product ideas into the market. As Kuo Zhang, President of Alibaba.com, highlighted, pitching competitions have traditionally been a cornerstone of the CoCreate events, providing SMEs with a platform to present their creative solutions and business aspirations.

The Structure of the Competition

CoCreate Pitch is set to be known as the world’s largest product-based pitch competition, welcoming SMEs from different sectors. The competition will occur over a span of two to four months, where submissions will be assessed based on innovation, feasibility, and market potential.
Two grand champions, one from each of the designated CoCreate events, will each win a financial reward of $200,000. This prize comprises both cash and Alibaba.com sourcing credits—catering to 50% of the total award sum. Additionally, a total of 20 winners will each receive prizes up to $40,000, following the same structure in financial composition.

Participants will also access cutting-edge AI-powered sourcing tools and supplier networks provided by Alibaba.com, which aim to facilitate rapid prototyping and cost-effective production.

How to Participate

Entrepreneurs eager to join the CoCreate Pitch must share a 30-second video on Instagram or TikTok, detailing their business journey or innovative product. To qualify, they need to include the hashtag #CoCreatePitch and tag @Alibaba.com_official. For those who prefer a more traditional route, a registration form is available via the CoCreate Pitch website.

Celebrating the Resilience of SMEs

Despite the backdrop of global economic uncertainties, SMEs have demonstrated incredible resilience and adaptability. Data from Alibaba.com indicates a prevailing enthusiasm for business, particularly in the U.S. and Europe, where orders have surged—an increase of 25% year-on-year in the U.S. alone, attributed largely to early preparations for the holiday stock season. Specific categories, such as festive supplies, experienced a remarkable growth of over 120%, while toy orders rose six times compared to last year.

Embracing Global Trends

In Europe, particularly, countries like France, the UK, Italy, and Germany have shown positive trends in business growth, marking significant increases in the number of buyers. Liz Wang, the Global Head of Commercial Strategy at Alibaba.com, mentioned that the spirit of resilience visible in SMEs was the catalyst for launching CoCreate in 2023, emphasizing the importance of a supportive global supply chain to bring innovative ideas to fruition.

Final Thoughts

The CoCreate Pitch is not only a competition but also a platform for entrepreneurs to connect with industry leaders, investors, and mentors, paving the way for future successes. More information can be found on CoCreate's official website. This competition reflects Alibaba.com’s dedication to fostering innovation while empowering SMEs to realize their dreams amidst a challenging economic landscape. With CoCreate Pitch, the future looks bright for aspiring entrepreneurs worldwide.