Coreshell Wins First Place at East Bay Start-Up World Cup, San Leandro Shines

_{Center: First Place Winner Cecily Li of Coreshell and all of the start up winners}

On the evening of September 10, 2025, innovation took center stage—and San Leandro based Coreshell emerged victorious. At the East Bay Regional Start-Up World Cup, hosted by Pegasus Tech Ventures in collaboration with the East Bay Small Business Development Center, ten of the most promising tech-based startups from across the region pitched their groundbreaking ideas to a panel of expert judges and a room packed with investors, students, city leaders, and entrepreneurs of all backgrounds.

Among the ten standout finalists, two companies hailed from San Leandro—a testament to the city’s rapidly growing reputation as a hub for manufacturing and high-tech innovation:
• Coreshell Technologies: A cutting-edge startup revolutionizing sustainable battery manufacturing.
• Quino Energy: Innovators in water flow battery storage, helping to power the transition to renewable energy.
After an evening of compelling pitches, San Leandro-based Coreshell rose to the top, winning first place at the regional Start-Up World Cup competition!

What is the Start-Up World Cup?
The Start-Up World Cup is a prestigious global competition that brings together the best and brightest startups from around the world. Through a series of regional contests, selected startups pitch their ventures for the chance to compete at the national and global levels. By being selected, the start-ups gain visibility, funding opportunities, and a grand prize of $1,000,000 in investment at the global finale.

What’s Next for Coreshell?
By winning first place in the regional competition, Coreshell will now advance to the national grand finale in San Francisco, where they will join hundreds of other elite startups from around the country. There, they’ll compete for the million-dollar investment prize and the chance to take their company—and their technology—to the next level.

A Win for San Leandro
This win is more than just a trophy for one company—it’s another milestone for San Leandro’s innovation economy. The city continues to attract and support innovative startups that are solving some of the world’s biggest challenges.

Congratulations to Coreshell for their incredible achievement and a stand out year. Coreshell also won the East Bay Economic Development Alliance Innovation Award earlier this year—and congratulations to Quino Energy for representing San Leandro with excellence and vision. Your work is helping shape a more sustainable and innovative future for us all.

For more information about Coreshell, click here.