Source: Beyond Fifteen Communications, Inc.

TCVN to Offer $10K at Annual Fast-Pitch Competition

Survivor 9 -- Empowering the Entrepreneur, OC's Largest Entrepreneurial Investment and Prize Competition, Will Reward Start-Ups With Funding and Prizes

ORANGE, CA--(Marketwired - Nov 5, 2015) - Tech Coast Venture Network (TCVN), Orange County's largest non-profit dedicated to empowering entrepreneurs, announced its 9th annual Survivor event will be hosted at University of California, Irvine, Saturday, November 14th from 4 - 9:00 p.m. Dubbed "Survivor 9 -- empowering the entrepreneur," the first-of-its-kind Orange County-based event will award early stage startups with prizes, including a $10,000 cash investment from sponsors and partners.

Survivor 9 gives start-ups the opportunity to compete for funding and prizes, gain valuable exposure and network with prominent Orange County entrepreneurs. This year, the event will forgo pre-qualifications and invites all interested entrepreneurs to audition live at the event. Competitors will participate in fast-paced rounds of American Idol-like eliminations. 

"At TCVN's Survivor 9, local leaders, investors and event judges will be looking for the next big, fundable idea," said Ash Kumra, chairman of TCVN, co-founder of Trade Kraft, best-selling author and public speaker recognized twice by the White House for making a difference for America's entrepreneur communities. "It's great to watch as hard-working entrepreneurs compete to get in front of our amazing panel of judges. Their passion, commitment and innovative ideas are truly inspiring."

Business pitches will be judged by a prestigious panel of start-up experts, investors and entrepreneurs -- including Grant Van Cleve, a global entrepreneur empowering world-class startups and the president-elect for Tech Coast Angels, the largest angel investor group in the United States; John Harbison, entrepreneur and president of the Orange County Chapter of Tech Coast Angels; Terrence Yang, founder of Precelerator.com; Lori Mazan, a seasoned, certified leadership and executive coach; Shane Kelly, founder of Wolverine Angel Network which connects entrepreneurs with capital, resources, and relationships; Michael Sawitz, chief enthusiasm officer at FastStart.studio, a mixed-use business incubator assisting startups and early stage entrepreneurs achieve their goals.

Sponsors include: Haynesboone, Beyond Fifteen Communications, Hall & Company, Saritasa,  UCI Paul Merage School of Business, RealOfficeCenters (ROC) and Stradling.

Companies based in Southern California that are looking to attract funding and are less than five years old with less than $1 million USD in funding are encouraged to attend and pitch their unique business plan at Survivor 9. Learn more about eligibility requirements and restrictions here.

Tickets to attend are $75 pre-sale, $95 the day of the event, and $500 for a start-up booth (including two tickets). To register, visit the Survivor 9 ticket site.

ABOUT TCVN: Founded in 1984, the non-profit Tech Coast Venture Network (TVCN) is one of Southern California's largest entrepreneurship non-profit organizations. 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 startup landscape. It's a trusted resource for startup 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.

Contact Information:

CONTACT:
Megan Van Buskirk
Beyond Fifteen Communications Inc
949.733.8679
megan@beyondfifteen.com