SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb 27, 2026--
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This landmark event will bring together hundreds of venture capitalists, corporate leaders, and innovative startups from around the world, convening global investors, founders, and thought leaders from both sides of the Pacific for two days of insight, connection, and opportunity.
Startup World Cup Hawaii Regional pitch competition serves as a powerful bridge where Asia meets the U.S., and founders connect directly with investors shaping the future of innovation.
Adding to the excitement, Tim Draper, renowned venture capitalist and founding partner of Draper Associates, will speak at the event, while Meet the Drapers films live at East Meets West 2026. The hit global startup television series—where founders pitch to the legendary Draper family and reach millions of viewers worldwide—will shine an international spotlight on Hawaii’s rapidly growing innovation ecosystem as part of the Startup World Cup experience.
Registration & Applications:
The Hawaii Regional winner will earn a coveted spot at the Startup World Cup Grand Finale in San Francisco, competing for a $1,000,000 investment prize. Startups from all industries and regions across the globe are encouraged to apply.
Attendees will gain a unique opportunity to discover emerging technologies, connect with leading investors, and engage with the global startup ecosystem—all under one roof.
Entrepreneurs, investors, and innovation leaders are invited to attend and take part in a global competition shaping the future of innovation.
Event Details:
About Pegasus Tech Ventures
Pegasus Tech Ventures is a global venture capital firm based in Silicon Valley with $2 billion in assets under management. Pegasus offers intellectual and financial capital to emerging technology companies around the world. In addition to offering institutional investors a top-tier venture capital investment approach, Pegasus also offers a unique Venture Capital-as-a-Service (VCaaS) model for large, global corporations that wish to partner with cutting-edge technology startups.
For more information about Pegasus Tech Ventures, please visit https://www.pegasustechventures.com.
About Startup World Cup
Startup World Cup is the #1 startup pitch competition in the world, hosted by Pegasus Tech Ventures. With 100+ regional pitch competitions across 6 continents, Startup World Cup provides a global platform for startups to showcase their innovations and secure funding. Startups can apply to pitch at our upcoming regional events and have a unique opportunity to bring their ideas to Silicon Valley.
The winner of each regional pitch competition will earn an invitation to the Startup World Cup Grand Finale series of events in San Francisco, California. At the Grand Finale, the Regional Startup Winners will compete for a $1 MILLION investment prize and gain access to an unparalleled network of global investors, mentors, and industry partners.
For more information on the Startup World Cup, please visit https://www.startupworldcup.io.
Startup World Cup, the world’s #1 startup pitch competition, is heading to Hawaii. Co-hosted with Blue Startups, East Meets West featuring Startup World Cup Hawaii will take place on April 9, 2026, at the Sheraton Waikiki Beach Resort.
BENICIA, Calif. (AP) — The handwritten sign at a Northern California public library warned patrons to expect more noise than usual. That warning quickly proved to be an understatement as professional wrestlers, accompanied by booming music, thundered into the reading space and jumped into a ring flanked by row upon row of bookshelves.
Dozens of children and adults greeted the theatrics with hoots and hollers at the Benicia Public Library in Benicia, California.
Welcome to “Lucha Libro,” a high-energy, action-packed story time that is bringing live wrestling matches to libraries across the U.S. to promote literacy. Founded in 2024, “Lucha Libro” plays off the name of the popular Mexican-inspired sport of Lucha Libre. Libro means book in Spanish.
Libraries are typically sedate places, but the wrestlers did not hold back. They body slammed their opponents and aerial kicked each other in the chest.
Among the brawny wrestlers was “Llama Jack,” sporting a black mask with furry ears, who read “Llama Llama Time to Share,” before being interrupted by his rivals barging into the ring. He took them down in minutes and then finished the story.
Over 40 events are planned this year at libraries from California to New Jersey. One of the most popular wrestlers on the circuit is the fighting librarian, “Richard Shhnary.”
The idea started in 2024 when Lucha Libro's CEO, Jerry Rocha, and co-founder, Victor Dwight, were approached to put on a show at a local library, Rocha said in an email. Dwight wrestles as “Victor Von Richter.”
A year later, Lucha Libro debuted at the Benicia library.
Two worlds that were never meant to cross paths have since collided in the most spectacular way, Rocha said.
This gallery was curated by photojournalist Jeff Chiu based in San Francisco.
AP photography: https://apnews.com/photography
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Fans watch as wrestler Hitman Wayne lies on the ground after losing a match against Rufio Banderas during a Lucha Libro pro wrestling event at Benicia Public Library Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Benicia, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Wrestler Victor Von Richter, left, reacts after being hit by Astro Knox, right, in a Lucha Libro pro wrestling match at the San Jose Public Library Educational Park Branch Saturday, May 9, 2026, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Wrestlers Loverboy Leo, middle left, and Joey Gonzo are seen through shelves of books during their match at a Lucha Libro pro wrestling event at Benicia Public Library Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Benicia, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Wrestler Llama Jack gestures to fans before competing in a Lucha Libro pro wrestling match at the San Jose Public Library Educational Park Branch Saturday, May 9, 2026, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Wrestlers Jiah "the Crazy Cajun" Jewell, middle left, and El Chupacabra compete near book shelves at a Lucha Libro pro wrestling event at Benicia Public Library Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Benicia, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Fans react during a Lucha Libro pro wrestling event at Benicia Public Library Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Benicia, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Fans watch as wrestler Elliot Rey, middle top, applies a hold on TJ Black during a Lucha Libro pro wrestling event at Benicia Public Library Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Benicia, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Fans react during a Lucha Libro pro wrestling match at Benicia Public Library Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Benicia, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Fans watch as wrestler Jaguar Montoya, top, stomps on OC Hayes outside of the ring during a Lucha Libro pro wrestling event at Benicia Public Library Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Benicia, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Fans react as wrestler Julz Rafael, cneter, walks toward the ring during a Lucha Libro pro wrestling event at Benicia Public Library Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Benicia, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Fans watch as wrestler Hitman Wayne, middle top, applies a hold to Rufio Banderas during their match at a Lucha Libro pro wrestling event at Benicia Public Library Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Benicia, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Wrestler Jaguar Montoya, top, applies a hold against OC Hayes during a Lucha Libro pro wrestling event at Benicia Public Library Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Benicia, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Wrestler Jaguar Montoya prepares for a match during a Lucha Libro pro wrestling event at Benicia Public Library Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Benicia, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Astro Knox, right, hits a member of Young Steel during a tag team match at a Lucha Libro pro wrestling event at Benicia Public Library Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Benicia, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Wrestler Llama Jack greets fans during a Lucha Libro pro wrestling event at Benicia Public Library Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Benicia, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
A fan has his mask adjusted during a Lucha Libro pro wrestling event at Benicia Public Library Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Benicia, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Fans watch a tag team match between Llama Jack and Astro Knox against Young Steel during a Lucha Libro pro wrestling event at Benicia Public Library Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Benicia, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Wrestler Loverboy Leo laces his boots before his match at a Lucha Libro pro wrestling event at Benicia Public Library Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Benicia, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Wrestler Rufio Banderas warms up before a match during a Lucha Libro pro wrestling event at Benicia Public Library Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Benicia, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Wrestlers Llama Jack, center left, and Sampiro compete in a Lucha Libro pro wrestling match at the San Jose Public Library Educational Park Branch Saturday, May 9, 2026, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Wrestler Llama Jack reads a Llama Llama book in the ring during a Lucha Libro pro wrestling event at Benicia Public Library Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Benicia, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
