Santa Cruz Works is thrilled to announce the esteemed panel of judges for Demo Day 2024 on November 6, where innovative startups from the 6th cohort of Santa Cruz Accelerates will present their business ventures. The startups, having completed the accelerator program, will showcase their unique solutions, commercial viability, and market opportunities, competing for the top three spots.

The judges for this year’s event bring a wealth of experience across industries:

• Alexi Sevastopoulos, Partner at Santa Cruz Ventures, is well-known for his expertise in identifying and nurturing early-stage companies. His investment focus spans a variety of sectors, making him an invaluable judge for startups aiming to scale.

• Danny Bernstein, CEO of Hawktower, brings deep knowledge of tech and business operations. With a background in scaling successful tech companies, Danny is uniquely positioned to evaluate the problem-solving capabilities and market size potential of the startups.

• Laurie Negro, Founder of Betty Burgers, and angel investor, adds a local business perspective. Having grown her business into a beloved Santa Cruz institution, Laurie will offer insights into the practicality and commercial appeal of the startups’ ideas.

• Heidi Annalia Dillon, CEO at Distill Ventures, Heidi drives talent and brand growth in drinks, wellness, and consumer sectors. With 25+ years in consumer goods, she launched LUNA with Clif Bar, pioneered a Bay Area food accelerator, and led innovation in food and beverage at Starbucks and organicgirl.

These four judges will select the top three startups based on the clarity of their problem-solving approach, the uniqueness of their solution, the commercial viability, and the market size. Get your tickets now for this exciting annual event, where innovation meets opportunity, and help celebrate the future of entrepreneurship in Santa Cruz!