[LONG BEACH, CA – April 9, 2026] — The Downtown Long Beach Alliance (DTLB Alliance), in partnership with California State University, Long Beach’s Institute for Innovation & Entrepreneurship and with support from Wells Fargo, awarded $10,000 in startup funding to emerging entrepreneurs during the 10th annual PitchFest, a “Shark Tank-style” business pitch competition.
“The ultimate goal of PitchFest is to award funding, but just as importantly, it helps entrepreneurs refine their ideas and present them in a way that is clear, compelling and actionable,” said Stephanie El Tawil, Economic Development and Policy Manager at the DTLB Alliance. “Through the Education Series and PitchFest, we are equipping small business owners with the tools and confidence they need to grow and succeed.”
PitchFest is the culmination of the Alliance’s 7-week Education Series for Entrepreneurs & Small Businesses, where participants develop business strategies, financial models and pitch presentations before presenting to a panel of Long Beach business and community leaders.
“PitchFest reflects our commitment to cultivating a strong and resilient small business ecosystem,” said Austin Metoyer, President and CEO of the DTLB Alliance. “By investing in entrepreneurs at critical stages of growth, we are helping to drive job creation, activate our downtown and strengthen Long Beach’s local economy.”
2026 PitchFest Winners
The first-place award of $4,000 was presented to Plaid Safety, an environmental health and safety consulting firm founded by Allyson Clark. The company provides subscription-based services that help businesses maintain compliance with complex regulatory requirements.
Second-place honors were shared by two ventures, each receiving $3,000:
- Upgraded, a digital platform that enables students to research and compare colleges through authentic, student-driven insights.
- Sonar Conventions, a networking application designed to connect convention attendees with vendors and facilitate targeted business interactions.
The Fan Favorite Award, selected by audience vote, was awarded to Mana Outpost, an immersive cosplay-focused community concept.
Winners were selected based on the strength of their business models, market readiness and demonstrated progress toward implementation. “The winners stood out because they demonstrated not only strong business concepts, but also that they had already taken concrete steps to put their plans into action and were truly ready to grow,” said Julie Tomanpos, Assistant Vice President for Community & Philanthropy Impact at Wells Fargo.
Now in its 10th year, PitchFest remains a key component of the DTLB Alliance’s economic development strategy, supporting early-stage businesses and fostering innovation in the Downtown core.
Entrepreneurs interested in participating in the 2027 Education Series and PitchFest are encouraged to reach out to Stepahnie El Tawil at StephanieE@dtlb.org. More information about the program is available on the DTLB Alliance website here.
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About: The Downtown Long Beach Alliance (DTLB Alliance) is a nonprofit, community-based organization whose mission is to cultivate, preserve and promote a healthy, safe, and prosperous Downtown. The DTLB Alliance is recognized as the voice of Downtown Long Beach by the City of Long Beach and the State of California. By balancing the interests of the residents, as well as businesses, the organization creates tangible progress by way of vested interest and solidified partnerships across local, municipal, and commercial lines. For additional information, visit www.downtownlongbeach.org and follow on Facebook @downtownlongbeach, on “X” (formerly Twitter) @dtlballiance and Instagram @dtlballiance.