It's competition season for university student founders.
If you're building a company while juggling exams, team schedules, and pitch decks, you already know how hard this stretch is.
The late nights refining your deck. The pressure to stand out in a room full of talent. The quiet worry that your idea won't land the way you hope.
Here's what I've seen after advising dozens of founders and helping build companies from launch to exit: the teams that do well in competitions aren't always the ones with the flashiest ideas. They're the ones who can explain their value clearly, show they understand their customer, and prove they can execute.
Competitions are a forcing function. They push you to sharpen your story, defend your assumptions, and practice delivering under pressure. Win or lose, that clarity stays with you.
So if you're in the middle of this right now, good luck. Take the feedback seriously. Use the reps. And remember that the real work starts after the competition ends.
If you're a student founder who wants a second set of eyes on your messaging or go-to-market plan, send me a message. Happy to help.
#startups #entrepreneurship …more
Pitch Events
Work by Michael Ashley · Everyone on Pitch Events
Santa Cruz Works New Tech on April 1 at Chaminade includes a rare Steve Jobs appearance for Apple’s 50th anniversary. ;-)
If you plan on going, send me a message.
7:00 pm - Company presentations, plus 2 more to be announced soon
Bandit Systems: Security should stop problems before they become expensive headaches. Bandit Systems’ RealTime Remote Guard Service uses AI video analytics, cameras, patented audio systems, and trained operators to resolve 98% of crime and trespassing incidents in under 60 seconds.
Cora Nexus AI: Customer Success agents that actually do the manual work to serve and grow your customers. So your teams can focus on the human, relationship-driven work to drive growth.
mimofit: mimofit is building a home-based training system for people with Parkinson’s and related conditions. By combining adaptive exercise, neuroplasticity research, and simple at-home use, the company aims to make meaningful therapy more accessible and more consistent.
Subsense: Subsense is developing a non-surgical, minimally invasive brain-computer interface that uses biocompatible nanoparticles and a wearable headset to read and write neural signals. Starting with neurological disorders like Parkinson’s and epilepsy, the company aims to build a scalable platform for future human-AI interaction, communication, and cognitive enhancement.
The Hidden Singing Superpower: Fresh from UCSC Grad Slam 2026, Matt Evans explores a fascinating question: why does music remain so durable in memory even as other memories fade? His work looks at the surprising accuracy of internal musical recall and what that reveals about the brain.
Vispo AI: Vispo helps founders manage the legal foundations of a startup without drowning in paperwork or legal bills. Its AI-powered platform guides users through incorporation, SAFE financing, and compliance, acting like a legal co-pilot built specifically for early-stage companies.
https://www.santacruzworks.org/news/santa-cruz-works-new-tech-april-2026 …more
Here's a little clip from my Radi8 pitch at the March 4th New Tech Meetup in Santa Cruz. I always tell founders to beware the demo demons, doing a demo that quickly shows the unique value of your innovation is HARD... I admit my demo fell short, but I learned a lot from the experience.
And that's what matters most: Get out into the world. Learn and do it again.
What do you think I can do to make my pitch better?
Radi8 is a Social Media Command Center that helps marketers create, schedule, and post content easily. Plus, new features for employee advocacy, content discovery, and AI assisted posting, make Radi8 the most powerful social media marketing platform available.
If you want to pilot Radi8 in your marketing team, let me know.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hC376aW8Nec&t=204s …more
Impressive to see Lilly launch LillyPod, the first NVIDIA DGX SuperPOD with DGX B300 systems. Is it even possible to compete in this space anymore? My experience launching startups and programs says yes, if you lean into startup advantages: pick a narrow, clinically meaningful problem you can validate fast; secure or partner for unique data and domain workflows; design pilots that align with regulatory and procurement paths. If you are building in this space, send me a message. #AIinPharma
https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/lilly-ai-factory-live/ …more
Looking for experienced professionals and entrepreneurs to mentor early-stage teams as they prepare for Launchpad on May 13, 2026 at the Santa Cruz Boardwalk. Mentors will help sharpen pitches, validate ideas, and build founder confidence before the live competition and job fair.
I'm also building my list of Mentors for Santa Cruz Accelerates Cohort 7 (mentoring seed-stage startups with traction)
From my experience, targeted feedback early brings clarity and faster decision making for teams and fresh perspective for mentors. If you can help, send me a message. #mentorship
https://www.santacruzworks.org/news/launchpad-2026-mentors-needed …more
Great night at Santa Cruz Works New Tech, sold out on March 4. I pitched Radi8 and heard rapid-fire demos from Innovation Within, BrandCapsule, Activity Ally, and The Host Mindset. Thanks to Comcast Business and Wynn Capital for sponsoring.
Two quick takeaways: focus your demo on the customer problem and one clear outcome; use events to recruit pilot partners and collect direct feedback. If you are working on early product-market fit or want pilot introductions, send me a message. #startups
https://www.santacruzworks.org/news/santa-cruz-works-new-tech-march-4-2026-6yx5p …more
Last chance: buy tickets today and get a free glass of bubbly from the Chaminade.
I'll be presenting at the Santa Cruz Works New Tech on March 4.
Networking starts at 6 pm with music, food, and real conversation; rapid-fire startup demos begin at 7 pm from Innovation Within, BrandCapsule, Radi8, Activity Ally, and The Host Mindset.
As a CEO I learned that short demos force clarity, so focus on the problem you solve and the next milestone. Let's see if I can put my money where my mouth is... or is it my mouth where the money is!
Sponsored by Comcast Business and Wynn Capital. See you there.
#startups #founders
https://www.santacruzworks.org/news/santa-cruz-works-new-tech-march-4-2026 …more
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