Startup World Cup Comes to Santa Cruz October 17
Santa Cruz Works is proud to sponsor Startup World Cup Santa Cruz Regional, landing at The Catalyst on October 17, 2026. Startups will pitch for a shot at $1M. Full details drop on September 9 at the Santa Cruz Works New Tech.
Startup World Cup, presented by Pegasus Tech Ventures, is bringing its Santa Cruz Regional, a Luminarium Pacifica event, to The Catalyst on October 17, 2026. Santa Cruz Works is proud to be a sponsor of this milestone event.
Startup World Cup runs regional qualifiers in 100+ cities worldwide, funneling winners toward a single Grand Finale in San Francisco (date to be confirmed), where the Santa Cruz Regional Champion will compete for a $1 million investment prize from Pegasus Tech Ventures. This is the first time that journey starts right here on the Central Coast.
How it works: Every applicant gets a guaranteed two-minute elevator pitch in front of judges. Ten startups advance to a five-minute pitch round with slides, and from there, finalists compete in the official Startup World Cup round: five minutes to pitch, five minutes of judge Q&A; for the title of Santa Cruz Regional Champion and a ticket to San Francisco. The semifinals are November 4 & 5, and the Grand Finale is November 6.
Six category tracks:
AI & Intelligent Systems — generative AI, agents, robotics, cybersecurity, and more
Hacking Arts & Creative Technology — creative coding, music tech, XR, immersive media
Human Performance, Longevity & Wellness — biotech, nutrition, diagnostics, mental well-being
AgTech, Regenerative Systems & Future of Food — precision ag, water tech, climate solutions
Radical Art & Experiential Worlds — a special funding showcase for large-scale, finance-ready art and experiential projects
DJs & Electronic Music Producers — a pitch-to-tour track for artists eyeing international dates
Tracks for fintech and advanced aviation to be announced soon.
Beyond the pitch stage, the day includes mentorship, executive advisory sessions, investor networking, and an evening Afterglow party with music, art, and wine tasting.
Want the full picture? Join us at Santa Cruz Works New Tech on September 9 for the complete rundown: application timelines, ticketing, judges, and how local founders can get involved.
Santa Cruz has spent years building the pipeline that makes a day like this possible — an accelerator, a job fair, a member network of 11,000+ across 600+ companies. Now the world's biggest startup competition is pulling up a chair. See you at The Catalyst!
Click here for Startup World Cup Event site.
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