TCVN Announces Survivor™ XI SoCal Startup Pitch Competition at UCI Cove during OC Innovation Week

IRVINE, Calif. - EntSun -- Tech Coast Venture Network (TCVN) is thrilled to announce the 11th Annual Survivor Fast Pitch Competition, returning on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, as part of OC Innovation Week at The Cove at UC Irvine. This year's event will feature the largest Survivor stage in history, offering entrepreneurs and startups an unparalleled opportunity to pitch their ideas, win cash prizes, and secure a Golden Ticket to Octane OC's prestigious Main Stage Pitch Event on Wednesday, May 7.

Since its inception, Survivor has been the premier fast-pitch competition in Southern California, providing early-stage entrepreneurs with a platform to refine their pitch, gain exposure, and connect with investors. Building on the success of Survivor X at SoCal Startup Day, where over 100 founders pitched their startups, this year's competition will feature a $2,084 cash prize for the winner, in celebration of TCVN's 40th anniversary. "Survivor is the American Idol of fast-pitch events," said Tony Crisp, President of TCVN. "We are excited to collaborate with Octane and UCI to make entrepreneurship more accessible and inclusive to our community."

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Competition Format:

Lightning Round

• All attendees will have the opportunity to deliver a 30-second pitch to the audience.
• The top (3) audience-selected pitches will advance to the Semi-Finals.
• First come, first served, so arrive early to secure a spot!

Semi-Finals

• Semi-finalists, including Lightning Round winners and PitchPass holders, will present a 90-second pitch to a panel of judges.
• The top (3) finalists will move on to the Final Round.
• PitchPass+ holders will also receive an exhibitor booth and complimentary team tickets.

Final Round

• The final (3) competitors will have (5) minutes on stage to deliver a (3) minute pitch followed by a (2) minute Q&A with the judges.
• The winner will take home cash prizes, the Survivor Golden Skull, and a Golden Ticket to Octane's Main Stage Pitch Event!

Survivor XI & OCIW

Survivor XI is part of OCIW, a weeklong event from May 5-9, 2025, celebrating entrepreneurship, technology, and investment in Southern California. The winner of Survivor XI will secure a Golden Ticket to Octane's Fast Pitch 2025 on May 7, where they will present their company to a curated audience of investors, executives, and industry leaders.

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This collaboration is part of a new strategic partnership between TCVN and Octane, announced in December 2024. The partnership aims to bridge the gap between early-stage entrepreneurs and investors, leveraging TCVN's PitchPolished™ and InvestorReady™ workshops with Octane's LaunchPad SBDC Accelerator to help founders refine their business strategies and prepare for funding. "This partnership amplifies our shared mission to empower founders, helping them navigate challenges and achieve meaningful milestones in their startup ventures" added Bill Carpou, CEO of Octane OC.

lu.ma/survivor