In a landmark collaboration between two entrepreneurial powerhouses, Alibaba.com has announced Kickstarter as the official Crowdfunding Partner of CoCreate Pitch 2025—a $1 million global competition designed to help product-based startups launch, scale, and succeed.
The partnership blends Kickstarter’s creative funding ecosystem—which has helped 23 million backers pledge more than $8.5 billion to innovative ideas—with Alibaba.com’s extensive global B2B platform, spanning 50 million business buyers and 200,000 suppliers across 200+ countries.
Together, they aim to provide founders with the tools, funding, and infrastructure to go from prototype to production at scale.
“This partnership creates a stronger bridge between idea and execution,” said Kuo Zhang, President of Alibaba.com. “Through CoCreate Pitch, we’re supporting a new generation of founders with not just funding, but also the tools, expertise and infrastructure to help them grow and compete globally.”
CoCreate Pitch, launched as part of Alibaba.com’s flagship CoCreate event series, is set to become the world’s largest pitch competition for product-based entrepreneurs.
The format includes:
• $1 million in total prizes
• 100 semi-finalists: 70 pitching live in Las Vegas (Sept 4–5, 2025) and 30 in London (Nov 14, 2025)
• 2 Grand Prize winners: Each to receive $200,000 (split equally between cash and Alibaba.com sourcing credits)
• 20 additional winners: Up to $40,000 each
• All finalists: Free access to Alibaba.com’s sourcing tools, supplier network, and global B2B platform
Kickstarter’s involvement brings an extra layer of support for entrepreneurs looking to validate their products through community-backed funding. Finalists who launch campaigns on Kickstarter within 12 months of their pitch will receive:
• Homepage placement on Kickstarter.com
• Newsletter features
• 1:1 coaching from Kickstarter experts
• Marketing and promotional support across both Alibaba.com and Kickstarter platforms
“We’ve seen again and again how a single idea can grow into something extraordinary when supported by a passionate community,” said Everette Taylor, CEO of Kickstarter. “We’re proud to join CoCreate Pitch and help more entrepreneurs bring their visions to life.”
Taylor will also serve as a judge at CoCreate Pitch and lead a featured panel discussion on alternative funding models at the events.
How to apply
Entrepreneurs can submit entries by:
• Uploading a 30-second video pitch on Instagram or TikTok using #CoCreatePitch and tagging @Alibaba.com_official, or
• Completing an application form at pitch.alibabacocreate.com
Deadlines:
• Las Vegas event: Applications close August 15, 2025
• London event: Applications close October 15, 2025
Submissions will be judged on innovation, feasibility, and market potential by a panel of experienced investors, ecommerce leaders, and global business experts.
In addition to the pitch competition, Alibaba.com and Kickstarter will launch co-branded digital portals on their respective websites to provide educational content, resources, and entry pathways to participants.
By uniting crowdfunding validation with global supply chain execution, the collaboration positions CoCreate Pitch as a new model for empowering next-generation founders—particularly those who want to test ideas, raise funds, and scale efficiently.
As global entrepreneurship continues to evolve, this partnership offers a powerful new route to market—where passion meets platform, and ideas meet infrastructure.
