Pitch Perfect 4: REDEFINE- A Night of Innovation, Transformation, and Community in the Heart of Orange County
- Oct 6
- 4 min read
The fourth season of Pitch Perfect landed in Orange County with unmatched energy on September 26, 2025. It marked a milestone for VABA as the competition expanded its footprint to Orange County, drawing in more than 260 founders, investors, and business leaders from across the U.S. and abroad. This season featured ten high-growth startups pitching on stage and twenty showcase companies spanning industries from AI and fintech to F&B, MedTech, and cloud infrastructure.
A Redefining Moment in Orange County
The event was hosted in collaboration with nine leading organizations and venture firms, including Startup Grind, Galaxy Venture Capital, Inland Empire Regional Chamber of Commerce, Global Chamber, Venture Starters, China–US Business Association, TriNet, Pismo Ventures, and TiE, creating one of the most diverse and far-reaching gatherings in the series’ history.
From pre-seed founders launching their first products to growth-stage companies scaling across markets, the room reflected a true cross-section of innovation. Investors from Southern California, the Bay Area, Boston, New York, and Texas joined VABA Venture Capital in scouting for opportunities, offering mentorship, and exploring potential partnerships. The result was not just a pitch night, but a cross-continental showcase of ideas, capital, and community in motion..
Ten Startups That Lit Up the Stage
This year’s pitch-stage companies showed both bold vision and hard traction, tackling industries from fintech and medtech to cloud infrastructure, food & beverage, and consumer wellness. Each founder had five minutes to capture the room, followed by three minutes of sharp Q&A from the judges:
Swivul
Founder: Sam Krichevsky
Website: Swivul.com
Swivul is building an AI-powered concierge app that unifies travel booking across flights, hotels, and experiences
POWEHI Medical
Founder: Frank Heuer
Website: POWEHI Medical.com
POWEHI Medical is redefining spinal surgery with the world’s first cementless anchors, boasting 57 patents and global distributor interest ahead of FDA clearance..
Otosushi
Founder: Ash Cintas
Website: OtoSushi.co
Oto sushi is carving out the polished-casual sushi category, with its Laguna Beach flagship generating $1.1M in just five months and a pipeline of new coastal locations.
USV Bancorp
Founder: Tri Nguyen
Website: USV Bancorp.com
USV Bancorp is on track to become the first Vietnamese American owned community bank in Texas, raising $31.5M to meet long-overdue cultural and financial needs.
DNERO
LifeCloud
Co- Founder: John Lunny
Website: LifeCloud.com
LifeCloud is turning estate planning into a digital experience, with a secure vault and AI assistant that already secured a $1M/year enterprise contract.
APAR Books
Founder: Myra Yu
Website: APARBooks.com
APARBooks is bringing AI-powered financial intelligence to construction, landing 12 paying clients in its first two months.
Adway
Co- Founder: Sasha Krylov
Website: Adway.ai
Adway is transforming cars into digital ad platforms, with driver campaigns already sold out for the next six months.
Lyrid
Co-Founders: Handoyo Sutanto
Website: Lyrid.io
Lyrid is building the Airbnb of datacenters, a cloud marketplace that’s cutting waste and costs while already hitting $720K ARR across three global regions.
Bene Chocolate
Founders: Saki Kridakara
Website: Enjoybene.com
Bene is reimagining chocolate as functional indulgence, stocked in 275+ stores nationwide with adaptogen-infused products for mood, focus, and wellness.
A Panel of Heavy Hitters
Ten distinguished judges represented some of the most active funds and investment groups in Southern California: Pismo Ventures, Collinear Capital, Sunstone Management, Galaxy Venture Capital, Catalys Capital, Queens Gate Capital, EOS Venture Partners, HealthTech Strategies, and VABA’s own leadership. They brought tough but constructive feedback, pushing founders to sharpen their go-to-market strategies, regulatory pathways, and scaling plans.
Beyond the Stage: 20 Showcase Companies
The action didn’t stop with the pitches. Twenty companies hosted showcase tables, demoing their products and services to attendees. From pre-seed founders debuting their ideas to mature growth-stage businesses showing traction, the showcase created a buzzing marketplace of innovation.
Celebrating the Winners
As the lights dimmed and the final scores came in, two startups stood out for their bold vision and flawless execution. Swivul, an AI-powered travel concierge platform redefining how the world books and experiences travel, swept the competition, earning both the Judge’s Award and the Audience Choice Award. From its sleek multi-agent AI system to its $700K in early bookings and 50K-user waitlist, Swivul impressed both investors and attendees with its rare blend of innovation, traction, and elegance.
The judges also honored Adway with a Judge’s Award for its creative approach to out-of-home advertising. By transforming everyday cars into digital billboards equipped with real-time analytics, Adway is building a scalable ad-tech platform that turns drivers into brand partners and city streets into dynamic media channels. Its strong unit economics and live market traction resonated with investors looking for growth and profitability in one package.
Both Swivul and Adway perfectly captured the spirit of REDEFINE, proving that when innovation meets execution, startups can truly reshape entire industries.
Why Season 4 Truly “Redefined” Pitch Night
Pitch Perfect Season 4 wasn’t just a pitch competition; it was an ecosystem in motion. Founders brought proof points: patents, revenue, partnerships, and regulatory progress. Investors didn’t just critique, they offered pathways. The showcase created space for discovery, and the community partners amplified the reach.
By the end of the night, it was clear: Pitch Perfect Season 4 didn’t just redefine pitching, it redefined what happens when you bring together startups, investors, and community with intention.
Join Us for the Next Season of Pitch Perfect
With the success of Pitch Perfect Season 4, VABA Venture Capital is excited to continue expanding this platform and supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs. Whether you’re a founder, investor, or enthusiast, Pitch Perfect offers an invaluable opportunity to connect, learn, and help shape the future of innovation.
Contact Information
For more information on VABA, VABA Venture Capital, and future Pitch Perfect events, reach out:
Email: info@vabaus.com
Phone: (408) 295-3262
Address: 1211 Embarcadero, Suite 202, Oakland, CA 94606
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