Austin nonprofit's flagship event evolves to bring youth entrepreneurship programming directly to donors and community supporters
AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- VentureLab, the Austin-based nonprofit closing the opportunity gap in youth entrepreneurship education, today announced its reimagined 5th annual Ready, Set, Startup! Pitch for Purpose, an immersive fundraising experience inviting Austin leaders to invest in creating the next generation of innovators and creators.
Presented by West Chelsea Contemporary, the event will take place Saturday, November 7, 2026, from 5:00 to 9:30 PM at The Mansion in Austin. Marking its fifth year, Ready, Set, Startup! Pitch for Purpose is transforming from a traditional gala into cocktails, heavy hors d'oeuvres and a live pitch experience that puts VentureLab's new programming, IGNITE, at the center of the evening. For the first time, IGNITE finalist youth teams will quick pitch their startups live to a room of community supporters, with sponsors serving as judges as teams compete for cash prizes. The evening will also feature a paddle raise tied directly to student outcomes and a curated silent auction.
"Ready, Set, Startup! has always been about celebrating what our students can do when they're given the tools and confidence to build something of their own," said Dr. Cristal Glangchai, Founder and Board Chair of VentureLab. "This year, we wanted our supporters to experience VentureLab's programming firsthand through IGNITE, our new immersive programming where students present work they created with the help of business mentors, AI, design thinking, and entrepreneurship to solve real-world problems. The Pitch for Purpose experience gives our community front-row seats as young founders take the stage to pitch their ideas."
Proceeds from Ready, Set, Startup! Pitch for Purpose will support student scholarships, helping more students build the confidence, critical thinking skills, and real-world pathways needed to imagine, build and bring their ideas to life.
"VentureLab is giving young people the opportunity to think creatively, and turn their ideas into something real," said Gary Seals, Founder & CEO, West Chelsea Contemporary. "That spirit of creativity and entrepreneurship is something we believe in deeply at West Chelsea Contemporary. We're proud to support VentureLab and give these young innovators a platform to share their ideas with the Austin community."
Additional 2026 sponsors include Brown Advisory, Wild Basin Investments, Morrison Foerster, Vela Wood Forward, Tito's Handmade Vodka, and SXSW.
VentureLab aims to raise $200,000 through tickets and sponsorship opportunities. To purchase tickets, visit https://app.betterunite.com/venturelab-2026readysetstartup. For sponsorship inquiries, contact Monica Morales at [email protected].
About VentureLab
At VentureLab, we're closing the opportunity gap for future creators and leaders by building students' confidence, creativity, and growth mindset, especially for girls and historically marginalized youth. Your support of Ready, Set, Startup! helps bring VentureLab IGNITE and entrepreneurial learning to more young people who otherwise may not have access. Together, we can give the next generation the confidence, skills, and opportunity to build what comes next. Learn more at venturelab.org.
Media Contact
Mayra Pena, TaleSplash for VentureLab, 1 2105570743, [email protected], https://venturelab.org/
SOURCE VentureLab
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