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SF Tech Week 2026

πŸ‘‘ Pitches & Punchlines: A Drag Queen Roasts Your Pitch

Hosted by StartOut

When
6:30 – 9:00 PM
Where
Castro
Format
Experiential, Happy Hour and Pitch Event / Demo Day
πŸ‘‘ Pitches & Punchlines: A Drag Queen Roasts Your Pitch artwork

/ About this event

Your pitch is about to get read to filth. πŸ’… The library is open. Your deck is getting read.

6 founders. 3 minutes each. 1 iconic drag queen + 3 judges. Zero mercy.

SF icon Elsa Touche roasts every pitch live on stage. Then our judges ask the questions investors actually ask. Four crowns up for grabs: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and Audience Favorite (that one's your vote).

βš–οΈ THE JUDGES Kate Meacham, Investor at Bullpen Capital Stefan Arteaga, Director of Operations at Liminal Venture Studio +1 VC reveal coming soon πŸ‘€

🎀 FOUNDERS: PITCH FOR FREE Six slots. No fees, no packages, no catch. Apply here https://forms.gle/bPpX3N6bMPAPmkq58 Bring a thick skin and a sense of humor.

🍸 THE NIGHT 6:30 Doors, dinner & drinks 7:00 Showtime ~8:15 Crowns, then mingle til 9 Rikki's, 2223 Market St in the Castro. Full kitchen and bar, so come hungry (you run your own tab 😘).

πŸ₯‚ EVERYONE ELSE: COME HECKLE (LOVINGLY) Founders, investors, operators, allies. Last year 233 of you packed the room. Coming from a 6pm event? Perfect timing, the show starts at 7.

Want to sponsor a crown? Pick "Sponsor" in the sign-up survey.

Produced by StartOut, a national nonprofit empowering LGBTQ+ & Allied Entrepreneurs. Building a world where every entrepreneur can thrive on a level playing field. www.startout.org

This event is part of #SFTechWeek, a week of events hosted by VCs and startups to bring together the tech ecosystem. Learn more at www.tech-week.com.

RSVPs do not guarantee entry. Entry will be on a first-come, first-serve basis and is open to all, so please plan to arrive early.

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