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).
The startups that have come through TroyLabs have gone on to raise over $28M collectively and 6-figure deals on Shark Tank.
The investors who show up aren't passive, they're actively looking to invest in their next venture. If you're serious about your startup, your fund, or your career in tech, this is the room you want to be in.
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THE PROGRAMMING: BUILT FOR FOUNDERS
DEMO 2026 is organized around three 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 $4,000 cash prize, and the 2nd-place winner will receive $2,000, both of which are proudly funded by USC's Lloyd Greif Center for Entrepreneurial Studies.
💻 3. 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
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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.
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THE NUMBERS
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
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EVENT SCHEDULE
When: April 22, 2026 (11:00 AM - 7:00 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: Keynote Speaker #1
1:00 PM: Framer Designathon
2:00 - 3:00 PM: Keynote Speaker #2
3:00 PM: Startup Exhibition
5:30 PM: Pitch Competition
6:30 PM: Awards Ceremony · Pitch competition winners announced
7:00 PM: Doors Close
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APPLICATION PROCESS
DEMO startup exhibition applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. We cap it at 50 startups per year, so apply early.
What we're looking for:
→ A working MVP
→ Genuine passion for what you’re building
→ Ready to get in front of investors
Update: Applications have officially closed.
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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.
