August 26–27 | San Francisco

Step SF 2026 Pitch Competition

The Step SF 2026 Pitch Competition unfolds across two high-energy stages: Round 1 at AWS Builder Loft, followed by the Finals on the main stage at The Midway. Watch ambitious early-stage tech startups pitch live, face investor Q&A, and compete for the title.

Official Pitch Sponsor:
Get Tickets The Pitch Journey
15
Startups on Stage
Aug 26
Round 1 · AWS Builder Loft
Aug 27
Finals · The Midway
THE COMPETITION

The Step SF Pitch Competition is built to surface high-potential startups and put them in front of the people who matter. Across two live stages, founders get visibility, direct investor feedback, and a chance to turn a sharp pitch into real momentum.

Round 1 brings 15 carefully selected early-stage tech startups to AWS Builder Loft. The strongest teams then advance to the Step SF 2026 Finals, where three finalists pitch live on the main stage at The Midway in front of the wider festival audience.

With You.com as the official pitch sponsor, the competition spotlights ambitious founders, meaningful connections, and the next wave of companies building what is next.

THE PITCH JOURNEY

Two stages. One path to the title.

August 26 | 5:00 PM–8:00 PM

Round 1 — AWS Builder Loft

Fifteen early-stage tech startups take the stage at AWS Builder Loft in San Francisco for a fast, high-signal evening of live pitches, investor feedback, and community networking.

Each startup delivers a 3-minute pitch followed by 2 minutes of live Q&A with the judging panel. At the end of the night, the top three startups are selected to advance to the Step SF 2026 Finals.

  • Venue: AWS Builder Loft, 525 Market Street, 2nd Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105
  • Format: 15 startups · 3-minute pitch + 2-minute live Q&A
  • Outcome: Three finalists advance to the Finals
August 27 | 4:30 PM–5:00 PM

Finals — The Midway Main Stage

The journey culminates on the main Step SF stage at The Midway. The three standout startups selected from Round 1 pitch live in front of founders, investors, builders, operators, and technology leaders.

Each finalist has 3 minutes to make the case, followed by 2 minutes of live Q&A. After a final deliberation, the judging panel selects the overall winner of the Step SF 2026 Pitch Competition.

  • Venue: The Midway, 900 Marin Street, San Francisco, CA 94124
  • Format: 3 finalists · 3-minute pitch + 2-minute live Q&A
  • Outcome: One startup named overall winner
MEET THE JUDGES

Every pitch is scored by a panel of active VCs, angels, and operators who invest at the stages they're judging.

Emily Bennett

Emily Bennett

Investment Partner

Andreessen Horowitz

Ray Dargham

Ray Dargham

Co-Founder & CEO

Step

Nuno Pedro

Nuno Pedro

Founder, Managing Partner

Chamaeleon

Gayatri Panda

Gayatri Panda

Founding Partner | Climate Technology Investor

Austral Capital

Kayvan Baroumand

Kayvan Baroumand

Founder

SignalRank / Thinktank.vc

Scott Kelly

Scott Kelly

CEO

Black Dog Venture Partners

WHY ATTEND

This is where early conviction meets live decision-making.

For Founders

See what a sharp, high-conviction pitch looks like, meet the people shaping the ecosystem, and discover the companies setting the pace.

For Investors

Get an early look at ambitious teams, watch how founders respond under pressure, and connect with high-potential startups in person.

For Builders & Operators

Meet the Bay Area startup community and see what is being built across the next generation of technology.

ON STAGE

This is a live, fast-moving format built for clarity and signal. Founders have three minutes to make their story land, followed by two minutes of direct Q&A from the judging panel.

Judges assess each startup on innovation and product, market opportunity, execution and traction, team strength, and overall investment potential. The result is a focused competition where the strongest companies earn their place in the next round.

SCHEDULE
August 26 — Round 1 at AWS Builder Loft
  • 5:00–5:10 PMWelcome and judge introductions
  • 5:10–6:40 PMLive startup pitches and jury Q&A
  • 6:40–6:45 PMFinalist announcement
  • 6:45–8:00 PMNetworking
August 27 — Finals at The Midway
  • 4:30–4:32 PMOpening and judge introduction
  • 4:32–4:47 PMFinalist pitches and jury Q&A
  • 4:47–4:52 PMJudge scoring and final deliberation
  • 4:52–5:00 PMWinner announcement and close
OFFICIAL PITCH SPONSOR

You.com is the official pitch sponsor of the Step SF 2026 Pitch Competition, supporting the founders taking the stage and the community building the next wave of AI and tech companies.

VENUES

Round 1 — AWS Builder Loft

AWS Builder Loft is located at 525 Market Street, 2nd Floor, in downtown San Francisco, a short walk from Embarcadero and Montgomery BART/Muni stations.

Public transit or rideshare is recommended, as parking in the Financial District is limited and the venue does not offer on-site parking. Please bring a valid physical government-issued photo ID for entry; digital IDs are not accepted. All attendees must be 18 or older.

Finals — The Midway

The Finals take place at The Midway, 900 Marin Street, in San Francisco’s Dogpatch neighborhood, as part of Step SF 2026. Street parking is limited, so public transit, rideshare, or biking is recommended for the easiest arrival.

See the Final Decision Live

From 15 standout startups to three finalists to one winner, the Step SF 2026 Pitch Competition is one of the festival’s most high-signal live moments. Get your ticket and be in the room when the winner is announced.

Get Tickets Join Step SF 2026