Since 2017, USC’s DEMO has been SoCal’s largest student-run entrepreneurship conference: an annual gathering of the most ambitious student founders, leading investors, and interested peers. Each year, 1,000+ attendees, 100+ investors, and 50 startups converge for a single day that consistently changes the trajectory of what gets built next.
In the past, DEMO has invited guest speakers such as Sean Rad (Founder of Tinder), Palmer Luckey (Founder of Oculus), Deepak Ahuja (Former CTO of Tesla), Adam and Ryan Goldston (Founders of APL), and Ashley Alexander (YouTuber with 1.9M+ Subscribers and Founder of Nami Matcha).
DEMO isn't new. It's been the platform for USC entrepreneurship since 2017, and the results speak for themselves:
→ $28M+ raised by TroyLabs startups
→ 350 top Trojan startups showcased
→ 6,000+ unique attendees all-time
→ 500 investors engaged across DEMO's history
⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
THE PROGRAMMING: BUILT FOR FOUNDERS
DEMO 2026 is organized around four core experiences. Each are designed to give you direct, actionable access to the people and opportunities that matter most.
👥 1. Startup Exhibition: The heart of DEMO. Fifty of USC's most promising student-founded startups set up their own designated high-table booth in the TCC Ballroom, giving attendees, investors, and fellow founders direct access to the products being built right now on campus. No slides. No pitch decks. Just your product, your story, and 1,000+ people walking through the door.
🏆 2. Pitch Competition: Selected startups take the stage to compete for funding and recognition in front of a live judging panel of investors and industry leaders. The 1st-place winner will receive a $7,500 cash prize, proudly sponsored by Abdo John Hajj (Co-Founder & Managing Partner @ Type One Ventures). The 2nd-place winner will receive $3,000, awarded by USC's Lloyd Greif Center for Entrepreneurial Studies.
🎤 3. Keynote: We're delighted to welcome Evan Spiegel, founder and CEO of Snap Inc., and Amy Liu, founder and CEO of Tower 28 Beauty, to the DEMO 2026 stage. These are builders who've taken ideas from zero to iconic, and they're here to share what that actually looks like.
Please note: doors will be closed for the duration of the keynote and will not reopen until it concludes. Attendance is limited — RSVP is required to secure your spot.
💻 4. Workshops: This year, we're partnering with Framer (a no-code website builder worth $150M+) to bring you an exclusive designathon. Whether you're a seasoned UI/UX designer or just curious about vibecoding, this one's for you.
Interested? RSVP here: doorlist.app/e/HBEZvDK
⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
WHO SHOULD BE HERE
💡1. Founders: DEMO gives you meaningful exposure to over 1,000 attendees, including active investors, talented student operators, and fellow founders who've been exactly where you are. Showcase your product. Pitch for funding. Build relationships that actually accelerate your growth. No matter your stage, DEMO connects you to the people who help startups move forward.
💵 2. Investors: You get direct access to Southern California's most promising student-founded startups, all concentrated in one room, for one day. Meet high-potential founders before they hit the broader market. Discover emerging talent early. Build long-term founder relationships when they're still looking for their first champion. DEMO is the most efficient early-stage pipeline in SoCal.
👋 3. Attendees: You don't have to be a founder or an investor to leave DEMO with something real. Whether you're looking to join an early-stage startup, understand how venture works, or just figure out what you want to build next, DEMO is where you get direct access to the people already doing it. Come curious. Leave with a plan.
⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
EVENT SCHEDULE
When: April 22, 2026 (10:30 AM - 8:00 PM)
Where: USC TCC Ballroom
10:30 AM: Doors Open · Registration & Welcome
10:45 AM: Opening Ceremony
11:15 AM: Framer Designathon Intro + Prompt Reveal + Sprint
12:00 - 1:00 PM: Amy Liu Keynote (CEO & Founder of Tower 28)
1:00 PM: Framer Designathon
2:00 - 3:00 PM: Evan Spiegel Keynote (CEO & Founder of Snap, Inc.)
3:00 PM: Startup Exhibition
5:00 PM: Fireside Chat with Jimmy Douglas (CEO & Founder of Plug)
5:30 PM: Pitch Competition
7:00 PM: Awards Ceremony · Pitch competition winners announced
"AFTERS"
8:00-9:30 PM: Open invite speed networking with refreshments | Location: JFF LL105 | limited capacity (rsvp via link)
8:00 PM-9:30: Open invite cookie social with Z Fellow investors + founders, builders, & creators | limited capacity (rsvp via link)
⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
By attending DEMO 2026, you consent to being photographed, filmed, and recorded for use in TroyLabs' promotional and educational materials, including social media, website content, and future event marketing.
⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
Questions? Contact us at troylabs@usc.edu
This program is open to all eligible individuals. TroyLabs operates all of its programs and activities consistent with the University's Notice of Non-Discrimination. Individuals with disabilities who need accommodations may contact troylabs@usc.edu at least 7 days prior to the event.
