Survivor™ XI SoCal Startup Pitch Competition by TCVN™ at the Cove at UC Irvine as a part of OC Innovation Week
Southern California's Biggest Startup Fast-Pitch Competition is Back!
Join TCVN for the 11th Annual Survivor™ Fast Pitch Competition on Tuesday May 6, during Orange County Innovation Week (OCIW) live at the Cove at UC Irvine.
All attendees will have the opportunity to present their 30-second lightning fast pitch to the audience for a chance to advance to the semi-finals.
Watch as this year's finalists compete on the largest Survivor stage in history for a chance to win cash prizes, a coveted golden skull, and a golden ticket to be one of a dozen startups to pitch at Octane's Main Stage Pitch Event on Wednesday, May 7.
Event Agenda:
5:15-6:15pm: Lightning Round ⚡
Anybody with a GA ticket will have the opportunity to pitch their company or idea for FREE. During this time, you will have 30-seconds to convince the audience that you deserve a spot in the semi-finals. The lightning round is first come, first serve, so be sure to save a spot in line. Only THREE (3) pitches will advance from the lightning round to the semi-finals.
6:30-7:30pm: Semi-Finals
To bypass the lightning round and secure yourself a guaranteed spot in the semi-finals, be sure to purchase a PitchPass™. Semi-finalists will have 90-seconds to pitch to a panel of expert judges. Only THREE (3) pitches will advance from the semi-finals to the final round. Upgrade to PitchPass+ Plus and enjoy an exhibitor booth as well as complimentary tickets for your team.
8:00-8:30pm: Final Round 💀
Who will SURVIVE? The final three (3) finalists will have a total of five (5) minutes on stage, shared between a three (3) minute pitch and a two (2) minute Q&A with the judges.
🥇 1st Place Prizes:
$2,084 Cash Prize
One (1) Golden Ticket to Octane's Pitch Event
The 1st Place Survivor Golden Skull
🥈 2nd Place Prizes:
$1,000 Cash Prize
The 2nd Place Survivor Golden Skull
🥉 3rd Place Prizes:
$1,000 Cash Prize
The 3rd Place Survivor Golden Skull
Survivor XI & OC Innovation Week
Survivor XI is part of OC Innovation Week, a weeklong event from May 5-9, 2025, celebrating entrepreneurship, technology, and investment in Southern California. The winner of Survivor XI on Tuesday May 6, will secure a Golden Ticket to Octane’s Main Stage Fast Pitch on Wednesday May 7, where they will present their company to a curated audience of investors, executives, and industry leaders.
Sponsorship Opportunities:
Survivor XI isn’t just an event—it’s a launchpad for the next generation of innovators, and your brand can play a pivotal role in their journey. By sponsoring at any level—Grand Prize, Microphone, Lanyard, Swag Bag, Food, Drink, Video, or Community Partner—you’ll gain exclusive visibility among top early-stage entrepreneurs, investors, and business leaders while directly supporting TCVN’s mission to help Founders become fundable. Sponsorship offers premium branding, VIP networking access, and a unique opportunity to champion the future of innovation and entrepreneurship.
For sponsorship inquiries, please contact fundablefounders@tcvn.org
💙About us:
Tech Coast Venture Network™ (TCVN) is celebrating it's 40th year anniversary as a non-profit community support organization on a mission to help create economic and social impact by helping first-time founders become fundable. We are positioned in the ecosystem, "between the i's: idea and investment". For our community, we host PitchPolished™ and InvestorReady™ workshops in preparation for our three signature annual events, Survivor™ fast-pitch competition, Wingz™ angel investor speed dating, and Rocky™ holiday award celebration for charity.
Join our community as a TCVN Member for only $20.84/year to receive member benefits of event discounts, exclusive content, and an official LinkedIn verification badge. Visit tcvn.org/join to become a member today!