There are many different ways to secure funding for an idea, some more straightforward than others. With so many options from crowdfunding to bank loans, sometimes the quickest way to secure funding is to simply make your case and ask. But making your fundraising pitch can be easier said than done. Before you can announce your ideas to the whole world, you need to illustrate them for people who can help them get off the ground. So where do you start? Taking the plunge at a pitch event may be your best bet.
Pitch events are moderated by panels of angel investors, venture capitalists and other financial leaders looking to invest in startups or products that have the potential to disrupt current markets. Beyond securing funding, pitch events also offer the opportunity for budding entrepreneurs to network with peers, mentors, and potential business partners. If you’re looking to take your elevator pitch to the next level, sign up for one of these seven Silicon Valley pitch events.
Silicon Valley Pitch Events To Know
- World Innovations Forum
- Boomer Venture Summit
- Naturally
- PeopleConnect
- Tech Crunch
- VC Taskforce
- Startup Network
Location: San Francisco
Overview: World Innovations Forum hosts a pitch event at Google's Launchpad Space where startups can rehearse and deliver their pitches and gain access to funding. The event's panel of investors and venture capitalists collaborate with budding startups and others interested in the Silicon Valley tech scene, with time set aside specifically for networking and building professional relationships. Startups must build slide decks with information about their business niche, team, and go-to-market strategy in order to be considered.
Location: Berkeley
Overview: The Boomer Venture Summit encourages investors, venture capitalists, executives and startups to come together to propose and fund projects directed at improving aging and the longevity economy. Entrepreneurs get the chance to pitch tech products and services that enhance the lives and health of seniors, competing with fellow innovators and founders to build professional relationships with new teammates and potential investors. The event also offers panels and workshops on topics related to the longevity economy, societal and caregiving solutions to optimize aging, and how generations can come together to solve issues like Alzheimer's and retirement planning.
Location: Oakland
Overview: Held twice a year, Naturally's Pitch Slam competition aims to showcase startup talent in the Bay Area, in particular, those who specialize in green tech, renewable resources, or natural products. Winning companies are rewarded by prize packages that include cash, professional services, a booth at 2020 Expo East, and the opportunity to pitch as a finalist to a broader panel of investors and fundraisers.
Location: Sunnyvale
Overview: Held on a monthly basis, PeopleConnect’s pitching events give early-stage tech startups the chance to practice their pitches in front of an experienced panel of VC firms and angel investors. Their Pitch Force events set entrepreneurs on a four minute timer, during which they must give a quick pitch on their company or startup in order to gain feedback and potentially connect with investors. PeopleConnect additionally aids successful startups in building their teams by linking them with tech-savvy individuals whose interests and values align with theirs.
Location: San Francisco
Overview: Disrupt SF is a large-scale pitch event hosted by TechCrunch where hundreds of international startups connect with investors and company founders to get their ideas off the ground. With judges hailing from VC firms like Andreessen Horowitz and tech leaders like Google and Patreon, startups can pitch their projects to experienced business professionals and gain insights into how to improve their pitch and product. Some of the startups that trace their roots to Disrupt SF include big names like Dropbox, Fitbit, Cloudfare and Forethought.
Location: Palo Alto
Overview: VC Taskforce hosts a variety of events targeting startup empowerment and growth. Their StartUp World Conference event boasts pitching workshops, mentorship panels and product pitching opportunities to support entrepreneurs and provide the tools needed to perfect their elevator pitches. The organization also helps nurture the growth of VC firms, hosting roundtables and conferences designed to help investors build their funds and maintain their reliability in the startup world.
Location: Mountain View
Overview: Hosted by Startup Network, Unicorn CUP serves as both a pitch event and a VC meeting, connecting startups from across the globe with renowned Silicon Valley venture capitalists and angel investors. The attending startups are picked through a series of initial pitching challenges across the world, with only 50 making it to the final event. Startup entrepreneurs in dozens of industries travel to Mountain View to meet with professional judges, network with potential collaborators, and learn from seasoned investors.
