Octane OC Impact Report 2021

IMPACT REPORT 2021 Reflecting on Innovation Impact in a Year of Global Challenges & How We’re Moving Forward. octaneoc.org

LETTER FROM THE CEO 2020 has forever changed how many of us work, communicate, and innovate. While this year has been unlike any other, our community has united to continue and grow the innovation ecosystem, despite the challenges we encountered.

When the pandemic hit, Octane transitioned our events to a digital platform, utilized all of our resources, and successfully brought three conferences and one award program to be consumed virtually or on-demand. Octane found alternative channels for our content and discovered a much broader base of attendees, some located internationally.

While this year was different, to say the least, we set a total LaunchPad SBDC funding record of $445M capital raised for the year. An additional $164M was raised by companies that utilize Octane platforms, and two companies successfully went public.

LaunchPad SBDC continues to be the foundation of our job creation engine.

This year’s fundamental shift focused on our Octane Foundation for Innovation (OFI) community initiatives, including Women Leaders of Octane, STEM Fellows, Non-Profit Accelerator, and NextGen leadership. These four initiatives provide the impact which builds the community, creates jobs, and promotes opportunities for diverse individuals and groups.

Finally, our dedication to the mission of innovation and economic prosperity is inseparable from our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. It is critical to ensuring that each member of our community has the full opportunity to thrive and flourish in our environment. At Octane, we believe diversity is central to the advancement of knowledge and shared outcomes.

Thank you for your continued support of Octane.

We navigated a challenging 2020 together and look forward to a bright 2021.

Bill Carpou CEO, Octane

01

Octane Overview

05

Octane Now and Then The 4 Cornerstones

02

Community Initiatives

Services Capital

06

Overview Non-Profit Accelerator Women Leaders of Octane NextGen STEM Fellows

03

LaunchPad SBDC Overview 2020 Data Alumni of 2020 Success Stories

04

Ignite Series The New Dynamic The Future of Events Ignite Conferences

Octane Enterprise Solutions

Vision Forward What Did 2020 Accelerate?

Core Initiatives Introducing Elevation Ventures The AI Initiative

07

Octane Community Team Perspectives Partners Our Board Advisors

01

Octane Overview We are creating 55,000+ jobs in Southern California by 2030. Octane convenes and enables the Southern California tech and medtech business ecosystem by connecting people, resources, and capital. We impact our community through LaunchPad SBDC, an industry leading accelerator, Enterprise Solutions, a platform to provide companies capital and growth resources, and Ignite Events & Programs that share content and leadership for our partners and members.

ABOUT OCTANE

Creation and Formation

Transformation

2002 - 14

2015 - 2017

Founded in 2002, Octane was in a formative period through 2014. Jim Mazzo, Mike Mussallem, Dwight Decker, Matt Massengill, and Tom Moebus founded the organization. Octane hosted what became MedTech Innovation Forum and established the now Top 5 Nationally Ranked Accelerator LaunchPad SCDC.

Octane gains a leadership position within the Southern California innovation ecosystem, and LaunchPad’s Accelerator increases momentum and creates positive outcomes.

THE 4 CORNERSTONES

Octane approaches its mission with four cornerstone organizational functions in order to create high impact.

Connect

Community

Platform Accelerating Growth of Revenue & Job Creation • 5 Signature Events & 25 Programs • 427 Advisors • Top 50 Octane Partners Generate $167B Revenue & Employ 778k • Founding Partner of Visionary Venture Fund and Elevation Ventures • Majority Shareholder of OES

Be the Catalyst for Job Creation, Diversity, and Inclusion • LaunchPad Accelerator • Non-Profit Accelerator • Women Leaders of Octane • STEM Fellows • NextGen Leaders

Growth

Sustained Leadership

2018 - 2025

2025+

Octane is a primary resource for the Southern California innovation community and LaunchPad earns recognition as one of the Top Five SBDC accelerators nationally. Additionally, Octane creates Visionary Venture Fund, Octane Enterprise Solutions and Elevation Ventures to provide capital and growth resources.

Octane will continue to grow & expand outside of Southern California while retaining focus on creating jobs within Orange County. The model has the opportunity for a national and global reach to highlight the Orange County region further..

Octane Enterprise Solutions

Capital

A Consulting Platform Accelerating Growth of Revenue & Job Creation • Capital Access • Operational Expertise • Shared Services • Talent Match

Lead solutions to solve the capital shortfall across SoCal • Institutional Venture Capital • Strategic Venture Capital • Private Investor Network • Visionary Venture Fund • Elevation Ventures

02

Community Initiatives

Octane Foundation for Innovation (OFI) is committed to providing resources, capital, and mentorship available to tech & medtech startups, as well as underserved members of our community.

The mission is to drive innovation by elevating the strength and diversity of the Orange County region as a whole.

Though LaunchPad SBDC is included in OFI, we consider it separate from our Community Initiatives,

including the Non-Profit Accelerator, STEM Fellows, Women Leaders of Octane, and NextGen Leaders.

These four initiatives are dedicated to improving inclusion across our community. Each initiative provides a unique approach to make Southern California a more economically impactful and equitable community.

NON-PROFIT ACCELERATOR

There are hundreds of non-profits affecting change in Southern California. A challenge they face is they often are not sustainable in terms of their business plan. We adapted our award-winning LaunchPad SBDC process to further the impact of non-profits by helping them attain fiscal sustainability to continue their impact in our community.

We focus on non-profits that benefit STEM programs, especially those that deliver education and resources to underrepresented communities.

This initiative has three goals.

(1) Increasing Impact. Using our LaunchPad SBDC Accelerator process, we can help non-profits achieve a more significant difference in the community.

Cohort Graduates

(2) Increasing Grants & Funding. The Non-Profit Accelerator program helps non-profits in their strategy and presentations to apply for grants and funding.

(3) Increasing Sustainability. We believe non-profits that benefit our community should be able to support themselves as they accomplish their mission.

The Non-Profit Accelerator enables non-profits to achieve long-term sustainability.

The Non-Profit Accelerator is made possible with a grant through the Edwards Lifesciences Foundation. We thank them for their continued support and leadership of invaluable resources to the Southern California community. .

STEM FELLOWS

The Octane STEM Fellows program identifies high potential students from diverse backgrounds, who are STEM majors with an inclination towards entrepreneurship. This program features training of basic entrepreneurship leadership concepts and peer interaction and provides access to Octane programming and the opportunity to attend one of Octane’s leading conferences.

STEM Fellows has three goals.

(1) Access to Networking. Offer greater access to groups who have been traditionally underrepresented in the entrepreneurship & innovation ecosystem; this program allows students to expand their

contacts and create a network to support their future entrepreneurial pursuits.

(2) Access to Innovation. Keep promising young talent and innovation in Orange County is essential as Orange County continues to grow.

(3) Access to Talent. We will increase the talent pool for existing companies in the Orange County network by creating opportunities for STEM students and internships.

This program is made possible by funding from the Broadcom Foundation.

NEXTGEN LEADERS

We are preparing Orange County to be led by a new generation of community and business leaders.

- Bill Carpou NextGen Leaders is a developing initiative designed to uplift the next generation of leaders in Orange County. It will activate Millennials and Gen Z as they prepare to lead Southern California to a more vibrant future, carrying on the legacy of the leaders before them.

This initiative was started by a small group of emerging CEOs who have the potential to become community leaders for the region.

With these individuals brainpower, we plan to expand our small group into a more extensive and more diverse collection of future leaders. The initiative will expand to even younger people, connecting Southern California’s high graduation rate with the innovation community.

WOMEN LEADERS OF OCTANE

VC Funding for Male Founders (94%)*

VC Funding for Female Founders (6%)*

Women Leaders of Octane launched in 2018 after reviewing the disparity in funding offered to women-owned and operated startups – only 6% of total venture capital and 13.1% of total deals (according to a study by Pitchbook) invested in women-owned/ operated companies. This means women founders are less likely to receive funding, and when they do, they receive about half the funding dollars!

This overall inequality deepens when combined with the lack of women on public boards and the lower hiring and promotion rate. These numbers more adversely impacted women of color and only emphasized the necessity of creating this initiative.

We formed Women Leaders of Octane to address these inequities with the following goals.

(1) More Women-Led Startups. We are increasing the number of women-operated companies in SoCal that complete Octane’s Accelerator, LaunchPad SBDC. (2) More Funding. We will increase women-funded companies and capital available to women owned/ operated companies in SoCal through our capital relationships.

(3) More Support. We plan to support women in their career development and growth by providing access to resources and power networking opportunities.

(4) More Women on Boards. We can connect women leaders with public and private board opportunities in Southern California and beyond.

*Funding Data via Pitchbook

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LaunchPad SBDC

LaunchPad SBDC is our award-winning Accelerator, offered as a pro-bono service, supported by funding from the SBDC and SBA. We focus on amplifying the capital funding strategy for tech and medtech startups that have their management team and business plan in place.

LaunchPad SBDC offers four key elements. The first is a strengthened capital funding strategy to improve the company investor presentation and ensure the company has all the components necessary for their next round of investment capital. They also receive

actionable feedback from subject matter experts in everything from bringing a product to market to creating a robust foundational process.

One of the most valuable offerings from LaunchPad SBDC is our predictive analytics, which provides detailed quantitative analytics into a company’s future success. Finally, Alumni receive access and exposure to a network of seasoned and vetted advisors & professionals.

LAUNCHPAD SBDC 2020 DATA

60 LaunchPad SBDC Alumni in 2020

677 LaunchPad SBDC Alumni If there is one thing that we have all learned in 2020, it is to expect the unexpected. When COVID-19 rose to a pandemic in the early months of 2020, many of us predicted that funding new startups would decline. However, there remains ample capital, with investors across the globe seeking to support relevant, worthwhile, and innovative companies.

2020 was a standout year for its LaunchPad SBDC Alumni Companies as 27 companies raised over $445M million in capital, increasing 32% since last year. We have found encouraging growth in the “COVID Economy” with the pandemic providing entrepreneurs the opportunity to start a business.

New entrepreneurs say the pandemic gives them the motivation they needed to start their own business. The LaunchPad team has seen a tremendous increase in applications in 2020.

We have also witnessed that investors continue to engage with startups despite early predictions about COVID-19, with some industries experiencing even more investment due to the pandemic.

Funding cycles and investment rounds continue to look much like they did pre-pandemic. In the age of remote operations and virtual presentations, companies must build more trust, provide context, and create excitement around their businesses. LaunchPad SBDC will continue its positive momentum in 2021.

80% Alumni Funded (573 Co.’s)

76%

Alumni Operational (516 Co.’s)

2020 Alumni 3VO Advice Analytics Advrtas AgTools Ai Optics Aspisafe Avisi Bankex BarMinder BestLegalChoice BeWize Cambridge Ortho Candesant Cloudbreak Therapeutics Coala Life

$445M

Raised in 2020

$2.85B Total Capital Raised Since 2010

Equals 500 jobs $337M Raised in 2019

17,096 Jobs Created since 2010 3,266 in 2020 Curiato Cyrpis Medical Dominion Medical Dyve Bio eMedEvents Expy Health Eyedetec Float GroGuru Hallura Huron Digital Innoture IRegained KA Imaging Kenota Health

LeafPack LeGrande Leo Lens Lipolysis Robotics METAseismic Morgan Goodwin MR Ready MTI NeoSoma Nested Knowledge Noria Water Technologies Ocular Data Systems Onsight Optify PatientFi

PB&B Tech Phileas Pharma Pomp Beauty PrinterPrezz Pro Engineering Development R2 Technologies Remedium Bio Renata SafetyScan SecureBlock Technologies Sterile Edge TeVido Trubify VisusNano Vusar

LAUNCHPAD SBDC SUCCESS STORIES

AgTools, Connecting Our Food Chain Octane is featuring AgTools, the Tech Innovation Forum 2020 Presentation Winner as one of our Impact Report Success Stories. AgTools was created to solve to the issue of food loss between farm and distribution. Everyday, we lose over 4900 truckloads of food from farms to distribution centers in USA and 69000 worldwide. This impacts farmers, natural resources & our food supply chain. AgTool’s solution is a worldwide financial intelligence data for the food & agriculture global supply chain offering trusted official data from around the world. AgTools uses real-time data for farmers and buyers to manage market volatility, increase profitability and reduce the world’s food waste, addressing 76 variables and all phenological stages of the commodities.

lenge—we thought we knew how to present and what our business plan was...and then we found LaunchPad! They helped shaped us, gave us guard rails and focus. Now, it’s much easier to fundraise because we know how to present our strengths and metrics, thanks to them.

We interviewed Martha Montoya, CEO of AgTools about LaunchPad SBDC and her company.

M: 2021 is off to a big start for us! We will be filing patents, acquiring SSAE18 cybersecurity certification, on boarding and managing multinational customers and started the Series A fundraising. Octane and LaunchPad are looking forward to seeing the success of AgTools in 2021 and beyond!

Octane: How did you find out about LaunchPad and how did LaunchPad help your company?

Martha Montoya: We were referred to LaunchPad

by Wayfinder at UCI. At first, LaunchPad was a chal-

O: Have you seen any success since presenting at Tech Innovation Forum?

M: Yes, its been great. We’ve seen a growth in our brand awareness and local angel investors felt more comfortable with their investment.

O: Where is your company headed next?

SUCCESS STORIES

Avisi’s Nano-Approach to Treat Glaucoma Avisi aims to sell VisiPlate to eye clinics and hospitals, helping people to preserve their vision permanently.

We interviewed Rui Jing Jiang, Co-Founder & CEO of Avisi about LaunchPad SBDC and her company.

Octane: How did you find out about LaunchPad and how did LaunchPad help your company?

Rui Jing Jiang: Avisi was introduced to LaunchPad by a member of Life Science Angels. Launchpad’s mentorship program helped Avisi to refine its business pitch through a series of feedback meetings all leading up to MedTech Innovation Forum in 2020. After pitching, we got the ultimate result- Life Science Angels and others invested in Avisi’s seed round.

O: Have you seen any success since presenting at MedTech Innovation Forum?

Avisi is LaunchPad’s 2020 MedTech Innovation Forum’s LaunchPad SBDC winner. They are a medical device company developing VisiPlate, a nanotechnology-enabled ocular implant for treating glaucoma. VisiPlate’s novel approach, technology, and superior pre-clinical results so far can help make VisiPlate the go-to surgical treatment for glaucoma patients.

VisiPlate lowers intraocular pressure and protects the optic nerve by shunting excess aqueous fluid from inside the eye to a secondary drainage location and is the only device to treat glaucoma in this way via a network of microchannels.

R: Since presenting at MedTech Innovation Forum, Avisi has raised approximately $1M in seed financing and presented at two international glaucoma conferences, one of which awarded Avisi with the H. Dunbar Hoskins International Innovations Award.

Avisi has also expanded its scientific and strategic advisory board with renowned leaders in ophthalmology.

O: Where is your company headed next?

R: Avisi is aiming to begin a clinical trial in 2021, with a goal of achieving FDA clearance in 2024.

04

Ignite Series

Our events have always created connections within the Southern California business and entrepreneurial community. In 2020, due to the pandemic and the inability to meet in person, Octane reinvented how we deliver the outstanding content our attendees have come accustom to. Going virtual allowed Octane to reach a broader audience, and we succeeded in providing the content for all signature events to maintain a larger engaged audience.

Throughout all of this, we continued to adjust as we learned more about audience requirements. We also introduced a new platform to facilitate networking, providing our attendees an experience similar to in-person meetings.

We adopted our monthly programs to the Ignite Series. Since May, we have hosted more than 50 Ignite Series on a variety of topics. All of our content is now able to be consumed on-demand, at the attendee’s convenience, establishing Octane as a content provider.

AESTHETICS TECH SUMMIT

Guided by the strength of innovation happening locally, Octane kicked off the year with our only in-person event, Aesthetics Tech Summit, in January.

Over 225 physicians, as well as industry, investors, and entrepreneurs gathered to discuss the future of medical aesthetics.

Strom, now President, Global Allergan Aesthetics, SVP, AbbVie, Jenny Streets, Head of Industry Health, Facebook, Cyndi Isgrig, President, Dermstore, Hilary Gurber, Head of Industry Health, Google, and Jonah Shacknai, Executive Chairman, Dermaforce Partners, Parent Company of skinbetter science.

The one-day event hosted over 40 speakers in 11 sessions, representing leaders from clinical, pharmaceutical, and medical device companies. Highlights of the event included a keynote by then-CEO of Allergan, Brent Saunders, interviewed by Yassaman Salas, Managing Director at Goldman Sachs and several panels discussing topics such as investment opportunities, regulatory pathways, and more. One of the most-discussed panels was the Connecting Consumers panel, which included speakers Carrie

Aesthetics Tech Summit also featured presentations from LaunchPad SBDC medical aesthetics tech startups. The presenting companies featured Cypris Medical, Dominion Aesthetic Technologies, Innoture Medical Technologies, PatientFi, and TeVido.

After each 10-minute presentation, a panel of experienced investor judges and physicians questioned each company. PatientFi emerged as the winner, and following the event, these alumni collectively raised $13.2M.

Great first conference. Well planned and executed, both from content and networking perspectives.

-Aesthetics Tech Summit Attendee

41 Speakers

11 Sessions

49 Physicians

4.5 Rating from Event Survey

TECH INNOVATION FORUM

Tech Innovation Forum was the second event to go entirely virtual in 2020. Initially planned for May, then postponed to September, Tech Innovation Forum reinvented itself several times over to meet the moment and ensure all attendees’ safety. In the end, pivoting to create a digital experience was necessary. Despite the annual conference adjusted format, Tech Innovation Forum brought together hundreds of attendees to learn and connect at an event focused on startups, AI, Data Analytics and Cybersecurity.

One of the most memorable sessions was Octane CEO’s interview with Palmer Luckey, Founder of Anduril and formerly of Oculus. He discussed the future of tech innovation in Orange County and what is required to bring the region to the next level.

Highlighted sessions also explored Alternatives to Venture Capital, Implementing Cybersecurity in a

86 Speakers

24 Sessions

3 Days

Startup Environment, and FinTech in Orange County.

A new addition to Tech Innovation Forum was Fast Pitch - a chance for earlier stage startups to present to investors. Each of the twenty-two startups was given 5 minutes to pitch their idea to the numerous investors in attendance.

Fast Pitch was not to be outdone by our annual LaunchPad SBDC presentations, which included some of the most exciting companies to date. Not only did these companies represent a wide range of tech applications, but also included one of the most diverse groups of founders yet. Out of the eight presenting companies (Advice Analytics, AgTools, BeWize, GroGuru. METAseismic, Morgan Goodwin, Ocular Data Systems, and Trubify), AgTools, led by CEO Martha Montoya won the LaunchPad SBDC Award.

4.2 Rating from Event Survey

Extremely well organized, everyone was as kind and professional as can be imagined, and there was definite and real knowledge gained from the speakers and experts.

- Tech Innovation Forum Attendee

OPHTHALMOLOGY TECH SUMMIT

Exceeded is an understatement.

- Ophthalmology Tech Summit Attendee Ophthalmology Tech Summit is one of our most anticipated events. Orange County is a global leader in ophthalmology, consistently creating the top innovations in the industry.

Each year, this event pulls leadership from some of the top ophthalmology companies and featured a leading panel, COVID-19 & Beyond, moderated by Elizabeth Yeu, MD, Partner, Virginia Eye Consultants.

The panel included Warren Foust, Worldwide President, Surgical Vision for Johnson & Johnson Vision, Jim Mazzo, Chairman of the Board, Octane, Advisor, ZEISS, Executive Chairman, Avellino, Advisor, Bain Capital, Tom Mitro, President & COO, Aerie Pharmaceuticals, and Michael Onuscheck, President, Global Business & Innovation, Alcon. We also heard from Michael Severino, MD, Vice Chairman & President, AbbVie, who recently acquired Allergan, interviewed

by Jim Mazzo.

Another session of note included Lessons Learned The Hard Way, moderated by John Hovanesian, MD, FACS on how COVID-19 affected regulation and its impact on clinical trials. ‘What Are You Doing Differently In Your Practice?’ covered changes to physician practices and how those changes will continue following the pandemic.

Our annual LaunchPad SBDC Presentations and Ophthalmology Tech Summit featured four startups in ophthalmology. Each presented and was evaluated by our panel of investors and physicians- the winner was Phileas Pharma.

4.4 Rating from Event Survey

45 Speakers

21 Sessions

200 Physicians

MEDTECH INNOVATION FORUM

88 Speakers

MedTech Innovation Forum was especially poignant this year, as medical tech is mainly responsible for navigating us through COVID-19. Whether our partners called upon to deliver respirators or racing to develop therapeutics, medtech was central to this past year’s narrative.

One of our best sessions was a keynote interview between Geoff Martha, Medtronic CEO, and Brett Wall, Octane Board Member and EVP & Group President, Restorative Therapies Group. The two leaders discussed the company’s need to produce and release respirators as they were called on by the federal government and the company’s meaningful dedication to fostering true diversity and equity in their organization.

19 Sessions

3 Days

Other standout panels included an interview between Joe Kiani, Founder, Chairman, & CEO, Masimo and Octane Board Chairman Jim Mazzo. Additional topics included the effect on clinical trials as the FDA rushed to approve life-saving therapeutics and a vaccine, the importance of diversity in venture investing, as well as our always-popular Women Leaders in MedTech.

The LaunchPad SBDC Presentations at MedTech Innovation Forum showcased eight startups innovating medical technology. After analysis and questioning by our panel of investor judges, Avisi was declared LaunchPad SBDC Award winner.

4.2 Rating from Event Survey

HIGH TECH AWARDS

2020’s High Tech Awards was unlike any before. With the necessity of moving to a virtual event, our motto for this year’s High Tech Awards was “The Party Cannot Be Stopped!”

Rather than our usual evening of dining and celebrating, we turned to an equally lively and interactive lunchtime celebration.

We celebrated 37 finalists in 10 categories. Our categories were Best Consumer Technology Innovation, Best Enterprise or B2B Technology Innovation, Best Small Technology Company CEO, Best Technology Company Leadership Team, Deal of the Year, Outstanding Emerging Technology Company, Outstanding Innovation in MedTech/ Life Sciences, Outstanding Small Technology Company, VC of the Year, and the COVID-19 Response Recognition Award.

12 Winners

37 Finalists

Each company completes a rigorous nominating process that includes: an application of nomination and an interview by the committee. Once the committee determines which companies will move on, each finalist is interviewed by a panel of independent subject matter experts who choose the winner which are revealed at the High Tech Awards.

Though it seemed that there was little to celebrate at times, we discovered that the unity and the collective strength of the ecosystem were as powerful as ever. With the need to turn toward the local community for support, celebrations like High Tech Awards proved even more valuable to the business ecosystem.

15 Commitee Members

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Octane Enterprise Solutions Since its founding in late 2019, Octane Enterprise Solutions (OES) has been growing, evolving our strategy, and engaging with clients, partners, and the Octane business ecosystem to bring together resources for our innovative and growing companies Paul Tobin, President of OES, joined us in late 2019, and Carol DiStanislao, Managing Director, who leads relationships with our Octane Preferred Advisors (OPAs), joined in early 2020. We expect to grow our team with two more Managing Directors in 2021 as we expand our service offering.

OES clients have raised millions of dollars of capital even in the COVID-constrained environment of 2020. Our Octane Preferred Advisors on the services side have been engaged dozens of times by our clients. One of our first major successes occurred this year when we had our first client company exit to a large strategic buyer.

As OES’s profits increase, it will provide revenue for Octane to provide more resources and fulfill our ever-expanding mission.

OES CAPITAL

Octane Enterprise Solutions is committed to building upon Octane’s mission of creating 55,000+ jobs in Southern California by 2030. Through OES, small, mid-market, and large/mature companies leverage relationships with our preferred provider network in operational & capital expertise.

Operational Resources: Talent Acquisition HR & Human Capital Management Services Finance and Accounting Outsourcing Tenant Office Space Advisory Enterprise Cost Reduction Functional Expertise

PREFERRED SERVICES

One of the specific ways that OES can help growing companies is through investor introductions. Octane’s vast network includes various investors, ranging from traditional venture capital firms to our Private Investor Network Utilizing OES capital services can help scaling companies access more capital in a shorter time frame.

Access to Capital Resources OES Capital Access- A funding platform Investment Banking Introductions Private Investor Network Institutional Venture Capital Corporate Venture Capital Non-dilutive Funding Opportunities

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Vision Forward Since March 2020, we seem to have dealt with one crisis after another: A pandemic, job losses, work at home, isolation, critical social issues, and the list goes on. During this past year, both the best and worst have come out in us as individuals, profound illustrations that shared interest truly defeats self-interest.

For the Octane team, 2020 was about transforming and evolving to continue and serve our community and innovation ecosystem, those that rely on us and those invested in us. We have learned to listen more than we speak. We have practiced empathy, and we sought perspective, not to affirm but to challenge our thinking.

2020 enabled Octane to accelerate a series of initiatives that were already planned. Out of necessity, in-person conferences transformed into digital experiences, and we found ourselves as leaders in content management with a different delivery platform. Just that change opened up a new world for us that expanded our reach nationally and globally. Our LaunchPad SBDC accelerator helped portfolio companies raise a record amount of

capital, $445M, with an additional $164M raised by companies in our immediate network. This is poised to continue a positive trajectory. Meanwhile Octane Enterprise Solutions (OES) is gaining traction to guide companies to revenue and value creation, even in a challenging market.

Our future is built from these core elements at Octane: content, company creation, access to capital, and job creation. We are thrilled to see continued growth in these areas. This past year has also provided the opportunity for our team to address unmet needs in our innovation ecosystem through our Octane Foundation for Innovation (OFI).

While risk always looms in a growing market or business sector, many positive trends will continue to elevate the work across Southern California and specifically Orange County. With that premise in mind, Octane will continue to convene and empower the ecosystem to drive our collective impact, supporting our innovation ecosystem to be the best version it can be while returning high value to everyone who depends on us.

CORE INITIATIVES

Our plan to unleash collective impact focuses on five core initiatives applied across all areas of Octane.

Success in each of these strategic goals will result in the best outcome for Octane as an organization and build the Southern California business ecosystem to its full potential as a leader in tech and medtech innovation.

Accelerate Business Formation and Growth

Create Alternative Growth Services to Build Sustainable Revenue

Leverage LaunchPad to build companies that create high paying jobs.

Resources to build company momentum, velocity and job creation.

Grow Core Revenue

Convene & Empower the Ecosystem

Expand the Octane Brand

Expand content distribution beyond SoCal and grow partner relationships and value creation.

Lead with content, and access to expertise and capital working strategically with high value partnerships.

Build brand recognition for Octane and SoCal as a global hub for innovation and company creation in certain industries.

ELEVATION VENTURES

Elevation Ventures leverages Octane’s LaunchPad SBDC proven process as a unique method to vet companies based on data and analytics. Elevation Ventures is a new VC fund that wants Southern California to thrive with local entrepreneurs and capital.

The objective is for companies that start in Southern California to stay here, grow here, provide superior returns, create high paying jobs, and to repeat the process.

THE AI INITIATIVE

Establish SoCal as an AI Global SuperHub capable of developing new AI companies, attracting AI companies to SoCal, assisting AI companies in achieving scale, and creating AI based jobs. Initially, this initiative will focus on the impact AI will have on the health and wellness industries. The network and

resources are comprised of expert advisors, entrepreneurs, and investors.

This initiative is a community wide collaboration, and includes a strategic partnership with CLA (CEO Leadership Alliance).

Bill Carpou

Dr. Anthony Chang

Neil Sahota

CEO, Octane

Chief Intelligence and Innovation Officer, The Sharon Disney Lund Medical Intelligence and Innovation Institute, Medical Director, CHOC Children’s Heart Failure Program

IBM Master Inventor, United Nations (UN) Artificial Intelligence (AI) subject matter expert, and Lecturer at UC Irvine

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Octane Community

BOARD & ADVISORS

Executive Committee Bill Carpou, Octane Jag Dosanjh, Allergan, an AbbVie Company Bruce Feuchter, Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth Emile Haddad, FivePoint Bruce Hallett, Miramar Venture Partners Bob Jacobson, RSM US LLP Jennifer Leuer, CyberScout James Mazzo, Avellino, Bain, Neurotech, Octane, ZEISS Jim Peterson, Peterson Capital Group Brett Wall, Medtronic Scott Whitcup, Akrivista & Whitecap Biosciences Clay Wilemon, BRADO

Joe Manna, Experian Goran Matijasevic, UC Irvine Thomas Mitro, Aerie Pharmaceuticals David Perry, Retired K&L Gates Tom Piechota, Chapman University Stacey Scoggin Pugh, Medtronic Aidan A. Raney, M.D., F.A.C.C., Hoag Hospital Ehsan Sadri, Visionary Eye Institute Neil Sahota, UC Irvine Dean Stoecker, Alteryx Carrie Strom, Global Allergan Aesthetics, AbbVie Katie Szyman, Edwards Lifesciences George Wall, Glaser Weil Gregory Washington, George Mason University Jeffry Weinhuff, Visionary Venture Fund Ted Wilm, PwC Ashlie Woods, Goldman Sachs David Zollinger, Edwards Lifesciences

Board of Directors Bobby Azamian, Tarsus Pharmaceuticals Kelly Barba, K&L Gates Thomas Berryman, Soft Health Technologies Reynolds Bish, Kofax Limited Charles Black, J.P. Morgan Private Bank Caitlin Blanche, K&L Gates Tim Brandt, Deloitte Janelle Brunette, Octane John Casalaspi, Tech Data Anthony Chang, MD, MBA, MPH, MS, CHOC Hazem Chehabi, MD, Newport Diagnostic Center Sean Crafts, Mavenlink Martha Daniel, IMRI Pete Deutschman. The Buddy Group Linda DiMario, Octane Shawn Dougherty, EXOIO Randy Fisher, Insperity Daniel Flynn, Western Digital Rick Gallagher, Experian Russ Garcia, Menlo Micro Marinela Gombosev, Evoke Neuroscience Fauad Hasan, Appiell.ai Reza Jahangiri, America Advisors Group Kim Kovacs, The Arcview Group Jason Lantgen, JLL Sabing Lee, Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear Steven Litchfield, MaxLinear Andrew Lyon, Chapman University

Advisors John Belli, Retired Ernst & Young Jim Corbett, CathWorks, Ltd. Peter Craig, Former OC Tech Alliance Reginald Gilyard, Chapman University Mike Gottfredson, UC Irvine Raouf Halim, Mindspeed Technologies Inc. Matthew Jenusaitis, UCSD Healthcare System Jeffrey Kimball, Jeffrey J. Kimball & Associates Rick Leckey, Charting Success Matthew Massengill, Western Digital James McCluney, Emulex Corp.

Dave Meltzer, Sports 1 Marketing Tom Moebus, UC Irvine Juli Stone Moran, Deloitte Consulting, LLP Michael Mussallem, Edwards Lifesciences David Pyott, Bioniz Therapeutics Robert Rosenbluth, Inceptus Medical Marc Samuels, ADVI Earl Slee, Retired Medtronic, Octane Paul Symczak,Retired Octane Daniele Struppa, Chapman University Gerard Von Hoffman, Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear Brian Ward, Independent

PARTNERS

Diamond Allergan, an AbbVie company Allergan Aesthetics, an AbbVie Company Edwards Lifesciences Experian FivePoint Insperity K&L Gates Medtronic TechSpace Visionary Venture Fund ZEISS

Platinum Aerie Pharmaceuticals Chapman University Deloitte JP Morgan Chase & Co. Knobbe Martens MicroVention Terumo

PwC RSM Stradling University Lab Partners Western Digital

Gold BioQuest, A Diversified Search Company Canada Consulate General City of Aliso Viejo City of Hope Orange County CoreLogic EY Fragomen Worldwide Greater Irvine Chamber Ingram Micro Irvine Company JLL Johnson & Johnson Vision Kofax LDI Color Toolbox

Mavenlink MENTOR Worldwide Pacific Life Quest International SAP Stuart Kane LLP Syneos Health Tarsus Pharmaceuticals UCI Beall Applied Innovation Wilson Sonsini

Supporting Menlo Micro

Contributors Broadcom Foundation Edwards Lifesciences Foundation SBA/SBDC Union Bank Foundation

Reflections on 2020 / “I learned how important the basics are and how much I should appreciate them: family, friends, health, food, a home…and how many people have struggled to have those things during such hard times. I think sharing and caring made a big rebound in 2020 and created more community even as people isolated as never before. I hope that continues.” - Paul Tobin / “Crisis creates intestinal fortitude and demonstrated peoples “true self.” 2020 inspired me to emerge as a better person, and learn who I could count on and who I want to associate with as we prepare for the many opportunities in front of us both professionally and personally. On a personal note, it underscored the importance of friends and especially family to support each other.” - Bill Carpou / “I look back at 2020 with a deeper understanding of our own vulnerabilities. The need for a community, whether it be work, family, friends, and beyond, became ever present to know we are not walking through things alone. We all need community to share the good and the bad and to be there for each other.” - Carol DiStanislao / “Looking back on 2020, it was certainly a growing time for me.

I learned to appreciate my friends, family and health on a greater level- I hope that we can continue to show our gratitude even after COVID is long gone.” - Cara Davidoff / “In 2020 I learned what true resilience looks like from those around me and the crucial – yet previously not fully recognized – role that community plays in my life.” -Jackson Gathard / “2020 taught me that you can’t be and do everything all at the same time. I learned that self care is and always will be a priority and not a privilege. I’ve realized the heavy lift working mothers take on, especially at this time, and want to continue to provide a forum to discuss how we, as a community, can better support women in the workplace, a true global issue.” -Cara Parchment / “2020 was all about perspective for me. As terrible as things seemed at times, I tried to remember that it could be worse. My family and friends were all safe and healthy. Even though my ten year olds might not be experts at long division, they were now masters at navigating zoom.” -Rita Battochio / “Looking back at last year, I learned to find small things to look forward to like a morning coffee or an evening walk. I also found that having a fun ongoing project, helped me to stay motivated when it all seemed like too much.” -Mallory Grimaud / “2020 provided us the opportunity to further evolve, gain new perspectives, ignite innovation, and truly appreciate the importance of human connection and relationships.” Janelle Brunette /

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