San Antonio, TX, October 17, 2025
News Summary
San Antonio Startup Week is underway, offering a platform for entrepreneurs and investors from October 15 to 17. With $160,000 in funding available, the event includes a new pitching contest, a Gaming Summit, and a keynote speech by a prominent entrepreneur. Participants can engage in hands-on activities and network, with a focus on fostering the local startup ecosystem and innovation.
San Antonio
San Antonio Startup Week (SASW) is currently taking place, running from October 15 to October 17, 2025, and is providing concentrated programming for entrepreneurs, investors and creative technologists. The event is bringing together entrepreneurs and is offering a total of $160,000 in funding throughout the week. Organizers have introduced a new public pitching contest and expanded programming that includes a Gaming Summit and a keynote address on the local economic outlook.
Top points
- Dates: October 15 to October 17, 2025
- Total funding available: $160,000 across the week
- New contest: “Pitch It to Win It” with a $1,000 prize for individual pitches
- Social reach: startup pitches posted to Instagram and TikTok, finalists chosen based on engagement
- Expected attendance: programming throughout SASW is expected to attract around 5,000 participants
- Gaming Summit: partnership with the Greater Gaming Society of San Antonio
- Keynote: Daniel Lubetzky, founder of KIND Snacks and a “Shark Tank” investor
Leading developments
The event put a visible emphasis on hands-on, grassroots engagement by launching a new contest called “Pitch It to Win It”. A new contest called “Pitch It to Win It” allows individuals with no experience to pitch their business ideas for a chance to win $1,000. Contest representatives are walking through downtown San Antonio with a microphone and camera, offering participants 60 seconds to pitch their ideas to an online audience. The SASW team will post the startup pitches on their Instagram and TikTok pages, and finalists will be chosen based on engagement. The SASW social media team will announce their location each day on Instagram and TikTok, focusing on areas near Geekdom.
Notable programming and partnerships
This year, SASW partnered with the Greater Gaming Society of San Antonio to host a Gaming Summit, emphasizing gaming and creative innovation. The summit featured developers, programmers, artists, and discussions about the gaming industry, aiming to grow San Antonio’s presence in the sector. The summit included speaking panels, a pitching contest for game developers modeled after “Shark Tank,” and opportunities for community engagement with local games.
Geekdom’s CEO, Charles Woodin, highlighted the importance of fostering the startup ecosystem in San Antonio and the significance of investment in innovation. Programming throughout SASW is expected to attract around 5,000 participants, with a mix of speakers, workshops and networking sessions focused on tech and entrepreneurship.
Keynote and local perspective
Keynote speaker Daniel Lubetzky, founder of KIND Snacks and a “Shark Tank” investor, addressed attendees about the economic future of San Antonio and the entrepreneurial climate. Lubetzky’s remarks centered on the local environment for founders and the value of learning through iteration and failure.
On-the-ground reaction and examples
Jason Done, a participant, expressed his appreciation for the cash prize, acknowledging that many people have great ideas that could benefit from funding. Adriana DeLeon, another contestant, pitched her concept for a gig economy hiring app and shared her excitement about the opportunity. Both participants were cited as examples of how the event is seeking to surface early-stage ideas and connect them with small-scale funding and visibility.
How to follow and register
For more information, attendees were encouraged to visit the SASW online for a full schedule and registration details. The event schedule includes panels, workshops, pitch contests and networking events scheduled across multiple venues downtown and in areas near Geekdom over the three-day period.
FAQ
When is San Antonio Startup Week taking place?
San Antonio Startup Week (SASW) is currently taking place, running from October 15 to October 17, 2025.
How much funding is available during the week?
The event is bringing together entrepreneurs and is offering a total of $160,000 in funding throughout the week.
What is the “Pitch It to Win It” contest?
A new contest called “Pitch It to Win It” allows individuals with no experience to pitch their business ideas for a chance to win $1,000.
How are the public pitches collected and judged?
Contest representatives are walking through downtown San Antonio with a microphone and camera, offering participants 60 seconds to pitch their ideas to an online audience. The SASW team will post the startup pitches on their Instagram and TikTok pages, and finalists will be chosen based on engagement.
Where will the social media team announce their locations?
The SASW social media team will announce their location each day on Instagram and TikTok, focusing on areas near Geekdom.
What is the Gaming Summit and who partnered to host it?
This year, SASW partnered with the Greater Gaming Society of San Antonio to host a Gaming Summit, emphasizing gaming and creative innovation.
How many people are expected to participate in SASW programming?
Programming throughout SASW is expected to attract around 5,000 participants.
Who gave the keynote and what was the focus?
Keynote speaker Daniel Lubetzky, founder of KIND Snacks and a “Shark Tank” investor, addressed attendees about the economic future of San Antonio and the entrepreneurial climate.
Which participants were mentioned as examples of local engagement?
Jason Done, a participant, expressed his appreciation for the cash prize, acknowledging that many people have great ideas that could benefit from funding. Adriana DeLeon, another contestant, pitched her concept for a gig economy hiring app and shared her excitement about the opportunity.
Where can attendees find more schedule and registration information?
For more information, attendees were encouraged to visit the SASW online for a full schedule and registration details.
Key features
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Event name | San Antonio Startup Week (SASW) |
| Dates | October 15 to October 17, 2025 |
| Total funding | $160,000 |
| New contest | “Pitch It to Win It” — $1,000 prize for individual pitch |
| Social platforms | Instagram and TikTok |
| Expected attendance | Around 5,000 participants |
| Gaming Summit partner | Greater Gaming Society of San Antonio |
| Keynote | Daniel Lubetzky, founder of KIND Snacks |
Timeline
| Date/Time | Event | Status / Source |
|---|---|---|
| October 15–17, 2025 | San Antonio Startup Week runs with panels, workshops and networking | Ongoing (event dates reported) |
| During SASW (Oct 15–17, 2025) | “Pitch It to Win It” contest: walking pitches and online posting | Active during event |
| During SASW (Oct 15–17, 2025) | Gaming Summit hosted with Greater Gaming Society of San Antonio | Held during event |
| Each day, Oct 15–17 | SASW social media team announces location near Geekdom | Daily updates on Instagram and TikTok |
Statistics / Visual summary
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
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Additional Resources
- KSAT: San Antonio Startup Week Kicks Off with First Gaming Summit
- Wikipedia: San Antonio Startup Week
- Axios: Guide to San Antonio Startup Week
- Google Search: San Antonio Startup Week
- KSAT: Entering its 10th Year, San Antonio Startup Week Looks to Uplift City’s Entrepreneurs
- Google Scholar: San Antonio Startup Week
- KSAT: Shark Tank Investor Discusses Economic Future During San Antonio Startup Week
- Encyclopedia Britannica: San Antonio Startup Week
- KENS5: San Antonio Startup Tech Entrepreneurs
- Google News: San Antonio Startup Week
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