Oakland's 'All People Powered' Blends Performance and Startup Funding

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A hip-hop musical born in Oakland, 'Co-Founders,' has evolved into a live startup pitch competition called 'All People Powered' that blends performance and entrepreneurship. The event on April 11 at the Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts in Oakland will feature pitches from three Bay Area startups grounded in community-driven ideas, including an AI-powered wellness platform, a financial advising tool for students, and a music orchestration concept. The production aims to confront the Bay Area's tech ecosystem and elevate conversations about cultural infrastructure and equitable innovation.

Why it matters

The 'All People Powered' event represents an intersection of creativity, civic engagement, and economic opportunity in Oakland. It challenges the exclusionary nature of the tech industry by centering community-driven ideas and providing a platform for underrepresented entrepreneurs. The event also highlights the importance of cultural infrastructure and its ability to generate economic activity, as evidenced by the $2 million generated within a two-block radius during the San Francisco run of the original 'Co-Founders' production.

The details

The 'All People Powered' event grew out of the hip-hop musical 'Co-Founders,' created by Ryan Nicole Austin, Beau Lewis and Adesha Adefela. The production follows an Oakland coder navigating the startup world while trying to hold onto her home and community. After strong audience response and support from leaders like Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee, the production began intersecting with real conversations about policy and investment in the arts. This led to the creation of 'All People Powered,' which features live pitches from three Bay Area startups: 'Choice Scores,' exploring the future of music orchestration; 'Finnie,' a financial advising platform for students; and 'Herbal Oracle,' an AI-powered wellness platform rooted in ancestral plant knowledge.

• The 'All People Powered' event will take place on April 11, 2026 at the Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts in Oakland.
• The Calvin Simmons Theatre, where the event will be held, recently reopened after a $100 million renovation earlier this year.

What’s next

The 'All People Powered' event on April 11 will feature live pitches from the three selected startups, with the winner receiving funding and support to further develop their community-driven idea.