An Unforgettable Experience at Survivor XI by TCVN During OC Innovation Week

On the evening of May 6, 2025, the Cove at UC Irvine became the epicenter of entrepreneurial energy during Orange County Innovation Week. Hosted by Tech Coast Venture Network (TCVN), the 11th Annual Survivor™ Fast Pitch Competition brought together more than 200 founders, funders, industry leaders, and startup supporters for an unforgettable celebration of innovation and grit. The event offered a rare platform where raw ideas, refined pitches, and strategic insights intersected in realtime.

The evening was structured as a high stakes, high reward pitch tournament. In the opening Lightning Round, over 45 early stage startups took to the stage with nothing more than a microphone and 30 seconds to make their case. The energy was unfiltered and electric some founders delivered product ready messages, while others laid out passionate visions that were still in early development. Twelve entrepreneurs were selected to advance to the semi finals, where they were given 90 seconds to present a more detailed vision. From there, only three finalists were chosen to deliver full three minute pitches, followed by a two minute live Q&A from a panel of seasoned investors and startup experts.

While the pitch competition was the heart of the evening, Survivor XI was also a platform for game changing announcements. In one of the most powerful moments, tech entrepreneur and cultural icon Arabian Prince took the stage to unveil the $150 million WYA Fund, a bold new venture capital fund designed to empower underrepresented founders across sectors. Moments later, Isabelle Bart and Dr. Cathleen Greiner launched WINGZ™, an initiative that will train everyday citizens to become early stage angel investors revolutionizing access to capital from both sides of the investment table. These announcements were more than news they were commitments to systemic change in the startup ecosystem.

Adding depth to the evening was a live taping of The Venture Science Podcast by LabX Ventures, which featured candid interviews with founders, judges, and investors. This element gave the community an insider’s look at how data, science, and storytelling intersect to shape startup growth in today’s complex markets.

Throughout the night, a number of startups made lasting impressions. The competition winner, Aspivix, a Swiss based femtech company, impressed with their innovation to modernize and reduce pain in gynecological procedures a space long overdue for disruption. Led by Ikram Guerd, their vision was both socially impactful and commercially viable. Lidavex, the runner up, pitched a technology designed to reduce complications during childbirth positioning the company as a crucial player in maternal health. Third place went to NavEngage, a digital health solution tackling patient re engagement and hospital readmission prevention through real time remote care monitoring. These companies represented the power of targeted innovation, capable of reshaping entire sectors.

Other standout startups included Carevix, focused on women's health; Loop Earplugs, whose hearing protection products also reduce stress and sensory overload; and TangoShare, a collaboration platform for creatives working across multimedia environments. Though each company came from different industries healthcare, consumer products, software they all shared one trait an unwavering belief in the power of their solution.

Among the participants was Gee Goals, a community focused venture led by founder Yosmel. While his pitch did not advance to the final rounds, his message carried weight. Focused on empowering underserved individuals to define, track, and achieve personal growth goals, Gee Goals is built not only to motivate but to transform lives. It represents the growing wave of startups that prioritize purpose over profit, showing that the entrepreneurial spirit can also be a vehicle for social change.

Survivor XI wasn’t just a competition it was a masterclass in startup strategy, execution, and community building. From dynamic judges like John Wiet, Farrah Khan, Stephanie Granato, and Shaun Sanders to the behind the scenes support from Octane OC, TiE SoCal, and UCI’s ANTrepreneur Center, the event reflected how powerful a well connected innovation ecosystem can be. And while the competition highlighted polished pitches and investable ideas, perhaps its most valuable offering was its message to aspiring entrepreneurs everywhere.

From Idea to Impact A Message for Entrepreneurs

If there’s one takeaway from Survivor XI, it’s this your idea is just the beginning.

Too often, founders get stuck in the dream phase excited by a concept, but hesitant to act. The truth is, innovation means nothing without execution. Every great company once started as a raw idea on a napkin, a phone note, or a late night brainstorming session. What makes the difference is follow through.

So how do you take that idea and build something real?

Start small, but start now. You don’t need funding, a fancy logo, or a finished product to begin. You need commitment. Take the first step, whether that’s a prototype, a pitch deck, or a conversation with a mentor. validate your market. Talk to real people. Find out who your product helps and what problem you’re solving. Market feedback is more valuable than assumptions.

Build momentum. Enter pitch competitions like Survivor XI. Apply to accelerators. Join entrepreneurial meetups. Every interaction grows your confidence, your network, and your clarity. Accept feedback as fuel. You won’t get it perfect the first time or the tenth. That’s okay. What matters is your willingness to listen, adapt, and improve. Think long term. A company isn’t built overnight. Set goals. Reassess. Invest in systems, not shortcuts. The most successful founders play the long game.

Stay connected. Surround yourself with other builders, mentors, and even competitors. The startup journey is tough, but community makes it sustainable. The path from idea to impact is paved with uncertainty but also with possibility. Every founder at Survivor XI stepped onto that stage not because their companies were perfect, but because they believed in their vision enough to keep going. That’s what separates dreamers from doers. So wherever you are in your journey whether you’re sketching on a whiteboard or scaling to your first thousand customers remember this the world doesn’t just need more ideas. It needs more people brave enough to build them.