Launchpad Expo Venture Conferences

Founder
Pitch
Investor

Join us for this unique event in Seattle's venture-scale startup scene. The Launchpad Expo series runs approximately every quarter, each time devoted to a specific industry vertical.

Highly-vetted startups will be presenting to an expert investor panel and an audience of accredited investors. This includes early stage (pre-seed, seed and Series A) private and institutional investors.

This event is sponsored by:
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Wednesday, May 13, 2026

1:00 pm

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Wednesday, May 13, 2026

8:30 pm

Launchpad Expo Venture Conference for AI/ML

The premier AI venture conference in Puget Sound, top startups pitching to investors, panel discussions, and networking with founders and experts.
Featured Speakers
Aloke Gupta
Nikesh Parekh
Ron Wiener

Your day at a glance

The Launchpad Expo series is Venture Mechanics’ signature venture conference, showcasing startups from a range of verticals—AI, ClimateTech, Aerospace/Drone, Consumer/CPG, FinTech, Manufacturing Automation, Health Sciences, DefenseTech, AgTech/FireTech, Web3, PropTech, InsureTech, EdTech, and more.

Each Launchpad Expo features 10 presenting startups selected by sector experts.  Five first-round presenting companies will each receive 22 minutes on stage - 10 minutes to pitch, 8 minutes of judges Q&A, and 4 minutes of audience Q&A.  Another five, second-round of companies will each present a shorter 5-minute pitch with 3 minutes of Q&A. All ten startups also have a demo table where they can entertain investor interest during the extensive afterparty.

Selection Process for Presenting Companies:

  • Startups may begin applying two months prior to the event date, with a deadline of 4 weeks prior to the event date.
  • Judges with expertise in the sector will select 5 first round and 5 second round presenting companies 2-3 weeks before the event date.
  • In the final 2-3 weeks the judges and our staff will work with the presenting companies to perfect their pitches.  

Judges for this event: TBA

Event Day Schedule

​1:00 Registration​ and Networking

2:00 Welcome to Venture Mechanics, and introduction of conference chair Aloke Gupta

​2:15 Keynote Speaker: Nikesh Parekh

2:45 First Round Company Presentations
2:50 Company 1
​3:13 Company 2
​3:36 Company 3
​4:00 Break
4:20 Company 4
5:23 Company 5
5:46 Judges deliberation during break; audience crowdvote
​5:55 1st Round Winners announced

6:00 2nd Round Company Presentations
6:02 Company 1
6:11 Company 2
6:20 Company 3
6:29 Company 4
6:38 Closing remarks and upcoming events
6:45 Investor/founder mixer afterparty. Light dinner served while investors can spend the evening visiting with founders at their demo tables.

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