Keizai Events

Launch Tank Pitch Contest

Join Keizai for an exciting startup pitch contest at Procopio in Palo Alto, in partnership with the Jewish High Tech Community (JHTC) and the German American Business Association (GABA) Northern California. Whether you are an investor, a startup, or just interested in the latest ideas from the Silicon Valley innovation ecosystem, please join us!

In this dynamic and ever-changing economic environment, innovative startups continue to engage with Silicon Valley as the ideal location to look for investment, talent, and business opportunities. This unique event brings together a diverse set of internationally minded judges and audience members to evaluate and celebrate the latest early-stage tech startups as they compete for prizes designed to help them advance their pursuit to success!

Keizai is proud to organize this exciting event in partnership with the JHTC and GABA.

For contest applicants:

  • Deadline: February 20th
  • Apply with this FORM

Early-stage startup applications are encouraged to apply through February 20th. Beyond the ability to directly access seasoned investors and exposure to a wider community, prizes will also be awarded! These include packages for professional legal, VC, and marketing support.

Applications will be reviewed by an expert panel with selected startups invited to pitch at the event. Applying startups are required to:

  • Be at the pre-seed or seed stage
  • Have a working minimum viable product
  • Be able to demonstrate initial market validation with data and customer feedback
  • Have an identified clear product-market fit

Market verticals include, but are not limited to:

  • SaaS
  • AI/ML
  • FinTech
  • HealthTech
  • Enterprise Software
  • Consumer Tech

 

REGISTER NOW
JUDGES

Niklas Herringer

Co-Founder, Cross Atlantic Angels

Mr. Herringer is the co-founder of Cross Atlantic Angels, a business angel group that invests in German startups with a clear path to U.S. market expansion. He worked as an IP lawyer before transitioning into entrepreneurship and founded two companies — an indie game studio and a machine-learning-based recommendation engine. His work as an entrepreneur has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, CNBC, VentureBeat, PC Magazine, Re-Code, and various other media outlets, podcasts, and blogs.

Mani Honigstein

Managing Partner, Honeystone Ventures

Mr. Honigstein is passionate about innovation, technology and people having been a serial entrepreneur, executive, adviser, and investor. Previous experience includes Managing Partner. NeueCapital Partners, co-Founded Uplandme Inc., founded RocketPlay (acquired by American Gaming Systems), co-Founded Maxwell Financial Labs, co-Founded Uplandme Inc., and an investor with Pitango Venture Capital.
Mr. Honigstein specializes in business development, marketing, product definition, finance, fund-raising, and team building.

Miku Mehta

Partner, Procopio

Mr. Mehta is Partner and US Patent Attorney at the Silicon Valley office of Procopio. In 2023 he was named to the IAM Strategy 300 list which recognizes attorneys who bring value to their clients in building strategic patent portfolios. Mr. Mehta graduated with a J.D., Law from George Mason University and a B.S., Systems Engineering from the University of Virginia.

Jens Weitzel

Founder & Managing Partner, Yabusame Partners

Mr. Weitzel is a technology executive with 30+ years of international experience in both large enterprises and startups alike. He is passionate about leveraging innovative technologies to build new businesses or sustainably improve productivity in existing businesses. Based in Silicon Valley for the past 20+ years, Mr. Weitzel has previously held leadership positions in Europe and Asia. His strengths are in company strategy and positioning, business model development, go-to-market and fundraising.

MODERATOR

Phil Keys

Principal, Maido Media

Mr. Keys is a veteran Silicon Valley-based technology industry analyst, marketer, and observer with extensive industry experience in both the United States and Japan. He has worked in marketing and analyst positions in both countries as well as a 13-year career as a Silicon Valley based editor for Nikkei Business Publications.

DATE

Tuesday, March 11th, 2025

Registration/Networking: 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
Program 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Networking: 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM
VENUE
Procopio
3000 El Camino Real, 5 Palo Alto Sq Ste 400 | Palo Alto, CA 94306
OPEN MAP
FLYERS

English Flyer

FEES
  • Early bird (until Tuesday, February 18th, 11 pm PT): $20
  • Regular registration (until Sunday, March 9th, 11 pm PT): $30
  • Late registration (until Tuesday, March 11th, noon PT): $50
  • Walk-in: $75

Food and beverages will be served.


REGISTER NOW