TCVN's Survivor 7 Offers $25K Investment and Prizes in SoCal Entrepreneur Competition

ORANGE, CA--(Marketwire - Oct 8, 2012) - The Tech Coast Venture Network (TCVN), one of Southern California's premier technology business networks dedicated to empowering entrepreneurs, announces a $25,000 investment and prizes for Survivor 7, its seventh annual fast-pitch competition. This year's Survivor marks the largest investment and prize competition in Orange County for entrepreneurs and will be hosted at Chapman University on Nov. 15, 2012.

Early stage start-ups that have raised less than $250,000 in funding and have been in business for less than five years in Orange, Los Angeles, Ventura, San Bernardino, Riverside and San Diego counties are encouraged to enter. The grand prize winner will receive a $25,000 cash investment and additional prizes. Prizes will also be awarded to finalists, semifinalists and several special categories. Entries must be submitted by October 19. 

"This competition is like no other when it comes to inspiring and rewarding Southern California entrepreneurship," says Ash Kumra, chairman of TCVN, co-founder of DreamintAlive.com and public speaker. "We're proud to offer such a unique opportunity for the creative, hard-working people behind the business start-ups that are driving our economy and changing the face of small business. It's an incredible chance to vie for funding and prizes, gain visibility and network with some of the most visionary entrepreneurs in the state."

Public online voters will play a role in selecting the 30 quarterfinalists, who will square off on stage in a 30-second pitch competition to earn 10 semifinalist spots. Online voting is open until 11:59 p.m. PDT on Monday, Oct. 20, 2012. Semifinalists' three-minute pitches to the judges and the on-site audience will determine the five finalists who will compete in a lightning-round Q&A with the judges.

"Start-ups have played a crucial role in the development of Southern California's diverse economy. In fact, our firm was founded by entrepreneurs who wanted to play a key role in the local start-up community, which has been an important part of our own growth story," says Samantha McDermott, chief marketing officer at Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth and a key sponsor of the event. "We've seen how support from a community can build momentum for entrepreneurs and their endeavors, and we're proud to be a part of that development." 

Hall and Company is also a proud sponsor Survivor 7.

Entrants must register at Eventbrite (http://tcvnsurvivor7.eventbrite.com) prior to submitting an application, start-up enterprise summary and a three-minute video pitch for review by the contest judges. Contestant registration includes two tickets to the Survivor 7 event. Students, supporters and everyone who registers early (before October 18) can access lower-priced tickets. For complete contest rules and more information about the event, visit http://survivor.strutta.com/about.

Survivor 7 pitches will be judged by a panel of prestigious start-up experts, investors and serial entrepreneurs including:

• Jim Andelman is co-founder and managing partner of Rincon Venture Partners, a firm that invests in capital-efficient, early-stage Web-based businesses, with an emphasis on SaaS and online marketing platforms and services. Andelman has more than 15 years of experience in venture capital investing, technology investment banking and strategic business consulting.
• Dave Berkus, founder and president of Berkus Technology Ventures, LLC, is an early-stage venture capitalist with a hands-on background in technology and an entrepreneur for over 50 years who has formed and managed successful businesses in the entertainment and software arenas. A sought-after keynote speaker, Berkus is co-author of Better Than Money! and author of Extending the Runway, Berkonomics, Advanced Berkonomics and the Small Business Success collection of eight mini-books for entrepreneurs, managers and boards of directors.
• Stephen A. Block has more than 40 years of broad, legal, management and executive experience at Fortune 500 corporations and a major New York law firm. He has extensive experience in domestic and international mergers and acquisitions and joint ventures. He is managing director of Venture Farm, LLC, which provides early-stage venture capital to entrepreneurs and works closely with them to help them grow and obtain greater venture capital funding.
• Robert R. Holmen is a managing director and co-founder of Miramar Venture Partners, a firm that invests in early- and mid-stage technology companies, with an emphasis on Southern California opportunities. The firm focuses on core technology sectors of cloud computing, storage, digital media and medical IT. Holmen has spent his career building technology companies in the healthcare and information technology markets, and he serves on the boards of Miramar portfolio companies Matrix Sensors and Predixion Software.
• Kirsten Mangers is a small-business and entrepreneur advocate and an early innovator behind the localization of online advertising for small- to medium-sized businesses. Mangers founded WebVisible, one of the leading names in local online advertising, which utilizes a software-as-services platform to help local businesses acquire new customers across a vast network of media options. Her Companies with Causes is a consultancy and incubator for entrepreneurial companies making a difference in our new economy and traditional organizations seeking an elevation in corporate and social consciousness.

ABOUT TCVN: Founded in 1984, the non-profit Tech Coast Venture Network (TVCN) is one of Southern California's premier technology business networks. Through a wide variety of forums, pitch sessions, workshops and networking events, TCVN brings together entrepreneurs and resources from every facet of the technology and start-up landscape. It's a trusted resource for start-up and emerging entrepreneurs seeking connections to capital, peers and mentors to drive growth. TCVN educates and assists entrepreneurs, connecting them with the resources to help grow their businesses. For more information, visit www.tcvn.org.