Where you prove your startup is the next big thing.

get in front of real investors, compete for funding & fast-track opportunities

Register for Event

lightning round iv

[ DATE ] april 17, 2025

[ format] virtual

This is your chance to stand out, secure funding, and scale fast.

Pegasus and Innovent Capital join forces to bring a powerhouse network of top angel investors, VCs, and industry leaders looking for the next breakout startup.

Get exposure, funding, and traction by pitching in front of decision-makers who don’t just watch - they invest!

Winners get fast-tracked to Pegasus’ Accelerate Due Diligence round, unlocking real capital and strategic growth opportunities.

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Meet the Judges

Jesse Draper

Founding Partner, Halogen Ventures

Jesse backs early-stage consumer tech companies led by women. As 4th generation VC and the first solo female GP in LA, her 75+ portfolio includes The Skimm, Babylist, and ThirdLove. She’s the Emmy-nominated creator of The Valley Girl Show, host of MOMumental Podcast, and a vocal advocate for women in tech. Named one of Inc.’s Female Founders and one of Business Insider’s top early-stage female investors, Jesse is also a Kauffman Fellow and sits on several boards, driving impact through innovation, advocacy, and unapologetic leadership.
Dr. Min-Yi Shih

Chair of Due Diligence Committee, TCA LA
Dr. Min-Yi Shih is a seasoned technologist and business leader with a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and an EMBA from UCLA Anderson. He’s held executive roles across R&D, defense, medtech, and communications, with expertise spanning AI, optoelectronics, AR/VR, and renewable energy. Known for turning innovation into commercialization, he has secured significant non-dilutive funding and led high-impact ventures. Dr. Shih currently chairs the Due Diligence Committee at TCA LA.
Carmen Palafox

Managing Partner, 2045 Ventures
As the Founder and Managing Partner at 2045 Ventures, Carmen invests in early-stage tech startups across climate, fintech, health, SaaS, and consumer. A former VP at Dimensional Fund Advisors, she brings 20+ years of finance expertise and has been recognized by the NVCA, Venture Forward, and LA Magazine as a top voice in VC. Carmen also teaches venture capital at USC Marshall and holds degrees from Berkeley-Haas, USF, and USC.
Brian Ray

Chief AI Officer, Eviden

Brian leads global AI strategy and innovation. With a background spanning Deloitte, Oracle, and real-time AI systems, Brian brings deep expertise in ML, cloud, and full-stack development. He’s a Google Developer Advisory Board member and speaker at Google Next, Caltech, and AILA. Known for his engaging talks on GenAI, Responsible AI, and the real-world cost of ML, Brian blends technical mastery with practical insights that move the needle.

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Capital & Network: With a combined investor base spanning hundreds of accredited angels and early-stage VCs, we provide startups direct access to decision-makers who write checks.
Accelerated Growth: Pegasus has helped startups achieve 1,253% MRR growth, while Innovent Capital specializes in backing disruptive early-stage companies that transform industries through technology. Together, we don’t just invest—we help founders execute and scale.
Proven Path to Success: Startups that stand out in this competition don’t just win a pitch event—they gain a fast track to Pegasus’ Accelerate Due Diligence round, positioning them for serious investment and long-term support.

Why pArticipate?

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competition overview

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Open to early-stage tech startups solving real problems with scalable, venture-backable solutions.
Applications will be narrowed down to the top 5 finalists based on (a) clear and growing market opportunity for their solution; (b) strong early-traction signals; and (c) founders’ domain expertise and execution ability.
Founders will have 5 minute to pitch over Zoom, followed by 5 minutes of Q&A.
Judges evaluation criteria:

(1) Pitch Clarity: can the founder clearly communicate the vision, problem and solution;
(2) Investor Readiness: Is this startup at stage where investors would seriously consider funding?
(3) Potential Impact & Scalability: Can this become a category-defining company?
The winning startup is fast-tracked to Pegasus’ Accelerate Due Diligence round, giving them direct access to potential investment, mentorship, and our national investor network.

Besides also receiving $1M in exclusive perks package, and being spotlighted in our monthly investor and LP newsletter and social media channels.