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REC · 2026

Startup Arena · Recap

The Room Was Packed.

Seven founders pitched. Three investors judged. Everyone wanted the founders to win.

  • Date Apr 22, 2026
  • Where Santa Monica, CA
  • Format Live Pitches

The Night

Highlights

Founder pitching TRL11 on stage at Startup Arena, satellite imagery projected behind as a packed audience watches
01 Pitch
Sweeping view of the Startup Arena audience filling rows of white chairs, investor pitch slide lit on the stage ahead
02 Room
Fireside chat on the Startup Arena stage, two speakers seated under red and purple lights
03 Fireside

Founders shipped in aerospace, optics, consumer apps, local commerce, jobs, and student networks. A VC, a fundraising operator, and an angel scored the pitches.

Act I

Founders Who Pitched

3 prize winners
  • Adi Ben-Shahar Clara Optics Inc. · Optics / Vision Tech Best Narrative
  • Nicolaas Verheem TRL11 · Aerospace Infrastructure Investor Pick
  • Andre Cabral Yoinks · Consumer App Best Pitch
  • Barclay Fitzpatrick Blue Horizon · Aerospace Defense
  • Tyler Pearson Osmo · Student Social Network
  • Jorde Guevara GoJobby · Jobs Marketplace
  • Jay Bean GOTYOU · Local Commerce
Act II

Featured Investors

  • Derek Mether VC · Hallstone Ventures
  • Ross Richmond Fundraising Expert · Richmond Fundraising
  • Jim Goodman Angel Investor & Mentor
Act III

The Conversations

Founders walked on, talked hard, walked off. Investors leaned in. A fireside chat and a roomful of questions kept the room from ever cooling down.

Founder pitching a pie-chart projection on stage as the audience watches from tight rows of chairs
Wide shot of Ross Richmond on stage during a fireside chat, headshot projected behind, audience watching
Two speakers on stage gesturing in front of an Ease of Access slide with sunglasses illustration
Close shot of Startup Arena attendees packed into rows of chairs, faces lit by stage light as they listen
Alternate angle of the fireside chat with Ross Richmond's headshot projected behind
Side view of packed chairs at Startup Arena, red brick wall, logo lit on the stage
Audience filling every row at Startup Arena, listening to a pitch on the stage
Service dog resting under a chair during the Startup Arena pitches

What people said

Great experience! We pitched and got intros to several VCs. Thank you again.

Patrick

Different and more impactful than a traditional pitch competition.

Vernon

Good pitch presentations and even better comments from the panel.

Morgan

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