USC and Techstars Join Forces to Launch Next Generation of Startups
Jan 26, 2026
LOS ANGELES, CA — The USC Office of Research and Innovation, in partnership with Techstars, is proud to announce the USC and Techstars Startup Weekend 2026, an intensive three-day entrepreneurial marathon designed to transform new ideas into viable business ventures, including faculty / graduate research. This is the 3rd Startup Weekend with USC and is one of the USC and Techstars programs supporting innovation at USC.
Taking place from March 27 to March 29, 2026, this event brings together USC faculty, staff, alumni, and students to build technology-driven solutions. The program focuses on high-impact sectors, including ideas in DeepTech, AI, Health and BioTech, FinTech, and EdTech.
From Idea to Pitch in One Weekend
Startup Weekend is a global movement that teaches entrepreneurs how to get more done, faster. Participants will follow a rigorous timeline:
Friday Night: Attendees pitch raw ideas and form teams.
Saturday: Teams move into high gear with masterclasses on startup fundamentals, MVP building, meeting with expert mentors, and more.
Sunday: After final pitch coaching, teams present their business models to a panel of expert judges in a final pitch competition.
“This event is the 3rd of its kind at USC,” said Telesha Bowen, Techstars Program Lead. “USC and Techstars Programs are providing access to world-class mentors and the Techstars methodology. Empowering the USC community to bridge the gap between ideas and execution for students, alumni, and faculty/staff is exactly what this suite of programs exists to achieve.”
The Grand Finale: Public Pitch Presentations
The weekend culminates in a high-stakes final presentation on Sunday, March 29, 2026. This friendly competition allows teams to showcase their hard work to a panel of industry experts to win exclusive prizes. The evening starts with a celebratory networking dinner and concludes with an awards ceremony.
Final Presentation Details:
Date: Sunday, March 29, 2026
Time: Doors open at 4:30 PM; Presentations & pitches begin at 5:00 PM
Highlights: Starting with dinner and networking, winning teams will be announced at the conclusion of the event
Registration and Information
Interested participants are encouraged to register before the March 23rd deadline–Spots are limited. For more information on the full schedule and to register to attend, please visit the Luma page.
Want to hear the pitches at the end of the event? Join here.
Mariessa Esho
Operations Associate
Techstars (Startup Community)
About the USC Office of Research and Innovation
The USC Office of Research and Innovation supports the university’s mission by fostering a vibrant research environment, providing resources for faculty and student inventors, and facilitating the transition of breakthroughs from the lab to the marketplace.
About Techstars
Techstars is the most active pre-seed investor in the world. Founded in 2006, Techstars has invested in more than 3,000 companies with a combined market cap of more than $100B. Through its accelerator programs and venture capital funds, Techstars connects entrepreneurs, investors, corporations, and cities to help build great companies.