USC and Techstars Startup Weekend 2026
The USC and Techstars Startup Weekend is a three-day event designed to develop raw and fresh ideas including new concepts to faculty/graduate level research at USC. You'll meet amazing mentors, speakers, and founders that will show you how to get more done faster—and maybe kickstart that business.
USC faculty/staff, alumni and students, come share your startup ideas with technology / digitally enabled solutions. Ideas include industries such as DeepTech, AI, Health and BioTech, FinTech, and EdTech. Participants will form teams on Friday, build products on Saturday, and present their business on Sunday.
The USC Office of Research and Innovation and Techstars is looking forward to seeing you there!
For common questions, see the FAQ's below. If you have additional questions, reach out to us at [email protected]. Please register before March 23rd.
Agenda:
Friday, March 27, 2026
5:30 PM Registration, Dinner, Networking, Ice-breaker
6:15 PM Welcome & Remarks
6:25 PM Ice-breaker
6:30 PM Pitches
7:45 PM Voting
8:00 PM Team Formation & Initial Work
9:00 PM Event Wrap-up Announcements
Saturday, March 28, 2026
8:30 AM Breakfast & Registration
9:00 AM Morning announcements
9:30 AM Masterclass 1: Startup Fundamentals 101
10:30 AM Work Continues
11:00 AM Mentor 1-1 Sessions
12:00 PM Lunch
1:00 PM Mentor 1-1 Sessions
2:30 PM Work Continues
4:00 PM Masterclass: Building an MVP
5:00 PM Dinner with Mentors
6:00 PM Work Continues
8:30 PM Masterclass: Pitching 101
9:00 PM Event Wrap-up Announcements
Sunday, March 29, 2026
8:30 AM Breakfast & Registration
9:00 AM Morning announcements
9:30 AM Work Continues
11:00 AM Mentor 1-1 Sessions
Tech Check, Pitch Practice & Check-ins
12:00 PM Lunch
1:00 PM Mentor 1-1 Sessions
Tech Check, Pitch Practice & Check-ins
2:30 PM Final Work Continues
5:00 PM Dinner & Pitch Presentation Registration Begins
5:30 PM Evening presentation starts
7:00 PM Final Pitches start
7:30 PM Networking
8:30 PM Announcing Winning Teams
9:00 PM Event Wrap-up Announcement
FAQ's
What is Startup Weekend and the format of the event?
Startup Weekend is a three-day event designed to develop new ideas, including faculty / graduate research. and researched at USC. We will form teams on Friday (pitch ideas and vote for top projects), build businesses on Saturday (meet mentors and develop products), and organize presentations on Sunday (judge pitches and celebrate with networking). Please review the agenda and register above.
When and where is it happening?
The event will run from March 27-29, 2026 at the USC Michelson Center for Convergent Bioscience (Rooms 101 & 102).
Is there parking at the venue? Is it accessible to people with disabilities?
Yes, the venue has accessible parking, entry, restrooms, and pathways. Paid parking is available at Downey Way Parking Structure. Please contact [email protected] if you have more specific access needs.
How much does it cost to join?
There is no cost to join. Please update your registration if you are no longer able to attend the majority of the event.
Will food be provided?
Yes, and please notify us if you have allergies or dietary restrictions by emailing [email protected]. We will make every effort to make accommodations for you but cannot guarantee all dietary restriction needs will be met. In the case of severe allergies, we encourage you to bring your own food.
Who can participate?
Anyone with USC affiliation (faculty, staff, alumni or students) and a curiosity for entrepreneurship can join. This is an inclusive learning space for all levels of experience with startups and tech ventures.
Do I need a fully developed startup idea or preexisting team to participate?
No, you do not need to prepare anything in advance. However, we welcome raw and fresh ideas as well as ideas researched at the faculty / graduate level. To maximize the experience, you must join a team and only participate in one team during Startup Weekend.
What kind of ideas are acceptable?
The event will focus on startup ideas with tech / digitally enabled solutions, such as DeepTech, Health and BioTech, AI, FinTech, and EdTech. While your business is not restricted to these industries, the solution needs to create or use technology in a novel way.
What if someone steals my idea?
Statistically, it's very unlikely someone will steal your idea because they don't have the passion, background, experience, etc. to execute on it. Only pitch ideas you are willing to share. Keep in mind: you don't have to pitch your idea, but by sharing your idea with others you'll more likely get the resources you need to execute it.
Do I need to be present for all hours of the event? Can I pop in and out?
We highly recommend attending all components, since these are invaluable learning and networking opportunities. Please plan to arrive on Friday night before 6:30 pm, when ideas are pitched and voted upon, to decide which team you'd like to work with throughout the weekend. Although we will try to accommodate any barriers, consider updating your Luma registration if you are unable to attend a majority of the event.
Can I invite friends or family to final pitch presentations on Sunday?
Yes, we encourage you to invite loved ones and community members to celebrate your hard work! They will need to register for a free ticket at https://luma.com/83e2eaqu.
Are teams expected to continue working on the startup idea after the event?
Some people join Startup Weekend to learn essential business skills, while others join to begin building the foundations of a startup. Please only share pitch ideas you would like to form a team around and we encourage all teams to discuss expectations for working on the startup after the event. Here are examples of scenarios that may arise:
-- One or more team members decide to continue working on the startup after the event. Great, we encourage you to build upon your progress and continue working together by identifying clear roles, responsibilities, and expectations (time commitment, communication, deliverables, etc.).
-- One or more team members don't want to continue working on the startup after the event. No worries, there is no requirement to continue working on the project following Startup Weekend.
-- My team worked together on an idea that I pitched. However, I no longer want to work with my team. We encourage your team to consider shared goals, values, and commitment to the startup idea before deciding on the best plan moving forward. Differences in options can be a constructive part of teamwork that presents an opportunity for growth and positive change! If the team decides to split into separate startups, then please discuss what this might look like and agree upon a mutual solution. For example, you may take different business approaches and modify target audiences, business models, and/or technology.
---NOTE: Do not participate in Startup Weekend if you intend to use this opportunity as free labor. Please understand that faculty researchers may have academic responsibilities to adhere to.
-- I don't want to continue working on the startup, but what if the startup becomes successful based on ideas that I contributed? By participating in Startup Weekend, you agree to provide your insights freely. The event is intended as a collaborative forum for sharing, learning, building, and having fun. We encourage teams to discuss what working on the startup after the event looks like by identifying clear roles, responsibilities, and expectations (time commitment, communication, deliverables, etc.).
Terms of Participation Agreement:
It is our job to provide you with an incredible networking and learning experience. Our intention is that you meet some amazing people. The event is intended to be a collaborative forum for sharing, learning, building, and having fun.
As such, by registering and participating in the event, you agree to be inclusive of any and all people and their ideas. You agree to act professionally and treat everyone with respect.
Please note that you may be photographed or videotaped during this event. By registering, you consent to being filmed and grant to USC and Techstars the right to use your image, likeness and voice in audio, visual and audiovisual productions created by USC and/or Techstars in any media worldwide. Your attendance is strictly voluntary, and no financial compensation will be provided.
By purchasing a ticket to a Techstars event, you agree to our Terms of Use, Privacy Policy and Techstars Media Release policy. If you have questions please reach out to [email protected].