SkyDeck's Pad-13 Pitch Competition (Batch 21)
Join us for the Pad-13 Pitch Competition - an in-person showcase featuring 10 standout startups, selected from a competitive pool of 53, as they present bold ideas to a panel of seasoned judges and the SkyDeck community.
Inspired by the energy of American Idol, the event blends sharp feedback, audience participation, and plenty of opportunities to connect. Investors, mentors, founders, and friends are all welcome.
What to expect:
Pitches from ten Pad-13 startups tackling a range of industries
Insightful commentary from our judges
A chance to vote for the Audience Favorite
Networking with founders, advisors, and the SkyDeck community over appetizers
About the Judges
Julie Lein is the co-founder and Managing Partner of the Urban Innovation Fund, a venture capital firm that invests in the future of cities. The Urban Innovation Fund manages over $300M in assets and has invested in 70+ seed startups since 2016. Previously, Julie co-founded Tumml, a startup hub for urban tech. Julie's work supporting the urban entrepreneurship ecosystem has been featured in numerous press outlets, such as CNN and The San Francisco Chronicle.
David Riemer is the founder of Box Out Industries and the pitch guru at SkyDeck, where he helps founders sharpen their ideas and communicate them with clarity and conviction. Working at the intersection of entrepreneurship, business, and the arts, David specializes in using narrative as a strategic tool. He is also the author of Get Your Stories Straight, a practical guide to crafting compelling stories that move ideas forward.
Irving Hsu is an early-stage investor at Mayfield, where he focuses on enterprise AI and infrastructure. He also co-leads the firm’s university partnerships, including the Mayfield AI Garage @ Berkeley, through which Mayfield and SkyDeck collaborate to support top AI talent emerging from UC Berkeley. Previously, Irving was a tech operator, serving as an ML engineering lead, data scientist, and product manager at companies including Meta, Slack, Airbnb, and Ethos.
Event Schedule
3:45 – 4:00 PM – Check-in
4:00 – 4:05 PM – Welcome Remarks & Introduction
4:05 – 4:10 PM – Judges’ Introductions
4:10 – 5:20 PM – Startup Pitches & Judge Feedback
5:20 – 5:30 PM – Announcement of Winners & Closing Remarks
5:30 – 6:30 PM – Networking Reception with Appetizers
SkyDeck mentors, advisors, alumni founders, investors, and friends are all invited to join us for this event.
📍 Please note: this is an in-person event only.