Pitch Series / Ecosystem Platform Program

Pitch Pulse

Startup Pitch Series Connecting Founders, Investors, and the Innovation Ecosystem

Pitch Pulse is JANUS Innovation Hub’s startup pitch series and ecosystem platform designed to connect early-stage companies with investors, industry leaders, ecosystem partners, and the broader innovation community.

Through focused pitch events across different technology areas, Pitch Pulse gives startups an opportunity to showcase their solutions, receive feedback from experienced ecosystem leaders, and build relationships that can support their next stage of growth.

Pitch Pulse is developed in collaboration with ecosystem partners including Startup San Diego, Startup Grind, Connect, Startup Science, and AVIDUS, bringing together founders, investors, entrepreneurs, and innovation leaders across the startup ecosystem.

Pitch Series / Ecosystem Platform Program

Pitch Pulse

Startup Pitch Series Connecting Founders, Investors, and the Innovation Ecosystem

Pitch Pulse is JANUS Innovation Hub’s startup pitch series and ecosystem platform designed to connect early-stage companies with investors, industry leaders, ecosystem partners, and the broader innovation community.

Through focused pitch events across different technology areas, Pitch Pulse gives startups an opportunity to showcase their solutions, receive feedback from experienced ecosystem leaders, and build relationships that can support their next stage of growth.

Pitch Pulse is developed in collaboration with ecosystem partners including Startup San Diego, Startup Grind, Connect, Startup Science, and AVIDUS, bringing together founders, investors, entrepreneurs, and innovation leaders across the startup ecosystem.

Who Pitch Pulse Is For

Pitch Pulse is designed for early-stage startups looking to:

Showcase Their Company

Present their technology, business model, and vision to investors, industry leaders, and the startup community.

Receive Feedback

Gain perspectives from experienced founders, investors, and ecosystem professionals.

Build Connections

Connect with potential partners, investors, and organizations within the innovation ecosystem.

Explore Growth Opportunities

Develop relationships that may support future partnerships, market opportunities, and startup growth.

How Pitch Pulse Works

Pitch Pulse features startup pitch events across five industry verticals:

  1. Bio & Health Innovation

  2. AI & Predictive Systems

  3. Security & Defense

  4. Maritime & Blue Economy

  5. Sustainable Cities & Societies

Each vertical includes an online pitch session where selected startups present their companies to judges, investors, and ecosystem leaders.

Winners from each session advance to the Pitch Pulse finale, an in-person showcase hosted at UC San Diego as part of San Diego Startup Week.

The overall winner will have the opportunity to compete at the Startup World Cup grand finale for a chance to win a $1,000,000 investment.

Startup Profile

Pitch Pulse typically supports:

Pre-seed and seed-stage startups
Technology-driven companies
Startups with early validation, pilots, customers, or meaningful progress
Founding teams building scalable solutions

Companies may apply from different industries depending on the focus of each Pitch Pulse event.

Part of the JANUS Ecosystem

Pitch Pulse is one of JANUS Innovation Hub’s platforms for discovering startups, supporting founders, and building connections across the innovation ecosystem.

By bringing together startups, investors, universities, industry leaders, and ecosystem organizations, Pitch Pulse creates opportunities for collaboration and meaningful conversations around emerging technologies.

Interested in Participating?

Startup applications and upcoming Pitch Pulse events are announced through the Pitch Pulse platform and JANUS channels.