TCVN to Offer $25K at Annual Fast-Pitch Competition

ORANGE, CA--(Marketwired - Jan 7, 2014) - Tech Coast Venture Network (TCVN), Orange County's largest non-profit dedicated to empowering entrepreneurs, today announced its 8^th annual Survivor event will be hosted at Chapman University, Friday, February 7 from 5 - 9:00 p.m. Dubbed "Survivor 8--Entrepreneurship on Fire," the first of its kind Orange County-based event will award early stage start-ups with prizes, including a $25,000 cash investment from sponsors and partners.

Survivor 8 gives start-ups the opportunity to compete for funding and prizes, gain valuable exposure and network with prominent Orange County entrepreneurs. This year, the event will forgo pre-qualifications and invites all interested entrepreneurs to audition live at the event. Competitors will participate in fast-paced rounds of American Idol-like eliminations.

"At TCVN's Survivor 8, local leaders, investors and event judges will be looking for the next big, fundable idea," said Ash Kumra, chairman of TCVN, co-founder of DreamItAlive.com, also an author and public speaker recognized twice by the White House for making a difference for America's entrepreneur communities. "It's great to watch as hard-working entrepreneurs compete to get in front of our amazing panel of judges. Their passion, commitment and innovative ideas are truly inspiring."

Business pitches will be judged by a prestigious panel of start-up experts, investors and entrepreneurs -- including David Perry, serial entrepreneur and video game guru who recently sold the Orange County-based Gaikai to Sony for more than $380 million dollars in 2012; Chirag Chotalia, venture capitalist with Pritzker Group; Marlon Nichols, venture capitalist with Intel Capital; Dave Berkus, super angel, author and public speaker; Christopher Buckstein, serial entrepreneur and angel investor; Kirsten Mangers, small business and entrepreneur advocate; and Jeff Erle, angel investor and Tech Coast Angels executive committee member.

Sponsors include Goodwill of Orange County, Chicklabs, LLC, Chapman University, ROC (Real Office Centers), CRISP Brand Agency, Beyond Fifteen Communications, Hall & Company, Steelpoint Search, Bigwig Monster and Rise Up Foundation.

Companies based in Southern California that are looking to attract funding and are less than five years old with less than $250K USD in funding are encouraged to attend and pitch their unique business plan at Survivor 8. Pitching at TCVN Survivor is available for any eligible, Southern California early-stage company. Learn more about eligibity requirements and restrictions here.

Tickets to attend are $50 pre-sale, $20 for students with valid ID and $65 the day of the event. To register, visit http://tcvn.org/survivor8/.

ABOUT TCVN: Founded in 1984, the non-profit Tech Coast Venture Network (TVCN) is one of Southern California's largest entrepreneurship non-profit organizations. Through a wide variety of forums, pitch sessions, workshops and networking events, TCVN brings together entrepreneurs and resources from every facet of the technology and startup landscape. It's a trusted resource for startup and emerging entrepreneurs seeking connections to capital, peers and mentors to drive growth. TCVN educates and assists entrepreneurs, connecting them with the resources to help grow their businesses. For more information, visit www.tcvn.org.