Demo days and pitch events

A demo day compresses months of fundraising into an afternoon. A batch of startups that went through the same accelerator takes turns pitching a room full of investors, then spends the following weeks in follow-up meetings. For many companies near Palo Alto, demo day is where the first institutional round starts.

This guide covers the demo days and pitch events closest to Palo Alto, based on what each program publishes. We do not list fixed schedules except where a program has posted them, because dates move. For background on the programs themselves, see our accelerators guide.

What happens at a demo day

The basic format is the same almost everywhere:

1. A batch finishes a program. Companies have spent weeks or months working with the accelerator's partners.
2. Short pitches. Each company gets a brief slot to explain what it does, show traction and say how much it is raising.
3. Investor follow-up. Interested investors request meetings, often through an online system the program runs.
4. A fundraising sprint. The weeks after demo day are intense. Many companies try to close their rounds quickly while interest is high.

Some programs add an investor day for one-on-one meetings or a directory site that lists every company. Others hold demo day partly or fully online.

StartX demo days

StartX, the nonprofit accelerator for Stanford founders, holds investor demo days three times a year, both in person and online. Companies that are raising present to what StartX describes as a vetted audience of active angel investors and decision makers at investment firms. Investors request access through the StartX website. StartX does not publish a fixed calendar far in advance, so watch its site and investor mailings.

StartX Med, its medical and biotech track, also runs a quarterly Med Showcase for health companies. StartX takes no equity and charges no program fees. Founders need a Stanford connection to join. Our Stanford entrepreneurship guide covers the related university programs. StartX is based in Stanford Research Park.

PearX Demo Day

Pear VC in Menlo Park runs PearX, a 12 week program for pre-seed founders. Pear says it runs the program twice a year with no more than 25 teams per cohort and invests $500,000 to $2 million per company. Each cohort ends with a Demo Day where founders pitch other investors. Pear says 80 percent of PearX teams go on to raise from institutional investors, its own figure. Investors interested in attending should contact Pear through its website.

Y Combinator's Demo Day

Y Combinator's Demo Day is the best known in the world. YC now runs four batches a year from its San Francisco base and holds a Demo Day at the end of each. Its posted dates for 2026:

Who gets in

According to YC's Demo Day FAQ, the event is invite-only for about 1,000 investors and media. There is no standing invite list. Invitations are generated by software, based mainly on recent investments in YC startups and YC's relationships with investors. YC says the event is always oversubscribed. Investors can apply through YC's Demo Day page. Colleagues at the same firm can sign up there too.

Invitations cannot be transferred or shared, though an invitee can ask YC to move the invitation to another partner at the same firm. The FAQ says the December 2 event is in person in San Francisco. People who cannot attend can use the Demo Day website, which lists the presenting companies. YC also keeps an investor portal where investors update their details.

Online and in person

Demo days moved online during the pandemic, which let investors anywhere watch. Tech press reported on YC's online Demo Days in those years and later on its return to an in-person event. Online formats widened the audience but made it harder for founders to read the room and for investors to meet teams quickly. Many programs now mix the two, with an in-person event for invited investors and a website or recording for others. Check each program's current format before you plan a trip.

For founders

The only way to pitch at YC's Demo Day is to be accepted into a batch. Our accelerators guide covers YC's standard deal and application deadlines.

Angel pitch events

Angel groups run their own regular pitch events. The Band of Angels, founded in 1994, says it screens startups each month and invites three to present at a monthly dinner for its members. Other groups follow similar formats. These events are for members, but founders can apply to present. Our angel investors guide describes the main groups and the accredited investor rules that apply to members.

Events the public can attend

Most demo days are closed. If you want to hear founders and investors without an invitation, try these instead:

• Entrepreneurial Thought Leaders. Stanford's free weekly talk series during the academic term.
• Hackathons. TreeHacks at Stanford ends with project demos, though it is aimed at students.
• Meetups. Founder and investor meetups listed on Luma and Meetup, many in downtown Palo Alto and Menlo Park.

Our tech and startup events guide lists recurring events and which ones are open to everyone. Our page on where founders meet covers the cafes and spaces where informal pitching happens.

Tips for founders presenting

1. Lead with traction. Investors see many pitches in a row. Put your strongest number early.
2. Say what you are raising. Give the amount and the instrument, often a SAFE. Our term sheet basics explain the options.
3. Have a data room ready. Interested investors will ask for more detail within hours.
4. Plan your follow-up. Book meetings fast, keep a tracker and set a target date to close.
5. Do not chase everyone. Focus on investors who fit your stage and sector.

Tips for investors attending

• Respect the program's rules on sharing company information.
• Request meetings through the program's system rather than approaching founders mid-event.
• Be clear about your check size and whether you lead.
• Follow up promptly, even with a no. Founders remember who answered.

Getting there from Palo Alto

StartX events are local, in or near Stanford Research Park. PearX is a few minutes north in Menlo Park. YC's Demo Day is in San Francisco; Caltrain runs from Palo Alto to the city. Our Caltrain guide covers fares and schedules. Investors flying in for a demo day week often stay near Stanford and commute to the city for the main event.

Frequently asked questions