On April 6 TechCrunch is hosting a special episode of TechCrunch Live centered on Austin, Texas. We hope you can join us. The episode, like every TechCrunch Live episode, is streamed live and is programmed to help founders build better venture-backed businesses. The extended episode will feature a pitch deck tear down with The Zebra, a talk with venture capitalists actively writing checks and a pitch-off with early Austin-based startups.
Join us! Register here. It’s free.
How to apply for pitch-offs
The line up is killer, but no showcase would be complete without an Austin Pitch-Off. TechCrunch editorial is on the hunt to showcase three Austin-based startups. Apply here. To qualify you need to:
- Be based in the greater Austin area
- Have an MVP
- Be pre-Series A
Each company will have four minutes to pitch followed by a five-minute Q&A with our fantastic judges. Companies will get private training with the Startup Battlefield team responsible for training all the TechCrunch early-stage company pitches, a mini feature on TechCrunch.com and a complimentary table at TechCrunch Disrupt 2022 in person.
Agenda
April 6, 12:00 – 12:35 pm PDT
TCL Panel with The Zebra and Silverton Partners
The Zebra was an early Austin transplant. Founded in 2012 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the founders, lured by Texas investors, including Mark Cuban and Silverton Partners’ Morgan Flager, relocated to Austin the next year. In 2017 after raising $40 million, the company brought on Keith Melnick as CEO and has grown to be one of the largest tech startups in Austin.
- Keith Melnick, CEO, The Zebra
- Morgan Flager, Managing Partner, Silverton Partners
- Moderated by TechCrunch Managing Editor, Matt Burns
12:35 – 1:00 pm PDT
How to raise early capital in Austin
Austin is quickly becoming a hub of early-stage startups, and there’s a handful of firms writing checks to get these companies off the ground. Hear from three of the top investors in the Austin area about their investment strategies and the best way to get their attention.
- Krishna Srinivasan, Co-Founder, LiveOak Venture Partners
- Sara T. Brand, Founding General Partner, True Wealth Ventures
- Bryan Chambers, President, Capital Factory
- Moderated by TechCrunch Sr. Reporter, Mary Ann Azevedo
1:00 – 1:30 pm PDT
TC City Spotlight Pitch-off
Apply now! Three Austin-based startups will pitch their company live to a panel of investors and TechCrunch staff. The companies have four minutes to present their pitch deck, and the winner gets exhibition space at TechCrunch Disrupt in San Francisco.
- Krishna Srinivasan, Co-Founder, LiveOak Venture Partners
- Sara T. Brand, Founding General Partner, True Wealth Ventures
- Bryan Chambers, President, Capital Factory
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