San Diego Startup Week: dates, who attends, and how founders get in
A weeklong premier startup conference bringing together founders, investors, builders, and leaders to fuel and launch the region’s next wave of startups.
Verified ·4 official sources·Organised by Startup San Diego
The essentials from the organiser's own pages: when, where, how big, and how founders get in. Speakers, investor lists and past editions are on the official site.
- Next edition
- Nov 2–6, 2026 · San Diego Startup Week 2026 source
- Where
- Multiple venues; the listed main venue is The Dea Hurston New Village Arts in Carlsbad., Carlsbad, United States
- Format
- in-person
- Tickets
- USD $99–$365 for attendee passes (2026; Day Ticket to Membership); Expo Package is $449/booth (2026). source
- Startup pass
- Attend with a Day Ticket, Weeklong Ticket or other pass; startups can exhibit with the $449/booth Expo Package, including two all-access passes and a one-day expo table (2026). Pitching requires applying and being selected for a competition. source
- Lightweight Intercollegiate Pitch Competition & Tournament
- “Growth catalyst prizes” (2026; specific amounts or items not stated) source
- Cadence
- Annual; in fall (October 2025 and November 2026).
Health & biotechDefenseDeeptechAIPre-seedSeedSeries AGrowthPublicFoundersInvestorsDevelopersStudents
Next edition
| Dates | Nov 2–6, 2026 source |
|---|---|
| Edition | San Diego Startup Week 2026 |
| Venue | Multiple venues; the listed main venue is The Dea Hurston New Village Arts in Carlsbad., Carlsbad, United States |
| Tickets | eventship.com source |
How founders get in
| Startup programme | Attend with a Day Ticket, Weeklong Ticket or other pass; startups can exhibit with the $449/booth Expo Package, including two all-access passes and a one-day expo table (2026). Pitching requires applying and being selected for a competition. source |
|---|
Lightweight Intercollegiate Pitch Competition & Tournament
| Prize | “Growth catalyst prizes” (2026; specific amounts or items not stated) source |
|---|
Meeting investors there
Founders can meet investors through the SDSW x WVS Opportunity Exchange and its matchmaking and 1:1 meetings, as well as the Founders Showcase and networking events. source
Before you go: the hub's cold email to VCs playbook covers the pre-event outreach that fills a meeting calendar, and Causo matches your stage and thesis to the funds in its database so you know who to ask for a meeting.
Official links and socials
Apply
Prepare for it
- How to cold email VCs — book the meetings before you land.
- The 12-slide seed deck — what to have ready when a partner says "send me the deck".
- Pitch Deck Roaster — a slide-by-slide pass before you submit to Lightweight Intercollegiate Pitch Competition & Tournament.
- Accelerator deadlines — the application windows that open around the event.
Sources
Every fact above was read from one of these official pages on Oct 8, 2026:
San Diego Startup Week: frequently asked
When is San Diego Startup Week 2026?
San Diego Startup Week 2026 runs Nov 2–6, 2026 at Multiple venues; the listed main venue is The Dea Hurston New Village Arts in Carlsbad., Carlsbad, according to the organiser's published dates.
How much does San Diego Startup Week cost?
Published ticket prices run USD $99–$365 for attendee passes (2026; Day Ticket to Membership); Expo Package is $449/booth (2026).. Startups: Attend with a Day Ticket, Weeklong Ticket or other pass; startups can exhibit with the $449/booth Expo Package, including two all-access passes and a one-day expo table (2026). Pitching requires applying and being selected for a competition..
How do startups get into San Diego Startup Week?
Attend with a Day Ticket, Weeklong Ticket or other pass; startups can exhibit with the $449/booth Expo Package, including two all-access passes and a one-day expo table (2026). Pitching requires applying and being selected for a competition.
What is Lightweight Intercollegiate Pitch Competition & Tournament?
San Diego Startup Week's pitch competition. Prize as published: “Growth catalyst prizes” (2026; specific amounts or items not stated).
How big is San Diego Startup Week?
5,000+ attendees advertised attendees (2026), 30 early-stage companies featured in the Founders Showcase startups, per the organiser.