Shoptalk’s Turnkey Start-Up Program
A curated path to meetings, visibility, and real commercial traction with the world's leading commercial opportunities, financial partners, investors and retail decision-makers.
What is Spark?
Most conferences and trade shows give startups a corner table and a badge. Spark gives you a full-blown activation and guaranteed meetings with the people you actually need to meet.
We select 20 early-stage companies and put them in front of Shoptalk's community of senior retail executives, brand leaders and investors—with dedicated floor presence, a hosted meeting program and pitch competition access built in from day one.
Not just a booth. A business development opportunity.
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What You Get
Everything you need to make the most of five days. Spark packages everything—presence, meetings and promotion—so you focus on relationships, not logistics.PRESENCE. A real booth, fully built out. Turnkey 6x7 kiosk on the main show floor includes countertop, backwall, television monitor and electric. Two full-access event passes included. No hidden costs.
MEETINGS. 5 hosted meetings with senior decision-makers. Not happy hours. Not "swing by the booth." Structured, scheduled meetings with qualified executives from leading retailers and brands… facilitated by Shoptalk's meetings team.
PITCH ACCESS. SharkReef Pitch Competition. Application included. Compete in front of investors and retail industry leaders for visibility that extends well beyond the show floor. Direct access to the content team for further consideration. Only 10 selections are available.
MARKETING. Pre, during and post-event promotion. Your logo onsite and in event materials. Featured in a cohort social post across Shoptalk channels. Push notifications driving foot traffic to your booth during the event.
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Why It Matters
Shoptalk is where the people who make decisions show up. The same executives who don't return emails are here. In person, open to conversation, with time carved out specifically for emerging companies.
Spark gives you a structured reason to be in the room and a team that makes sure the right doors open while you're there.
One meeting at Shoptalk can do what six months of cold outreach cannot.
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Is Spark Right for You?
Spark is selective. Here's what we look for:
We accept 20 companies per cohort. To qualify, your company must be:
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Founded in 2021 or later
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Pre-Series A
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Less than $10M raised to date
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Offering a solution relevant to the retail and consumer brand ecosystem
Shoptalk holds final approval on all applications. If you're on the edge on any of these criteria, apply anyway and let us make the call
