The 2024 Founders Pickleball Tournament is an event meant to bring MN startup founders, entrepreneurs, and small business owners together. Our definition of ‘entrepreneur’ is pretty broad — new, seasoned, retired, failed, and aspired founders are all welcome.

Join the tournament with a team of 2-4 via the link above, or join solo and we'll pair you with another founder (maximum of 18 teams). Team spots will be available on a first-come-first-served basis. All skill levels are welcome from beginners onward (TBH none of us are great at pickleball!)  

You can also register as a spectator if you'd rather just come to watch and network!

The event will be held from 4-4:30pm at Minneapolis Cider Company in NE Minneapolis (701 SE 9th St, Minneapolis, MN 55414) and signs will direct you to our rental space.

The event will be held for roughly 3 hours on two courts at Minneapolis Cider Company, which allows for roughly 18 20-minute games. Teams will need to show up between 4-4:30pm to check-in and guarantee your spot, the tournament will start promptly at 4:30pm.

The tournament will be a single-elimination bracket with each match played to 11 (or to the highest score achieved in 20 minutes). This seems like the best way to maximize the number of participants in the given time and capacity.

Winners will advance in 4 subsequent rounds: a main round, quarterfinal (8 teams), semifinal (4 teams) and final (2 teams). The winner will receive the coveted MN Founder Pickleball Trophy!  

Yes! Our sponsor JP Morgan is graciously catering the event and donating 2 drink tickets to each person who registers (both players and attendees).

Each drink ticket is eligible for one free beverage at the Minneapolis Cider Company bar; they serve a variety of alcoholic drinks (ciders, beer) and non-alcoholic beverages. Visit Minneapolis Cider Company's website for more details.

Catered food will include a few platters of sandwiches, hors d'oeuvres, and cookies. Vegetarian sandwich options will be available.

The event space and rental period allows for 18 teams, spots will fill up on a first-come-first-serve basis as teams are able to check-in between 4-4:30pm.

If you register after all of the spots are full you can join a waitlist in case a team doesn't show up, or simply attend as a spectator to take part in the networking. The event space at Minneapolis Cider Company holds roughly 70 people, so the more the merrier, spectators encouraged!

Bringing your own racquet and pickleballs is certainly encouraged. Otherwise you will be able to rent or borrow gear when you arrive if you don't own any!