The Valley Chronicle - Riverside county closes out 9th annual innovation month with successful fast pitch finale & global startup advancement

Riverside County, CA (May 12, 2026) – The 9th Annual Riverside County Innovation Month successfully concluded following a month of regional pitch competitions, many regional partnerships, networking events, workshops, and entrepreneurial programming that highlighted the region’s growing innovation ecosystem and commitment to supporting high growth businesses.

The month concluded with the Riverside County Innovation Month Fast Pitch Finale, in partnership with Impact Riverside County. The Finale was held at the Riverside Convention Center, which welcomed more than 100 attendees including entrepreneurs, investors, international delegates, business leaders, educators, and community partners from across the county.

Ten startup finalists took the stage to present innovative products and services spanning advanced materials, sustainability, consumer products, artificial intelligence, and healthcare technologies. The event showcased the strength and diversity of Riverside County’s growing startup community and innovation ecosystem, while connecting local entrepreneurs to national and global opportunities.

Super Foam earned first place and will advance to compete at the Startup World Cup Grand Finale in San Francisco in November for an opportunity to secure a $1 million investment prize. The company has developed a new class of lightweight, high-energy absorbing foam designed to outperform traditional impact protection materials used across industries including construction, transportation, and protective equipment. Their technology addresses longstanding industry challenges by reducing weight while maintaining strong impact absorption performance and scalability.

Basestud.io earned second place for its next generation streetlight platform that combines resilience, renewable energy, connectivity, and revenue generating capabilities. The company’s solar powered streetlight systems are designed to maintain lighting and localized energy support during outages and emergencies while offering scalable deployment solutions for residential, commercial, campus, and transit environments.

No Cap! Soda Pop secured third place with its modern soda beverage line featuring zero sugar, zero caffeine, zero calories, and no artificial flavors or colors, reflecting growing consumer demand for healthier beverage alternatives.

As Riverside County continues to position itself as a destination for innovation and emerging industries, Innovation Month serves as a platform to showcase the entrepreneurial talent, partnerships, and regional collaboration helping drive the county’s economic future.

The Riverside County Office of Economic Development encourages businesses, entrepreneurs, and community members to visit RivCoInnovation.org and RivCoED.org stay connected with innovation initiatives and resources available across the county. Questions may be directed to mailto:BizInfo@RivCoED.org.