TCVN Survivor™ is Southern California’s fastest-paced, highest-energy open mic startup pitch competition — where founders take the stage, investors lean in, and the room comes alive.

Hosted by TCVN, Survivor brings together founders, investors, mentors, and ecosystem leaders for a night of rapid-fire pitches, real opportunity, and serious momentum. It’s not a quiet conference room. It’s music, lights, food, networking, and nonstop action.

Every founder with a ticket gets the opportunity to pitch in the Lightning Round — 30 seconds, open mic, first-come, first-served. From there, judge-selected founders advance through structured rounds in front of a live investor panel, sharpening their message and building real traction in the process.

Survivor 13 will be held at The Cove at UC Irvine (UCI) — a hub for innovation and entrepreneurship — as a flagship event as part of Orange County Innovation Week (OCIW).