Call for startups: how to structure, track and defend it
The short guide to run a call for startups with clear criteria, tracked evaluations and a ranking that holds up in front of the board.
The problem
Running a call for startups looks simple, until someone asks why you picked that one and not the others. Shared sheets and verbal evaluations leave no trail: when the question comes, the selection cannot be defended.
Written by the blendX team — 15+ years of corporate innovation, from scouting to governance.
Get the guideWhat’s inside
- 01Criteria before applications
How to define and publish selection criteria before the first startup applies.
- 02Multiple evaluators, one method
How to have several people evaluate with the same grid, with no arguments afterwards.
- 03A ranking you can explain
What it takes for the final choice to be traceable and defensible in front of the board.
Who it’s for: Corporates running calls for startups and those who manage them on their behalf: incubators, accelerators, agencies.







Frequently asked questions
- Is it free?
- Yes. The document is free: leave your details and you’ll receive it by email.
- What format is it?
- Guide + checklist · PDF, 6 pages, ready to read and share internally.
- What happens after I submit?
- You receive the document by email. If you opt in, we’ll occasionally share more method content — no spam, one-click unsubscribe.