Co-Founders Musical presents All People Powered Concert & Pitch Contest

The boundary between art and entrepreneurship dissolves as the “All People Powered” Concert & Pitch Competition transforms the Henry J. into both a concert hall and investment stage. This first-of-its-kind event fuses live performances from the acclaimed hip-hop musical Co-Founders with a live startup accelerator that will award $30,000 in funding to first-time entrepreneurs—on stage, in front of an audience! Think Soul Beat meets Shark Tank powered by Oakland creativity and community ambition.

Championed by Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee after seeing Co-Founders (twice!) during its sold-out 2025 world premiere at American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.), this one-day-only event will bring the fictional "All People Powered" accelerator to life; offering once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to investors traditionally overlooked by Silicon Valley, translating culture into capital, and directing funding toward first-time entrepreneurs who are shaping a more inclusive and innovative future.

THE FORMAT
Early-stage Bay Area entrepreneurs are invited to apply to the “All People Powered” Accelerator, with the top 10 applicants being narrowed to 3 winners by the selection committee. All three winners will go through a multi-week program of mentorship and pitch refinement designed by Hiiiwav (co-creators of Oakland Tech Week), before pitching their startups to a panel of notable judges, competing for investment funding awarded on the spot, live at the Henry J! Between pitches, the audience will experience live musical performances featuring songs from Co-Founders, alongside special Bay Area musical guests who embody the region's rich hip-hop, soul, and R&B traditions.