Stanford Founders
Demo Day '26

You record a short pitch to camera, then an AI listens and asks you clarifying follow-up questions — like a practice round with a judge. It does not factor into selection decisions. All applications are reviewed by humans. Think of it as free coaching to sharpen your story before Demo Day.

You start by pitching to your camera for about a minute — share your screen, walk through your deck, whatever feels natural. When you're done, hit 'I'm done pitching' and the AI will ask follow-up questions based on what you said. You'll get AI-generated feedback on strengths, gaps, and areas to improve. You can try it as many times as you like.

No. The AI pitch practice is purely for your benefit and does not affect your application outcome. This is the first time we're piloting this feature as part of ongoing research at Stanford. All selection decisions are made by human reviewers.

Whatever you feel comfortable with and gets your point across. Please do remember that we usually receive hundreds of applications, so clarity and conciseness help.

We welcome all founders across all industries and at various stages of advancement — no startup is too early. We are looking for a diverse mix of stages from pre-idea to Series A+. At least one team member must be a current Stanford student or alum.

Applications are divided by industry and assigned to reviewers with relevant expertise. Each application is reviewed by multiple team members. If reviewers disagree, a third reviewer makes the final call. We're targeting 50 startups this year to keep the event focused and curated.

Applications are due by April 19, 2026. We aim to confirm all accepted startups by April 26. Demo Day is May 7.

Demo Day is an annual event where Stanford-affiliated startups pitch to 300+ investors, VCs, and the broader Stanford community. Last year featured 90+ startups and 1,500+ attendees at Tresidder Oak Lounge. It's a chance to get feedback, build connections, and gain visibility for your company.