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Live Pitching Competition At Hawkefest [Brand Applications]
Pitch your brand to a panel of real VCs — including Hawke Media CEO Erik Huberman — hosted by Scott Kelly, CEO of Black Dog Venture Partners and founder of VC Fast Pitch.
One session. One stage. Multiple brands. October 1 on the Santa Monica Pier, as part of Hawkefest 2026.
Apply below. Applications close September 15th, 2026.
What this is:
Hawkefest 2026 is a full day on the Santa Monica Pier for founders, CMOs, and brand builders — commerce, marketing, AI, and it's renaissance themed so it's the kind of production that makes people actually stay!
The Pitch Competition is one part of that day, and for a handful of founders.
Scott Kelly brings VC Fast Pitch — the series that's run 60+ events nationally and helped founders raise over $130 million — to the Pier. You get on stage, you make your case, and a panel of active investors including Erik Huberman tells you what they actually think. Live, in the room, in front of 500+ operators and brand builders.
Why apply:
Face time that converts. A cold email gets you 4 seconds. This gets you a room — and our VC's full attention.
Feedback worth more than the prize. Our judges have evaluated thousands of consumer brands. Scott has run this format 60+ times and knows how to get a VC to say the quiet part out loud.
The rest of Hawkefest. The pitch is one hour. Partners, customers, and future hires are on the Pier all day — and they just watched you pitch.
The panel:
Erik Huberman — Founder & CEO, Hawke Media Built Hawke Media into one of the most recognized growth marketing companies in the country, working with thousands of brands from seed stage to household name. Also invests in consumer through Hawke Ventures.
Hosted & moderated by Scott Kelly — CEO, Black Dog Venture Partners · Founder & MC, VC Fast Pitch
More judges to be announced
Who should apply
Raising now, or raising in the next 6–12 months
Product in market with revenue on the board — real businesses, not decks
Consumer, commerce, DTC, retail, marketplace, or the tech behind them
Can explain what you do in 5 minutes
Not sure you qualify? Apply anyway.