PilotSlate

How PilotSlate works

Two sides, one outcome: a pilot that both parties actually want to run.

PilotSlate is a marketplace where MVP-stage startups list products open for pilots and design partnerships, and businesses that adopt emerging technology early find, test and help shape them.

If you're building something early

  1. STEP 1

    Publish a product with a real pilot offer

    Not a waitlist. State what the pilot includes, how long it runs, what you need from the buyer, and how many design-partner slots are left.

  2. STEP 2

    Land in the weekly drop

    New products surface every Tuesday in front of buyers who filter by category and stage. Pro listings get placement at the top of their category.

  3. STEP 3

    Apply to open briefs

    Buyers post problems with budget attached. Pitch your product against the brief instead of waiting to be discovered.

  4. STEP 4

    Run the pilot

    Each request opens a private thread. Agree scope, confirm the deal, and you have a reference customer while the product is still forming.

If you're scouting for your business

  1. STEP 1

    Tell us the categories you're scouting

    Your profile drives what you see. Supply chain, support, fintech, manufacturing — the feed narrows to your world.

  2. STEP 2

    Post a brief when you know the problem

    Describe the problem, the budget band and how fast you can move. Early teams apply to you.

  3. STEP 3

    Request pilots from products you like

    Skip the demo funnel. Say what you'd test it on, and talk directly to the people building it.

  4. STEP 4

    Shape the product, lock your pricing

    Design partners get roadmap input and founding pricing that holds as the product matures.

Common questions

What is PilotSlate?
A marketplace that connects early-stage startups with businesses that want to pilot emerging technology in their category, so startups get pilots, design partners and early revenue, and buyers get early access, roadmap input and founding pricing.
How does a pilot work on PilotSlate?
A buyer requests a pilot from a listing (or a startup applies to a buyer's brief). That opens a private thread where both sides agree scope, pricing and timeline through versioned proposals, then confirm the deal.
What is the weekly drop?
Every Tuesday at 10am New York time, newly published products go live together in the weekly drop. Scout members see each drop 24 hours early.
What is a buyer brief?
A short description of a problem a business would pilot a solution for, with a budget band and timeline. Startups apply to briefs directly.
Can I find products with AI?
Yes. Signed-in buyers can describe a need in plain language and get up to five matching listings with a note on why each fits.

Ready to be on one of those two lists?

Setting up takes about three minutes and you can publish or post immediately after.

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