"As first time founders, pitch competitions like Bruin Tank, 1K Pitches, and Startup Labs helped us refine our pitch, flesh out our business plan, and most importantly get the nerves out of pitching to a room full of people. Thanks to Startup UCLA's Venture Accelerator, we had the opportunity over the summer to pitch to firms like Lightspeed and Boost VC and felt ready for the room. In addition, the community and connections have lasted well beyond the events. Past judges continue to offer practical guidance and valuable introductions as we progress toward fundraising and product milestones."