Attention Legal Tech Startups: Applications Now Open for the 10th Annual Startup Alley and Pitch Competition at ABA TECHSHOW 2026

Applications are now open for a spot in the 10th annual Startup Alley at ABA TECHSHOW, a competition that has helped catapult the success of a long list of legal technology startups and become a seminal event of the American Bar Association’s annual legal technology conference.

Out of all the entries received, 15 startups will be selected to participate in a live pitch competition that will be the opening event of this year’s TECHSHOW on the evening of March 25, 2026. In addition to the pitch competition, the 15 finalists will be highlighted as exhibitors in a special Startup Alley section of the conference exhibit hall.

Again this year, as for all 10 years, I will be coordinating the competition, in collaboration with the TECHSHOW planning board. Read on for full details.

How Are the Startups Selected? 

The application period for the competition starts today. Startups interested in participating must complete this application form. Applications must be received by 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on Friday, Dec. 26, 2025.

From all applications received, a panel of five judges will select 25 finalists.

On Jan. 12, 2026, descriptions of each of the 25 finalists will be posted on the ABA TECHSHOW blog, on this blog, and on Above the Law, and readers will be invited to vote for their favorites. The 15 startups that receive the most votes will be selected for Startup Alley. Winners will be announced on Feb. 16, 2026.

What Are the Criteria for Applying?

The competition is limited to startups that meet the following criteria:

• Your company has been in business fewer than five years.
• Your product or service is targeted to lawyers or legal professionals, not to consumers.
• Your company has achieved some demonstrable traction, either in users, revenue or financing.
• You were not a Startup Alley finalist in any prior year. (Semifinalists who were not among the final 15 remain eligible to reapply.)

Most importantly, your company should be innovative, meaning that it addresses a need not met by other products or services currently on the market or that it does so in a way not currently done by others.

What Happens If My Company Is Selected?

The 15 winning finalists will face off in a LIVE pitch competition that is TECHSHOW’s signature opening-night event. Each startup will have 2.5 minutes to present its pitch in front of an audience of TECHSHOW attendees. At the conclusion of the pitches, attendees will vote to select the most innovative company as the winner.

In addition, all 15 startups will be provided space at a discounted cost to exhibit their product in a special Startup Alley located within TECHSHOW’s exhibit hall.

• Each startup will be provided space in a uniform, pre-installed booth. You will not need (or be allowed) to bring a booth of your own.
• Each startup will be responsible for a small booth fee in an amount significantly below the standard booth cost. You are welcome to seek sponsors to underwrite all or part of this cost.
• Each startup is responsible for its own travel and hotel expenses to Chicago.

What Do Startups Get Out of This? 

ABA TECHSHOW is one of the world’s pre-eminent legal technology conferences. All of the participants gain exposure to a large and diverse audience of legal professionals, including practitioners, academics, consultants and others. In addition, TECHSHOW’s audience includes legal journalists, bloggers, industry analysts and investors.

The winner of the opening night pitch competition will receive:

• Free 10×10 booth space at the 2027 TECHSHOW.
• $5,000 credit to use towards advertising in ABA Law Practice Division media.
• A profile of the company on my LawSites blog.

Additionally, each of the 15 finalists will receive a free one-year premium listing in the LawNext Legal Technology Directory.

Who Are the Judges?

The judges this year who will select the final 25 contestants are:

• Brett Burney, TECHSHOW 2026 co-chair.
• Patrick Wright, TECHSHOW 2026 co-chair.
• Shawn L. Holahan, TECHSHOW 2026 co-vice chair.
• Ruby Powers, TECHSHOW 2026 co-vice chair.
• Bob Ambrogi, Startup Alley organizer. 

Apply Now!

There is no cost to apply and the application form is relatively painless to complete. We look forward to receiving your submissions.

Questions? Send them my way: ambrogi-at-gmail.com.