Tech Coast Angels, San Diego Venture Group and Cox Business to Present John G. Watson Quick Pitch 2018
SAN DIEGO (PRWEB) August 21, 2018 -- Tech Coast Angels – San Diego (TCA-SD), San Diego Venture Group (SDVG), and Cox Business today announced they are teaming up to present the John G. Watson Quick Pitch on October 24, 2018 at Qualcomm Hall. Now in its 11th year, the event promises to be the biggest in history with over $75,000 in prizes – not to mention opportunities to connect with San Diego’s investment community.
Calls for entrepreneurs to submit applications are now open; the deadline for submission is August 31.
Twenty startups will be selected from what is expected to be hundreds of applications, and 10 finalists will be chosen in a semi-final on September 18. Each finalist will receive coaching from a TCA and SDVG member with relevant industry experience, and together they will create a two-minute pitch to present in front of a live audience of over 500 people at Qualcomm Hall. Esteemed judges from San Diego’s entrepreneurial and investment ecosystem will provide analysis, and the judges will select the top three winners. Additional prizes for this year’s event include an Audience Choice Award and a Community Partner Scholarship for a local high school student entrepreneur.
"With the involvement of San Diego Venture Group and Cox Business, this year's Quick Pitch event will be our best yet,” said Victoria Lakers, TCA-SD Quick Pitch Chair. “As our local startup ecosystem continues to grow, we are excited to provide a bigger platform for San Diego's best companies to share their stories, as well as a bigger combined prize to facilitate their growth."
The 2017 Quick Pitch was the largest to date, as TCA and SDVG teamed up for the first time and awarded $50,000 in prize money. An additional $500,000 was invested in Quick Pitch companies in rounds led by Tech Coast Angels; two other Quick Pitch finalist companies raised capital from TCA as well.
SDVG President Mike Krenn said, "Last year's new Quick Pitch partnership between SDVG and TCA proved that value of collaboration by increasing the number of applications, sponsors and prize money for companies while creating a more streamlined process. Collectively, we all agree and coalesce around the key data - this is best for the companies and the startup ecosystem. We are thrilled to bring Cox Business on board to continue increasing our impact with more cash prizes, visibility in the media and talent to organize this landmark event."
"Cox Business is proud to join forces with Tech Coast Angels and San Diego Venture Group for this quick pitch competition to continue unifying the San Diego startup ecosystem, which will benefit entrepreneurs, startups and investors in this community," said Jared Ruth, Director of Product & Marketing, Cox Business.
"While the event supports community networking and is entertaining for attendees, we focus most of our efforts on providing value to the presenting company founders,” said Dean Rosenberg, TCA-SD President. “Last year, TCA members provided over $500,000 in funding to our 2017 Quick Pitch finalists, in addition to the prize money awarded at the event."
Please visit https://quickpitchsd.com or contact Ashok Kamal (ashok[at]techcoastangels[dot]com) for more information about the event.
About Tech Coast Angels:
Tech Coast Angels (TCA) is one of the largest and most active angel investor networks in the nation, and a leading source of funding for seed-stage and early-stage companies across all innovation industries in Southern California. TCA members are accredited investors who individually invest in startup companies, and as a group, TCA has invested up to $6M in a single company. Companies in which TCA invest go through well-structured, transparent, and time efficient screening and due diligence. TCA members are themselves founders and executive-level business leaders who have extensive knowledge in the investment process and world-class business practices. TCA members thus provide companies with more than just capital; they also contribute counsel, mentoring and access to an extensive network of investors, customers, strategic partners and management.
TCA is a catalyst in the growth of the thriving Southern California entrepreneurial ecosystem of innovation, funding mostly emerging technologies and life science companies. A recent Halo Report rated TCA as #2 nationally in a number of funded deals, and a recent analysis by CB Insights ranked TCA #1 out of 370 angel groups on “Network Centrality” and #5 overall in “Investor Mosaic.” Since its founding in 1997, TCA has invested over $200 million in more than 350 companies and has helped attract more than $1.6 billion in additional capital/follow-on rounds, mostly from venture capital firms. For more information, please visit http://www.tcasandiego.com.
About San Diego Venture Group:
Founded in 1986, SDVG is a non-profit organization designed to bring together people who are interested in new ventures and furthering individual companies, as well as our overall innovation community.
We are working hard to further San Diego’s status as a leading entrepreneurial and venture region. We regularly meet with startup companies and investors – both here and outside of San Diego. It is our mission to elevate the funding environment and growth prospects for our local startups. It is all about the companies, for the companies. We further work to support our venture capital eco-system by providing an informal and dynamic environment for entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, community leaders, and business advisors to develop greater insights into the process of forming, funding, and scaling high growth companies.
About Cox Communications:
Cox Communications is a broadband communications and entertainment company, providing advanced digital video, Internet, telephone and home security and automation services over its own nationwide IP network. The third-largest U.S. cable company, Cox serves approximately 6 million residences and businesses. Cox Business is a facilities-based provider of voice, video and data solutions for commercial customers, and Cox Media is a full-service provider of national and local cable spot and digital media advertising. Cox is known for its pioneering efforts in broadband, voice and commercial services, industry-leading customer care and its outstanding workplaces. For 10 years, Cox has been recognized as a best operator for women by Women in Cable Telecommunications; Cox has ranked among DiversityInc's Top 50 Companies for Diversity 13 times. More information about Cox Communications, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cox Enterprises, is available at http://www.cox.com and http://www.coxmedia.com.
Kimber Smith Fidler, Tech Coast Angels, http://www.techcoastangels.com, +1 (775) 298 5260, [email protected]
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