East Bay startups pitched at Cal State East Bay for a shot at $1 million

The East Bay regional round of the Startup World Cup was held Thursday at Cal State East Bay in Hayward, bringing founders, investors and technology executives from across the region onto one campus for a day of pitches.

The regional winner advances to compete for a $1 million investment prize.

The annual competition was hosted by the Small Business Development Administration. Alongside the pitches, the day carried panel discussions on supporting and growing the East Bay's innovation economy — the practical question of why a company founded here would also stay and hire here.

That question is why the cities show up. Walnut Creek sponsored the regional, put its economic development staff on a discussion panel and worked a booth on the floor. The city said plainly what it was there for: building relationships with entrepreneurs and industry partners in order to attract more tech and innovation businesses to Walnut Creek.

It is a small window into how East Bay cities compete now. A booth at a pitch competition in Hayward is cheaper than an incentive package, and it puts a city's staff in front of founders at the moment they are choosing where to sign a lease.

Neither the roster of companies that pitched nor the name of the regional winner has been announced publicly.

Own or work at an East Bay startup that pitched at the regional? We'd like to hear your story — send us a note.