TechCon SoCal 2026 Announces Eight Shortlisted Startups for Quarterfinal 1 of the Startup Innovation Showcase

The Quarterfinal 1 Pitch Event will be held on Thursday, January 29, 2026, at Kiln - Rancho Bernardo, bringing together founders, investors, and ecosystem leaders for a high-impact startup pitch showcase. To ensure a fair and inclusive selection process for all participating startups-many of which come from diverse regions-companies will deliver their pitches virtually, while investors, judges, and attendees will be present at the venue.

The Startup Innovation Showcase is TechCon SoCal's main platform for founders, giving selected startups the chance to pitch to over 100 investors, get direct investor matchmaking, and compete through quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals. The overall winner will earn the chance to pitch for $1 million at the Startup World Cup.

Shortlisted Startups - Quarterfinal 1

The eight companies selected to pitch in Quarterfinal 1 are:

• Vala - An AI-powered platform that automates and optimizes U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs disability claims processing.
• EZ-Robot - An educational robotics platform enabling hands-on STEM learning through programmable robots and modular hardware.
• Joy of Wine Company - A SaaS company delivering intelligent compliance and operational tools for wine brands, retailers, and hospitality businesses.
• SwirlX - A climate-tech company developing next-generation heat-exchange systems to significantly improve energy efficiency.
• Thinkie - A cognitive technology startup using wearable neurofeedback to enhance focus, memory, and brain performance.
• Ascender Systems - A robotics company building autonomous climbing robots for infrastructure inspection and emergency response applications.
• CytoLens - An AI-driven medical diagnostics platform accelerating thyroid cancer detection through cytology image analysis.
• OxyLo - A biotechnology company developing oxygen-deprivation therapies aimed at treating aggressive and unresectable cancers.

Startup Selection Committee

The shortlisted startups were selected by an experienced Startup Selection Committee composed of investors, operators, and ecosystem leaders with deep expertise across technology, venture capital, and innovation:

• La Keisha Landrum Pierre - Emmeline Ventures
• Peyman Shahmirzadi - Peachscore
• Misti Cain - Techstars
• Ashok Kamal - NuFund Venture Group
• Ralph Morales III - Aquillius
• Eric Weiss - Chaos to Clarity

"This committee brings a thoughtful, founder-first lens to the selection process," said Faisal Mushtaq, Founder & CEO of TechCon Global. "Their collective experience ensures that companies advancing through the Startup Innovation Showcase demonstrate not only innovation, but real potential for scale and impact."

Applications for the TechCon SoCal Startup Innovation Showcase remain open. Interested startups can apply to be considered for Quarterfinal 2, which will be held virtually.

Startup Innovation Showcase Roadmap

• Quarterfinal Pitch Events
  • Quarterfinal 1: January 29, 2026 - Kiln, Rancho Bernardo
  • Quarterfinal 2: March 2026 - (TBA)
• Semifinal Pitch Event
  • April 2026 - Mintz
• Final Pitch Event
  • May 22-23, 2026 - San Diego State University

TechCon SoCal 2026 is a premier technology, innovation, and investment conference bringing together founders, investors, executives, and ecosystem leaders from Southern California and beyond. The event will be held May 22-23, 2026, at San Diego State University in San Diego. TechCon SoCal features curated panels, a flagship Startup Innovation Showcase, and high-impact networking across AI, digital health, life sciences, and emerging technologies-serving as a platform to accelerate innovation and attract capital.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/281910