Los Angeles Young Maker Demo Day
Pitch Application
If you are interested in pitching, please fill out the form. You are also welcome as an audience!
https://forms.gle/6hpKiDvzvLQsTQHH8
Join us for an afternoon of startup demos, founder stories, and emerging ideas shaping the future.
We’re bringing together founders, builders, researchers, and startup operators affiliated with UCLA, USC, Cal Poly Pomona, etc.— while also warmly welcoming founders from outside— to showcase early-stage projects tackling meaningful problems across AI, health, sustainability, education, robotics, climate, and more.
Selected teams from the showcase may be invited to advance to the U.S. Regional Finals of the 2026 China–U.S. Young Maker Competition. Outstanding teams may receive fully sponsored opportunities to attend the international finals in Shanghai this July, including flights, accommodation, and official innovation visits.
Whether you're building a startup, exploring ideas, investing, mentoring, or simply curious about what’s emerging from the Stanford ecosystem and beyond, this is a chance to discover bold projects, meet ambitious people, and join thoughtful conversations around technology and impact.
Come for the demos. Stay for the people.
What Makes This Different?
🚀 Founder-first, not conference-style
Real builders sharing what they are actively working on — including lessons, pivots, and honest insights.
🌍 Cross-border innovation opportunity
Selected teams may gain access to international exposure, startup ecosystem connections, and collaboration opportunities across the U.S. and China.
🧠 High-signal community
Meet founders, researchers, students, operators, mentors, and ecosystem builders from Stanford and beyond.
🏆 Competition + community
More than a competition — this is a platform for showcasing ideas, receiving feedback, and connecting with mentors, judges, and peers.
About the Competition
The China–U.S. Young Maker Competition is a long-running innovation competition launched in 2014 and officially supported by China’s Ministry of Education.
The competition empowers young builders to create impactful solutions for the future of society and technology. Key themes include:
AI
Public health
Climate and clean energy
Education
Crisis response
Wellbeing
Sustainable innovation
Sponsored Travel to Shanghai, China
Outstanding U.S. teams will be sponsored to attend the final in Shanghai, China, from July 28 to 31, and to travel from July 31 to August 6.
Fantastic opportunity to network with founders, innovators, investors, and industry partners, and experience the culture.
Who Should Join?
Founders & builders
For anyone working on a startup, side project, research commercialization effort, or prototype — including founders from both Stanford and outside the Stanford community.
Students & researchers
For those curious about entrepreneurship, emerging technologies, and startup ecosystems.
Investors, mentors & ecosystem builders
For people interested in meeting high-potential early-stage talent and ideas.
Anyone startup-curious
For anyone who wants to meet interesting people, see what others are building, and be part of a thoughtful founder community.