🎤 San Francisco's Got Talent: HealthTech Founder Edition Pitch Event
​Most Pitch Events
​You've got 90 seconds. Investors are checking their phones. You sound like every other SaaS founder. The "opportunity" slides blur together. No one remembers your name 20 minutes later.
​What if the people judging your pitch actually knew how to tell a story for a living?
​What Makes This Different
​This isn't another investor cattle call. It's where journalism meets venture capital and founders learn what actually makes a pitch stick.
​The Panel:
​2 Ex-TV Journalists who've told thousands of stories under pressure (they know what captures attention)
​2 Active Investors who've heard thousands of pitches (they know what closes deals)
​The Format:
​Expert keynote on narrative craft from a storytelling pro
​8 founders randomly selected NIGHT OF to pitch (4 min + 3 min feedback)
​Live judging with actionable critique—not just "interesting, next?"
​Winners announced, prizes awarded
​The Twist: Every founder who registers gets thrown into the hat. We randomly draw 8 names at the event. So come ready to pitch or watch your peers step up to the mic. Either way, you're learning.
​Detailed Agenda
​5:30 - 6:00pm | Arrival & Networking (30 min)
​6:00 - 6:25pm | Expert Keynote: "The Art of the Compelling Narrative" (25 min)
​6:30 - 7:00pm | Pitch Competition - Round 1 (30 min)
​7:00 - 7:05pm | Intermission (5 min)
​7:05 - 7:35pm | Pitch Competition - Round 2 (30 min)
​7:35 - 8:00pm | Winner Announcement, Post-Event Networking & Closing (25 min)
​Meet Your Storytelling Judges
​Joe Vazquez is a four time Emmy Award-winning TV journalist with decades of experience in broadcast news covering everything from hurricanes to riots to politics to the rise of Tech. Joe has told the story of America from TV stations in Houston, Philadelphia and San Francisco, among others, mastering the art of distilling complex narratives into compelling, digestible stories.
​Armed with a B.S. in Political Science from the University of Houston (Yes, a BS in politics!), his education and experience have taught him to question everything and hold the powerful accountable. He uses these skills to coach founders on storytelling best practices. Joe is co-founder of a podcast called “Answering AI,” which aims to address the many questions raised by Artificial Intelligence.
​Ella Sogomonian is a multilingual journalist who helped launch KRON ON, the Bay Area's first 24/7 local news app, and has covered some of the region's most significant stories from the Ghost Ship warehouse fire to the Wine Country Firestorm.
​Speaking English, Spanish, and Russian fluently, Ella brings a unique perspective on how stories translate across cultures and audiences. Before joining KRON 4, she covered the U.S.-Mexico border in Arizona, earning recognition from both the Yuma County and Arizona Farm Bureaus for her investigative coverage of the agriculture industry, water conservation, and immigration.
​With a B.F.A. in Television and Broadcast Journalism from Chapman University, Ella understands the mechanics of narrative structure and knows how to break news in a way that makes people pay attention—exactly what founders need when pitching their vision.
​🏆 The Stakes Just Got Higher
​This is Event #2 in our monthly series leading to the Grand Finale in October. https://luma.com/6lylg6au
​Each month, we'll run this event with new founders, new judges, and real-time feedback. The top winner from tonight automatically secures their spot in the October Finalist Event where all monthly winners compete for the ultimate prize.
​Think of this as your qualifier. Win tonight, you're in October. Simple as that.
​This month's event is hosted at Homebrew, a dynamic coworking space in San Francisco built for founders, tinkerers, and builders pushing the boundaries of frontier tech.
​Their stunning new location features exposed brick, soaring natural light, and an open, airy atmosphere that perfectly matches the energy of what we're building together. It's a space designed for experimentation and collaboration — exactly the right backdrop for an evening of high-stakes pitching and real talk. You can learn more about Homebrew at luma.com/homebrew.
​Who Should Attend
​All Founders (Come Prepared to Pitch):
​Pre-seed to Series A companies
​You might get called—so have your 4-minute pitch ready
​Want honest, expert feedback in a supportive environment
​Ready to practice under pressure with real stakes
​Competing for a guaranteed spot in the October finale
​Why This Format Works:
​No application anxiety, everyone has a shot
​Forces you to actually prepare (not procrastinate)
​Creates electric energy in the room
​Levels the playing field, no "selected" vs "rejected" vibes
​Multiple chances to compete if you don't win this round
​Investors & Advisors:
​Scout authentic talent in an unscripted environment
​See who can think on their feet
​Connect with founders who show up ready
​Track rising talent across the series
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​Why HER Connections Is Hosting This
​We build curated experiences that help underrepresented founders level up—not through fluff, but through real feedback and meaningful connections.
​Great pitches aren't about having the perfect deck. They're about communicating your vision so clearly that people want to be part of it. This event series is about sharpening that skill over time, in a room that's rooting for you.
​No gatekeeping. No fake polish. Just real founders getting real feedback from people who know what lands.
​Everyone gets a shot. Come ready.
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​Questions? Want to become a partner?
​​ Email info@herconnections
​​By registering for this event, you agree to release HER Connections from all liability related to your participation in the event. You also consent to be subscribed to HER Connections updates on future workshops, events, and resources. You may unsubscribe at any time.
​​HER Connections event is organized and operated solely by HER Connections.