The Houston Pitch Arena for early-stage Founders

Wednesday, May 20, 2026

10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Norris Conference Center

816 Town and Country Blvd #210, Houston, TX 77024

An Innovative Early-Stage Investor Pitch Event

If you’re an early-stage founder building something bold — and you’re ready to test it under real pressure — this is your moment.

The Pitch Arena is an innovative, high-impact investor pitch event where entrepreneurs, startups, and founders present live to angel investors and VCs

This is where your startup gets tested.

If your startup is ready to be challenged in front of experienced investors and a room full of serious builders, The Pitch Arena is open.

You’ll go head-to-head in front of world-class VCs and the full National Business Expo audience — and get raw, unfiltered feedback from the investors who shape the future.

• DISCLOSURE: Submitting an application does not guarantee selection for the program. Furthermore, participation in the Pitch Arena does not guarantee that your project will receive funding.

✅ Live investor reactions to your presentation
✅ Practical recommendations to improve your pitch deck and delivery
✅ Strategic feedback on your business model and growth path
✅ Honest perspectives on scalability, execution, and market timing
✅ Insight into what angel investors and VCs actually look for
✅ Actionable guidance you can implement immediately

• Early-stage startups seeking investor exposure
• Pre-Series A founders refining their raise
• Entrepreneurs preparing to secure initial funding
• Startup founders wanting honest investor feedback
• Growth-focused operators seeking strategic direction
• Investors looking to discover innovative companies

Whether you pitch or attend as an observer, you’ll walk away with clarity on how investors evaluate risk, opportunity, and founders.

What it takes to enter The Investors Pitch Arena:

We’re looking for bold early-stage founders with an MVP (Minimum Viable Product) and a vision that challenges the status quo.

If you’re:
• Bootstrapped
• Pre-seed
• Seed-funded
• An early-stage startup preparing for institutional capital
• Or a Series A startup in a capital-intensive industry

— this Investors Pitch was built for you.

The Investors Pitch reviews every nomination, but founders who enter early give themselves a strategic edge. If you’re serious about winning, don’t wait to join the fight.

The Pitch is led by Brandon Davis, Founder of Trek One Capital, alongside a select group of investors.

Brandon brings more than 20 years of experience forming, funding, and operating businesses across multiple industries. He has been involved in the formation of 100+ entities, completed minority and majority investments, and participated in M&A transactions exceeding $500 million in aggregate value. Companies under his ownership and oversight have executed thousands of transactions globally, representing more than $18 billion in cumulative activity.

His approach is industry-agnostic and operationally grounded — spanning oil & gas, industrial services, consumer products, and specialty manufacturing — with a focus on disciplined execution and long-term value creation.

This is perspective from someone who has built, funded, and scaled businesses at a high level.

Freddy Goerges

The Pitch Arena

AND

CEO & Founder -National Business Expo

https://nationalbusinessexpo.com

713-409-6127

[email protected]

Sean Dolan, President

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

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Host or Publisher Houston Small Business Expo