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IRVINE, Calif., Jan. 6, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- EcoSoul Home and SFA Therapeutics (1st place tie,) Eyedaptic (2nd place,) and Cooler Heads (3rd place) named as winners in the second annual National Venture Plan Competition (NVPC) by Pismo Ventures, which provided unprecedented, once-in-a-lifetime access for 185 startups to more than 180 investors, from 50 VCs and Angel investment groups serving as competition judges.

"For the second year in a row, we were able to provide a truly unique experience for startup businesses within different industries while providing them access and exposure to an exquisite group of investors and a high caliber educational program," said JJ Richa, CEO of Pismo Ventures and the founder of the NVPC. The competition started as an alternative to traditional venture competitions in 2020. For the second year, Pismo Ventures created an event filled with value and benefits for competitors as they fostered connections with judges and learned through industry-leading experts webinars. "What made our event special was the opportunity for all contestants and spectators to get exposure to investors from across the country," said Richa. "A huge thank you to our sponsors, judges and investor groups. This event would not have been successful without their participation."

All virtual and online, the NVPC started on June 1, 2021, with 185 contestants from categories including, B2B, B2C, software, hardware, life science, medical, healthcare, Cleantech, FinTech, AI, blockchain, robotics, digital solutions, media, e-sports, government, military, education, sports, etc. Contestants competed in three rounds. The top 60 startups advanced from the first round, the second round advanced the top 10 contestants to the third round who were allowed 12-minute live pitches, followed by a 12-minute Q&A session with event judges, leading to the announcement of the competition winners.

Due to the extensive exposure offered by NVPC, several of the competing startups, especially the top 10 finalists, have received funding from investors across the nation. Additionally, Pismo Ventures has already started 2 SPVs (Special Purpose Vehicles – Essentially Funds) to fund the 2 companies that tied for the top spot.

"The NVPC gave us a fantastic platform to get our story out in front of investors and get us attention from several leading press agencies as well. We really enjoyed our experience at NVPC, and being the joint-winners of the competition, gave our brand the credibility with a large investor base and led to strong commitments of investment towards our seed round." Arvind Ganesan, CEO, EcoSoul Home, Inc.

"We were pleased to be selected as a co-winner in this thorough and prestigious national competition. The process was well-run, and the judging was very professional. The process helped us to sharpen our focus, and the webinars that were provided were led by industry professionals who added insights and experiences from an investor perspective." Dr. Ira C. Spector, CEO, SFA Therapeutics, Inc.

Investors judging the NVPC agreed it was a huge success for the second year in a row. Many found it was well organized and brought together quality companies worthy of their investment. Investors have already committed time and resources to working with participants. "Tech Coast Angels was pleased to participate to stimulate its deal flow, to connect with investors across the nation, and to boost exposure of its existing portfolio companies," said David Friedman, TCA OC, President. For more information, visit VenturePlanCompetition.com.

About Pismo VenturesPismo Ventures is a venture studio that invests resources, provides proven business strategies, develops high-end technology solutions, and facilitates funding for startups. Our approach and experience help startups minimize risk and increase their likelihood of success. For more information, visit PismoVentures.com, join our newsletter and subscribe to our YouTube Channel.