IRVINE, Calif. - TelAve -- Tech Coast Venture Network (TCVN), Southern California's longest-running founder-first nonprofit organization, today announced Survivor 14, the next installment of its signature live startup pitch competition, taking place September 17–18, 2026, at the Renaissance Newport Beach Hotel as part of the TiE Los Angeles Investor Summit 2026.

For the first time in Survivor history, the competition will expand across two days, bringing TCVN's radically inclusive, elimination-style pitch experience into one of Southern California's premier gatherings of founders, investors, operators, and entrepreneurial leaders.

The partnership between TCVN and TiE Los Angeles brings together two entrepreneurial communities around a shared objective: removing barriers between promising founders and the people, relationships, visibility, and capital that can help them move forward.

The TiE Los Angeles Investor Summit 2026 is built around the theme "Removing Roadblocks," with a focus on building investable companies and creating real access for entrepreneurs. The two-day experience will bring together founders, investors, operators, and ecosystem leaders for keynote presentations, panel discussions, networking, exhibits, and startup programming.

At the center of that experience will be Survivor 14.

"By bringing Survivor 14 to the TiE Los Angeles Investor Summit, we're putting founders directly in front of investors and giving them the opportunity to earn attention based on the strength of their story, their company, and their vision" said Dhaval Kapadia, Chairman of TiE LA Angels.

Founders Take the Stage. Investors Decide Who Advances.

Unlike traditional pitch competitions that require lengthy applications, curated pitch decks, or months of preparation, Survivor is built to lower the barrier to entry.

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Attendees will have the opportunity to step up and pitch live in front of investors, beginning with fast-paced lightning pitches. Founders who capture the attention of the judges advance through successive elimination rounds, ultimately competing for the Survivor 14 title.

No slides. No long presentations. Just founders, their stories, and the opportunity to make an impression.

The format reflects TCVN's longstanding mission to help founders become fundable by creating real-world opportunities for entrepreneurs to sharpen their message, build investor relationships, gain visibility, and move closer to capital.

Survivor 14 will feature:

• Open Mic Lightning Pitches — Founders can step up and pitch live.
• Investor-Led Elimination Rounds — Investors determine which companies advance.
• Two Days of Competition — The first two-day Survivor experience in TCVN history.
• Direct Founder and Investor Access — Creating conversations and relationships beyond the pitch itself.
• Founder-First Format — No slides or elaborate decks required. The founder and the opportunity take center stage.

The Investor Summit itself is designed as a two-day founder-and-investor experience centered on practical growth, meaningful networking, visibility, partnerships, and access to capital. TiE Los Angeles describes the event as an alternative to the typical startup conference, focused on helping founders move forward rather than simply adding more hype to the ecosystem.

"Our goal at TCVN has always been to shorten the distance between a founder with potential and the people who can help unlock that potential," said Tony Crisp, President of Tech Coast Venture Network. "Survivor 14 represents exactly what our community is about—giving entrepreneurs a stage, giving investors access to new opportunities, and creating the relationships that move companies forward."

A Bigger Stage for Southern California Founders

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Survivor 14 continues the evolution of one of TCVN's most recognizable founder programs.

For more than four decades, TCVN has worked to strengthen the bridge between founders and funders throughout Southern California. Survivor transforms that mission into a live experience by opening the stage to entrepreneurs and allowing investors to discover companies in real time.

"Partnering with TCVN to bring Survivor 14 to the Summit strengthens that mission by giving founders a unique opportunity to step onto the stage, tell their story, and connect directly with investors." said  Venkatesh Sankaran, President, TiE Los Angeles. "We're excited to bring our communities together and create an environment where great founders, bold ideas, and capital can find each other."

The TiE Los Angeles partnership significantly expands that opportunity by placing Survivor within a broader investor summit built specifically around "Building investable companies. Unlocking Real Access."

For founders, that means the next meaningful investor conversation may begin with a pitch from the Survivor stage.

For investors, it means discovering companies and entrepreneurs they may not have encountered through traditional deal-flow channels.

And for the broader Southern California startup ecosystem, it creates another opportunity to turn connections into action.

Join Survivor 14

Survivor 14 at the TiE Los Angeles Investor Summit 2026 will take place:

September 17–18, 2026
Renaissance Newport Beach Hotel
Newport Beach, California

Founders, investors, ecosystem partners, and members of the entrepreneurial community are encouraged to attend.

Registration for the TiE Los Angeles Investor Summit includes access to both days of the event, including keynote presentations, panel discussions, the exhibit hall, networking, meals, and additional summit programming.

To learn more, visit tieinvestorsummit.com
To purchase tickets to pitch at Survivor 14, visit https://luma.com/survivor

About TCVN
Founded in 1984, Tech Coast Venture Network (TCVN) is an Orange County nonprofit entrepreneur support organization that accelerates first-time founders from idea to investment. Founders step onto the bridge through Pitch Polished™ workshops that sharpen storytelling and delivery. Before crossing to the other side, TCVN educates and connects them so they become Investor-Ready™—helping founders become fundable faster while advancing the Orange County startup community. Join our mission and become a lifetime member at www.tcvn.org/join.