• 500 Startups

    2017 NCAA Battle Bracket

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  • The Details!

    500 Startups is hosting its first ever Win-Win "Battle Bracket" Challenge for all the #500Strong family and extended network.

    It's free to play!

    Simply pick which teams you predict will win their matchups and advance through the 2017 NCAA March Madness Tournament. Submit your completed battle bracket and you can win bragging rights for the next year!

    Want more than bragging rights?

    See Below

    "Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing!"

    - Vince Lombardi

    Key Dates:

    March 14th

    500 Startups Battle Bracket Open For Entry

    March 16th @ 9:15am PST

    Bracket Entry Closes, Tournament Begins

    April 3rd

    NCAA Championship Game, Winners Determined

    Step 1

    Click below to begin your 500 Startups Battle Bracket Entry

    Step 2

    Make your picks for each of the 6 rounds of tournament

    Step 3

    Enter a #HashTagLeaderboard and create a competition amongst your batch

    (ex: #B18, #B20, #EIRCrew, #500MTV, #500SF, #500Partners, etc)

    By entering a #HashTagLeaderboard, you will be able to see where you stack up amongst your #HTL group!

    See More Info Below

    Step 4

    Submit your bracket!

    Need to make changes, you can "update" your picks until March 16th @ 9:15am PST.

    You will also receive a link to your completed bracket (in case you want to print it!)

    Step 5

    Once the tournament begins, follow your progress on the leaderboard (including your #HashTagLeaderboard) and begin talking smack as you move up the leaderboard.

    Scores are updated in real-time!

  • REP YO' SET! (or your batch!)

    Gain ultimate bragging rights!

    On the final step, enter your batch #HashTag (ex: #B18, #B19, #B20, etc) and battle head-to-head for batch glory!Once the tournament is live you will see your rank within the global leaderboard, and when you filter the leaderboard by #HashTag you'll see where you stack up against your batch, etc.

    Come up with as many #HTLs as you'd like but be sure your group uses the same!

    (ex: #500Partners, #EIRCrew, #500Mentors, #DavesFavorites, #500Unicorns... you get the point!)

    Additionally, when you login via Facebook you will see where you stack up against your Facebook friends, automatically!

  • WHAT TO PLAY FOR MORE??

    IN CASE BRAGGING RIGHTS AREN'T ENOUGH...

    How about a VIP experience at the Warriors vs. Lakers game at Oracle Arena. That's right, your bracket score could land you front and center at the Warriors final game of the regular season!

    Win-Win as partnered with Luol Deng of the LA Lakers for his own Battle Bracket Challenge and he has agreed to give the top scorer from 500 Startups two (2) premium tickets to the Warriors vs Lakers game on April 12th 2017. AND, you'll be meeting Luol, D'Angelo Russel, and some of the Warriors players during the pre-game shoot around. Boomshakalaka!

    How?

    Join the Luol Deng Battle Bracket Challenge and USE #500STRONG as your #HashTagLeaderboard during checkout. This is VERY important, if you don't use #500Strong you will not be on the #500Strong leaderboard and will not be in the running for the tickets.

    These VIP tickets WILL go to someone from the 500 family - will it be you!?

    By default, you'll be on Luol's global leaderboard and could ALSO win two (2) VIP SUITE (yes, suite) tickets to the Lakers vs. New Orleans Pelicans game on April 11th, plus meeting the Lakers pre-game (flight & hotel included!)

    Compete. Contribute. Win.

    To join Luol Deng's Battle Bracket you'll pay an entry fee of $15. In true Win-Win fashion, this fee will go to support the Luol Deng Foundation, a non-profit organization that uses basketball basketball to inspire, empower and nurture youth talent in the United States, Africa, and the UK. By embracing Luol's global reach, the Luol Deng Foundation can lead the next generation to fulfill their potential, on and off the basketball court.

    (Please Note: this is SEPARATE from the 500 Startups Battle Bracket tournament)

  • Battle Bracket Scoring Breakdown

    There are four regions with 16 teams per region, for a total of 64 teams!

    Who will you choose to make it all the way!?

    Earn points for every correct pick, per round, and make your way up the leaderboard!

    Correct Picks & Points Earned By Round:

    Round 1 = 1 point per correct pick

    Round 2 = 2 points per correct pick

    Sweet 16 = 4 points per correct pick

    Elite 8 = 8 points per correct pick

    Final 4 = 16 points per correct pick

    Championship = 32 points

    Get the MAX points with the PERFECT bracket: 192 total points!

    Tie-Breaker: before submitting your bracket, you will predict the total points scored in the Championship game, regardless of the two teams. If there is a tie, this prediction will work as the tie-breaker. If two users predict the same total points of the championship game, additional tiebreakers will take affect. See tie-breaker rules Here

    *Please note that Win-Win Battle Bracket scoring is in accordance with NCAA.com Bracket Scoring*