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STARTUP WORLD CUP

# 1 Startup Competition in the World

INVESTMENT PRIZE: $1 Million

Startup World Cup is hosted by Pegasus Tech Ventures. It is a global conference and competition that brings together the top startups, VCs, entrepreneurs and world-class tech CEOs.

Startup World Cup is held in over 100 + regional events across North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia.

Each regional winner will compete in the Grand Finale for $1 Million Investment Prize on November 6, 2026 at Hilton Union Square, San Francisco.

2025 STARTUP WORLD CUP – EAST BAY REGIONAL WINNER

CORESHELL TECHNOLOGIES

Won

2025 STARTUP WORLD CUP GRAND FINALE

and $ 1 Million Investment Prize

East Bay Regional Awards

  1. FIRST PLACE WINNER – THE HAYWARD HORIZON AWARD – will be awarded $10,000 cash prize and a chance to compete for a $1 Million investment prize in the Grand Finale
  2. SECOND PLACE WINNER – will be awarded $5,000 cash prize.
  3. THIRD PLACE WINNER (2) – will be awarded $2,500 cash prize.
    • City of San Leandro Award
    • Fremont Bank Award

NorCal Startup Founders and Entrepreneurs are encouraged to apply to compete.

Startup Founders, Entrepreneurs, and Investors are welcome to register for the event and to network.

* Download the Startup World Cup – East Bay Regional Flyer Flyer-1, Flyer-2.

STARTUPS APPLY HERE

REGISTER TO ATTEND

East Bay Regional Schedule

4:00 pm – 5:00 pmRegistration & Networking
Refreshments will be provided
Conference Room doors will be closed starting 5 pm
5:00 pm – 5:30 pmStartup World Cup Introduction
Keynote Speaker
Startup World Cup Introduction – Pegasus Tech Ventures
5:30 pm – 6:15 pmTop 10 Pitch Presentations – Five of Top 10
6:15 pm – 6:45 pmPanel – East Bay Regional Support for Startups
6:45 pm – 7:00 pmBrief Break
7:00 pm – 7:45 pmTop 10 Pitch Presentations – Five of Top 10
8:00 pmFinalist and Winners Announcement
8:00 pm – 9:00 pmCelebration and Networking
Food & Beverages will be provided

We encourage NorCal Startup Founders, Entrepreneurs, and Investors to attend and to network .

STARTUPS APPLY HERE

REGISTER TO ATTEND

Startups Applying to Compete

All startups are encouraged to apply to compete.

  • Startups in any domain, at any stage, can apply.
  • Startup must be a legal entity not just an idea.
  • Submit application and complete pitch slides to Apply
  • Application deadline – August 17, 2026
  • Top 10 selected and announcement – August 28, 2026
  • SWC East Bay Regional Event – September 10, 2025

Workshops & Professional Advising to Assist Startups

  • FREE individual one-on-one advising with NorCal SBDC Expert advisors: Book Your Free Advising
  • FREE workshops to prepare startups for the competition. Register using the link for each workshop.
DateDayTimeTopicSpeakerRegistrationZoomRecording
6/30/26Tuesday12 – 1 pmFinding Funding for Startups Shawn FlynnRegisterZoomRecording1
Passcode: 0heZ+IF5
7/7/26Tuesday12 – 1 pmCrafting Your Pitch & Your Pitch DeckShawn FlynnRegisterZoomRecording2
Passcode: .1EhA.8J
7/9/26Thursday12 – 1:30 pmGo-to-Market Strategy & DistributionIzzet DarendeliRegisterZoom
7/14/26Tuesday12 – 1 pmThe Exit for Your BusinessShawn FlynnRegisterZoom
7/16/26Thursday12 – 1:30 pmBuild Partnerships & TractionIzzet DarendeliRegisterZoom
7/21/26Tuesday12 – 1 pmNetworking in Silicon ValleyShawn FlynnRegisterZoom
7/23/26Thursday12 – 1 pmNavigating SBIR/STTR GrantsCharles EasonRegisterZoom
7/28/26Tuesday9 am – 12 pmPerfect Your Pitch ISebastien TorreRegisterZoom
7/30/26Thursday9 am – 12 pmPerfect Your Pitch IISebastien TorreRegisterZoom
8/4/26Tuesday9 am – 12 pmPitch Practice ISebastien TorreRegisterZoom
8/5/26Wednesday12 – 1 pmStartup World Cup Pitch Deck GuidanceShawn Flynn &
George Parrish		RegisterZoom
8/11/26Tuesday9 am – 12 pmPitch Practice IISebastien TorreRegisterZoom

STARTUPS APPLY HERE

REGISTER TO ATTEND

Top 10 Startup Finalists

Cache DNA

Coreshell Technologies

Epixego Inc.

Hadron Energy

Nanowear

Quino Energy, Inc.

Rockfish Data

Sylvatex

Tallied Technologies Inc.

Tomato.ai

JUDGES

Shawn Flynn

Managing Director, Silicon Valley Highpoint Capital
Host, The Silicon Valley Podcast

George Parrish

Chief Evangelist, Bay Angels
Executive Director, Entrepreneur Lab

John Busch

Executive Leader and Startup Advisor, Berkeley SkyDeck
Former VP GM, Applied Materials

Simon Ng

CFO, Quark Pharmaceuticals
Deal Flow Committee, Bay Angels

Izzet Darendeli

Associate Professor, Cal State East Bay
Founder/Innovation Consultant

Selina Zhang

Chair of Deal Flow Committee, Bay Angels
Advisor, Berkeley SkyDeck

Panel – East Bay Regional Support for Startups

Nancy Mangold PhD
Executive Director,
East Bay SBDC

Chris Horton
San Francisco District Director,
US Small Business Administration

Jermaine Carter-Gibson
NorCal Local Engagement Specialist,
California Office of the Small Business Advocate

Anthony Muscat PhD
Provost &
VP, Academic Affairs,
Cal State East Bay

Matthew Joehnk
Director,
Tech Futures Group, NorCal SBDC

Paul Nguyen
Chief Economic Development Officer,
City of Hayward

Abbey Thompson PhD
Fellowship Manager,
Activate Berkeley

Eleanor Hollander
Economic Development Director,
Berkeley Startup Cluster, City of Berkeley

Yolanda Fintschenko PhD
Executive Director,
Startup Tri-Valley

Jags Krishnamurthy
Chair,
Diablo Valley Tech Initiative

Directions & Parking

Address: 25800 Carlos Bee Blvd. Hayward, CA 94544
Parking: Event is at UU-S – highlighted on the campus map here. Parking is available in Lot A & B.
Attendees will receive their complimentary parking permits a few days prior to the event.

Speakers

Aisha Wahab
California Senator,
SD-10

Cathy Sandeen
President,
Cal State, East Bay

Angela Andrews
Council Member,
City of Hayward
(Platinum Sponsor)

Bill Reichert
General Partner,
Pegasus Tech Ventures

Brenna Teigler
CEO,
Electrochemistry Foundry

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