HiiiWAV: Why We Were Selected

Oakland-rooted. Founder-built. Stage-ready outcomes.

• •We are a community-first creative tech incubator with proven founder support.
• •We combine mentorship, storytelling, and performance coaching in one model.
• •Our team has direct experience building ventures, raising capital, and producing high-impact live events.
• •We were selected to lead because we can execute both founder development and public showcase quality.

Program Overview + Timeline

• •2/13 kickoff event, 2/28 applications due, and 2/28 hackathon at HiiiWAV.
• •3/1 top 10 semi-finalists announced, 3/14 top 3 finalists announced.
• •3/16 Workshop 1, 3/30 Workshop 2, and performance support continues between sessions.
• •4/10 dress rehearsal and 4/11 live final show.

Next Workshop: Clarity + Story

Workshop 1 - Finalists

• •Sharpen value proposition, differentiation, customer insight, and viability.
• •Build a strong pitch structure: Hook -> Problem -> Solution -> Proof -> Ask.
• •Leave with a clear opening and a tighter story investors can follow quickly.

Workshop 2: Investor-Ready Narrative

Finalists

• •Turn your startup into a clear, investable narrative with stronger timing.
• •Strengthen the proof stack: traction, credibility, and momentum.
• •Pressure-test the ask so supporters know exactly how to help.

Workshop 3: Performance + Demo

Finalists

• •Train stage presence, pacing, confidence, and audience connection.
• •Lock demo choreography: what to show, who speaks, and when.
• •Prepare camera-ready delivery and contingency plans for technical failures.

Dress Rehearsal: Final Lock

Finalists

• •Run full show timing with mics, clickers, cues, and transitions.
• •Record each team run-through for final review and corrections.
• •Close with keep/cut/fix notes and final deck/demo lock.

What Makes a Great Applicant

• •A clear problem, clear customer, and clear reason this matters now.
• •A realistic execution path with signals of traction or learning velocity.
• •Coachable founders who can commit, iterate fast, and show up prepared.
• •Strong mission fit with community impact and stage potential.

Live Exercise: Your Startup as a Song

• •Prompt: If your startup was a song, what would it be?
• •Format: "___ (feat. ___) - a song about ___".
• •Goal: compress your value, vibe, and audience into one memorable line.