When an ecosystem aligns, the outcomes multiply. “
What does it take to build a thriving innovation ecosystem? Ask around and you’ll hear familiar answers: access to capital, incubators and accelerators, and of course—collaboration. All of these are essential. But at Octane, we’ve discovered a deeper and more powerful driver: Collective Impact.
Yes, Capital is critical—it’s the price of admission. Incubators and accelerators play a vital role in developing ideas and supporting entrepreneurs. Collaboration, too, has become a widely used—and well-earned—buzzword. But none of these elements alone, or even together in a loosely connected way, guarantee success.
What truly moves the needle is when these forces align with clear purpose and shared intention. That alignment is what we call Collective Impact.
Collective Impact is not simply a feel-good concept; it is a disciplined and strategic approach. It requires the deliberate coordination of entrepreneurs, industry leaders, investors, universities, and supporting organizations—all working together toward measurable, high-impact outcomes. At Octane, this principle is not theoretical; it is operational.
When I stepped into the role of CEO at Octane ten years ago, I noticed a common pattern. Everyone talked about collaboration, but few truly practiced it. It was easier to host a panel discussion or issue a press release than to roll up our sleeves and work across institutional boundaries.
The truth is, collaboration alone rarely creates Collective Impact. It requires shared goals, mutual accountability, and sustained commitment over time.
Someone once told me, “1 + 1 isn’t 2. It’s 11.” When an ecosystem aligns, the outcomes multiply.
Community centricity sits at the core of Octane’s mission. Through our Non-Profit Accelerator, we have collaborated with more than 60 local nonprofit organizations that collectively serve over 600,000 individuals across Orange County. Our Women Leaders of Octane program now supports more than 1,200 women—helping them access capital, build meaningful relationships, and prepare for leadership roles on public, private, and nonprofit boards.
Over the years, we’ve also identified six core pillars essential to building a high-performing innovation ecosystem: Innovation & Ideas, Access to Capital, Infrastructure, Community, Growth Resources, and a Center of Gravity.
Each pillar includes four actionable components —24 total imperatives that form the backbone of Octane’s ecosystem model.
But even the best framework only thrives when supported by exceptional people: high-quality entrepreneurs, experienced serial founders, and strong academic institutions. Our strategy has been to build a collective of best-in-class organizations and individuals who lead within each of these areas.
Octane’s mission has always been simple: to connect and propel Southern California’s innovation community. Thanks to the dedication of our team and the unwavering support of our partners and sponsors, our impact has never been stronger. Together we have deepened relationships, opened new opportunities, and accelerated innovation across the region.
And we are just getting started.
Looking ahead, we are excited to continue our collaboration with Experian to develop an AI Innovation Hub serving all of Southern California. With the region’s extraordinary talent base and world-class infrastructure, this initiative will help position Southern California as a global leader in the development and deployment of artificial intelligence.
We invite those who share this vision — organizations, sponsors, entrepreneurs, and investors — to join us.
Together, we are shaping the future of innovation.
Bill Carpou CEO, Octane
Our vision is simple.
We aim to create 55,000+ high-paying jobs for Southern California by 2030.
We’ve already created 45,237 high-paying jobs.
Each dot represents 100 jobs created*.
To understand the scale of 45,237 high-paying jobs, picture one of Orange County’s most recognizable landmarks: the twin Spectrum Center towers rising above the 405 freeway in Irvine.
Each tower stands as the one of tallest in all of Orange County at 323 feet-contains 426,000 square feet of office space. Using standard office density calculations of approximately 200 square feet per employee, each tower houses roughly 2,130 workers on a typical business day.
That represents filling both Spectrum towers nearly ten times over. Or, to put it another way: imagine constructing twenty buildings the size of Orange County’s tallest tower, each one filled to capacity with employees contributing to our local economy.
For anyone who’s ever driven past these iconic glass towers on their commute or shopped at Spectrum Center, that’s the human scale of impact we’re talking about - a workforce large enough to populate a small city’s worth of Orange County’s most prominent office buildings.
Octane’s 2026 Impact
CAPITAL IN EXITS (IPOS, M&AS, ETC.)
$14.8B
by Octane LaunchPad SBDC Alumni & supported companies*
COMPANIES ASSISTED
2,514
by Octane*, with 361 in 2025.
HIGH-PAYING JOBS CREATED
45,237
by Octane LaunchPad SBDC Alumni and supporting companies* with 8,297 in 2025.
SUSTAINABILITY OVERVIEW
TOTAL CAPITAL RAISED
$12.1B 92.6%
percentage of Octane LaunchPad SBDC Alumni still operational*
by Octane LaunchPad SBDC Alumni & supported companies*, with $1B in 2025.
*Since 2010. All data is reported by PitchBook & ZoomInfo and validated by Deloitte.
Our Value Drivers
We convene and enable the Southern California tech and medtech ecosystem by connecting people, resources, and capital.
Building the SoCal of Tomorrow
CONNECT
Convening organization for innovation and content creation across Southern California
Accelerator for Late Seed & Series A companies
Catalyst for high-paying job creation and community activation & engagement
Solutions to raise capital & accelerate revenue growth & commercialization
A global hub for AI Innovation and decision intelligence offering predictive analytics for investors
End-To-End Solution
Built to accelerate access to capital, revenue generation, and commercialization for innovators.
Operational Execution
Revenue Execution
Octane LaunchPad Accelerator
Octane Capital & Growth
We serve the entire journey.
Whether you’re validating an idea, scaling operations, or preparing for a liquidity event, Octane’s interconnected programs ensure no founder faces a critical moment alone — with access to hands-on coaching, investor networks, and a community of 2,500+ companies who’ve walked the same path.
Read on to learn more about each stage.
LaunchPad SBDC Accelerator
LaunchPad SBDC, our awardwinning accelerator program, is generously offered pro-bono thanks to the support of SBDC and SBA.
Our comprehensive program optimizes presentation assets and capital funding strategies for local life sciences/device and technology startups who are in the growth and commercialization stage of their startup journey.
Our accelerator has four essential components:
Enhancing your capital funding strategy to ensure a polished investor presentation and readiness for your next round of investment capital
Providing valuable feedback from internal and external subject matter experts spanning product launch strategies to foundational processes
Offering predictive analytics for detailed quantitative insights into your company’s future success
As alumni, granting you access to a network of seasoned and vetted advisors and professionals who actively advocate on behalf of your startup
(left to right):
Shaun Sanders, Associate Director of LaunchPad SBDC Accelerator, Kurt Busch (Syntiant), Chris Giovanniello (Menlo Micro), Sameer Singh (Spiffy AI) on the “High-Stakes Journey from Startup to Scale” panel at Tech Innovation Forum 2025.
TESTIMONIAL
VIZQ Technologies
The most important part of the assistance we received was having seasoned advisors challenge our assumptions and push us to refine our approach.
That critical outside perspective helped us sharpen our vision and make decisions with much greater confidence.
BENJAMIN ALBAUM
Co-Founder, VIZQ Technologies
TESTIMONIAL
Evolectric
The direct mentorship was the most important part of the assistance. Having access to an executive and previous (and current) founder was time well spent. It’s extremely rare to have access to such learnings. Many thanks for this opportunity.
BILL BEVERLEY Co-Founder, Co-CEO & CTO, Evolectric
Pictured
INSIDE LAUNCHPAD SBDC’S FIRST DEMO DAY
$10,000 in non-dilutive funding awarded to standout founders
The first-ever LaunchPad SBDC Demo Day & Pitch Competition brought founders, investors, civic leaders, and ecosystem partners together for a morning of live pitches, thoughtful feedback, and real momentum for early-stage companies building in Orange County.
OPENING REMARKS
Mike Daniel, OCIE SBDC Network Director Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris (AD73)
James Mai, Vice Mayor, City of Irvine
Betty Martinez Franco, Councilmember, City of Irvine (District 5)
Janelle Brunette, COO, Octane
JUDGES
Justin Cohen
Founder and Managing Partner, Collinear Capital
Wajdie Ahmad
Co-Founder and Chairman, Amplifica
Jeff Bocan
Managing Director, Okapi Venture Capital
Ashley Fairon
Director of Technology Banking, Silicon Valley Bank
Each winner received $5,000 in non-dilutive funding, recognizing both technical innovation and founder readiness.
A sincere thank you to our MedTech and Tech presenters, judges, the City of Irvine, and to Mike Daniel and Katrina Smith of the Orange County & Inland Empire SBDC for their continued support of founders at this critical stage of growth.
LAUNCHPAD
SENIOR ADVISORS
PRESENTERS
MedTech Track Presenters
• SenoGuard
Diana Tucker
• Feminora
Christine King, PhD
• VIZQ Technologies
Benjamin Albaum
• OMNIMED®
Robert Brown
Tech Track Presenters
• Taram
Manoj Krishnamaraja
• Geyser Data
Nelson Nahum
• Sclanet AI
Murali Kandlagunta
• SPORTY Technologies
Aaron Greco
Summit Technology Laboratory (STL): creator of Artemis, an AI-powered computer vision platform
Tapasya Bali
Tom Mattoon
Bill Waldo
Marc Bellotti
Lori Torres
David Friedman
Paul Symczak
Thomas Lee Jim Gustafson
Laura Beken
Kenneth Stanigar Alex Shoer
Dan Behrendt
MEDTECH TRACK WINNER Lidavex Inc: advancing maternal health through LiDAR and optical sensing
TECH TRACK WINNER
Billions of dollars raised by alumni. Zero dollars charged.
LaunchPad Alumni Durability by Cohort
Percent operational by Octane Program Year from past 5 years.
Definition: “Operational” = PitchBook business status not marked “Out of Business.” Recent cohorts (2024–2025) reflect early lifecycle survival.
WHAT THIS MEANS
LaunchPad companies significantly outperform national survival benchmarks.
Even as cohorts mature, survival remains materially above national averages.
Durability = reduced systemic risk in the pipeline.
We deliver survival at scale.
1. Lower ecosystem fragility. LaunchPad companies survive at materially higher rates than national averages.
2. Capital durability. Survival increases probability of follow-on financing and longterm value creation.
3. Compounding network density. Companies that remain operational continue to hire, raise capital, mentor founders, and reinvest locally.
4. Structural advantage. Consistently high survival across cohorts demonstrates durable program infrastructure.
LaunchPad cohort year (Octane Program Year)
Top 10 LaunchPad Alumni by total funding raised
WHAT THIS MEANS
The funding dispersion across cohorts from 2016 through 2021 indicates longitudinal strength.
These outcomes span multiple economic environments - pre-pandemic growth, capital contraction, and recovery cycles.
Even though LaunchPad focuses on earlystage companies, the foundation we set supports maintaining viability long enough to access institutional and public markets.
1. Scale follows survival. Each of these companies remained viable long enough to reach later stages of financing, including IPOs and institutional rounds.
2. Outcomes span multiple market cycles. These raises occurred across expansion, contraction, and recovery environments, suggesting structural strength rather than timing advantage.
3. Capital depth is cohort-agnostic. High total funding appears across multiple program years, indicating repeatability rather than a single exceptional vintage.
4. Enterprise value compounds over time. Sustained capital access increases hiring, product development, and long-term regional economic impact.
From Toronto to Irvine
How Octane helped Acorn Biolabs move to Southern California and build the relationships that unlocked capital, advisors, and market momentum.
22
6 hours of expert counseling equity capital raised in 2022 experienced domain experts
• LaunchPad: Dec 2021 to Oct 2023
• Advisors: 6 experienced domain experts
• Vetting: Panel evaluation in Feb 2022
• Growth: Revenue grew quarter over quarter with LaunchPad assistance
WHAT OCTANE HELPED DELIVER THE RESULT
$500K+
• Network: KOLs, investors, corporate partners
• Recognition: High Tech Awards Finalist 2024
• Facility: 13,000 sq ft in Irvine Spectrum
• Momentum: The bulk of the team is now based in Irvine
Acorn relocated from Toronto to a 13,000 sq ft facility in Irvine Spectrum, gained top-tier advisors (Dr. Steve Yoelin, Dr. Greg Buford, Dr. Grant Stevens), and now has a stronger network in Southern California than in their home city.
Pictured: Drew Taylor, CEO of Acorn Biolabs and William Hall, COO of Acorn Biolabs at Aesthetics Tech Forum.
A CONVERSATION WITH WILL HALL Co-Founder & COO, Acorn Biolabs
Bill Carpou, Octane, sits down with Will Hall to discuss how Acorn Biolabs is revolutionizing regenerative medicine and the role Octane played in their journey.
BILL: Will, when you and Drew created Acorn Biolabs, what problem were you trying to solve?
WILL: Acorn was created to address access to regenerative medicine through cell banking and by developing personalized cellderived treatments. Today there are thousands of clinical trials exploring stem cell–based approaches, and most patients believe regenerative medicine will play a role in their future care.
However, traditional regenerative therapies can take billions of dollars and many years to reach the market. We saw a major gap between scientific promise and real-world patient access.
Acorn’s mission is to bridge that gap through personalized regenerative medicine, starting with a patient’s own biological material and building a platform that can support applications across aesthetics, wellness, and ultimately broader healthcare.
BILL: Got it. Okay, so turning to the relationship and the partnership with Octane: how did we help? Whether it’s accessing capital, talent, customers. I know you guys have opened up a facility here in Orange County.
WILL: We first engaged with Octane in late 2021. At that time, we were emerging from the COVID period, where our early commercial plans had been disrupted, and we were largely focused on R&D.
As we re-evaluated our go-tomarket strategy, it became clear that Southern California - particularly medical aesthetics - was the right launch environment. One of our board members challenged us directly: if you could restart anywhere, where would it be?
BILL: Sounds like a good board member.
WILL: Very good. Drew (our founder and CEO) and I immediately said Southern California. So the board member said, “All right, figure it out how to get there.” We started looking for a group that could help us. We were introduced to Octane by a Canadian accelerator as an opportunity, but we were told that Octane can be an intense environment. If you put a lot into it, you’ll get a lot out, but you have to put a lot into it. And that was very true.
Octane became a key catalyst in helping us build the right network and landing zone here.
BILL: Very true. What was your situation when you came to [Aesthetics Tech Summit 2022]?
WILL: Very early. We had no U.S. presence, were primarily a researchbased company and just beginning to build commercial endeavours in Canada. Through ATS and the Octane network, we met several of our current advisors, investors, and partners.
Today, we’ve established a 13,000-square-foot facility in the Irvine Spectrum, and a significant portion of our commercial and operational team is now based in Southern California.
BILL: Congratulations on your expansion. How did that first Octane event go?
WILL: We came in extremely focused and hungry. Octane helped facilitate a highly curated set of introductions across KOLs, corporate leaders, and investors.
We initially asked to meet nearly everyone attending. Mike Hill wisely encouraged us to narrow that down. Over two days, we held back-to-back meetings with a targeted group.
Those early meetings directly translated into some of our most important relationships, including advisors such as Dr. Steve Yoelin, Dr. Greg Buford, and Dr. Grant Stevens, some of the major corporate leaders in the space, and a number of engaged investors. Octane opens doors, but you still have to walk through them. For us, it dramatically accelerated the development of our Southern California network.
BILL: I think you really hit on an important thing as we kind of wrap up the discussion today: Where we’re set positively is to make those introductions to vetted investors that understand your organization, understand your technology, and are fully capable of writing a check from that standpoint - or advisors that could help you build the business. Now, what’s next for Acorn?
WILL: We’re continuing to scale our commercial platform while advancing clinical work to support future personalized biologic products.
We ultimately see Acorn at the intersection of longevity, wellness, and aesthetics. People are living longer, more active lives, and we believe personalized regenerative medicine will be a key part of that future.
Continued strategic introductionsacross investors, partners, and clinical leaders - remain incredibly valuable as we move into our next phase of growth.
BILL: Thanks Will. Great conversation. We’ll be here every step of the way.
Octane Capital & Growth
You bring the innovation, we bring the introductions.
By featuring innovations at Octane events and making targeted introductions, we help companies find the resources they need to raise capital and grow.
2025 Choice Award Winners
NovoThelium
PEOPLE’S & JUDGE’S CHOICE WINNER
PEOPLE’S & JUDGE’S
PEOPLE’S
PEOPLE’S
AiViva BioPharma
Acorn Biolabs
Interro IQ Makani Science
Speed to capital for a breakthrough Alzheimer’s therapy
A case study on compressing fundraising timelines so the science stays on its fastest path to patients.
THE CHALLENGE: SPEED TO CAPITAL
THE OCTANE APPROACH
After Sinaptica won both People’s Choice and Judge’s Choice awards at our Neuro Tech Forum, we identified Devices of Tomorrow Capital as an ideal strategic fit for their convertible note round.
Here’s the founder’s dilemma: building a medical device company requires relentless focus on product development, regulatory pathways, and clinical validation. Ken needed to finalize V&V testing on their clinical prototype and prepare for a pivotal study targeting 2029 FDA approval. Every hour spent on fundraising was an hour not spent moving the science forward.
The reality is that founders don’t have time to cultivate investor relationships from scratch, navigate lengthy introduction processes, or educate potential funders on complex neurotech innovations. They need partners who can open the right doors quickly - and then help keep them open.
1. Initial Connection & Positioning
• Set up the first call between Ken and Henry Yen (Managing Partner, Devices of Tomorrow, DOT)
• Framed Sinaptica’s opportunity in the context of DOT’s investment thesis
• Provided pre-meeting context to both parties to ensure productive first conversation
2. Deal Facilitation & Advocacy
• Arranged follow-up meeting for Ken to present to DOT’s full investment committee
• Conducted multiple calls with Henry highlighting Sinaptica’s investment merits, specifically:
• The strength of the 52-week clinical data and regulatory pathway
• Market opportunity with established reimbursement codes (~$20K per patient annually)
• Ken’s capabilities as a CEO and operational leader
• Advocated for $500K investment commitment (DOT and others ultimately invested $400K)
3. Due Diligence Support
• Maintained regular contact with Henry throughout DOT’s diligence process
• Proactively identified and addressed information gaps
• Ensured Ken’s team had visibility into investor questions and timing
• Facilitated additional connections within DOT’s network resulting in follow-on investment
THE RESULT
Instead of Ken spending months building relationships and chasing investor meetings, we compressed the timeline from introduction to term sheet while he stayed focused on preparing for pivotal trials.
84%
People’s Choice Awards vote share
$400K+ 6 mo
intro → investment close cycle
• Connection: introduced Ken Mariash to Devices of Tomorrow Capital (DOT).
• Positioning: framed the round against DOT’s thesis before first call.
• Momentum: secured follow-up with DOT’s full investment committee.
UPDATE FROM THE SINAPTICA TEAM (FEB. ‘26)
As Ken returns from Dubai, we have a commitment from a Dubai-Canada fund to take the remainder of our Convertible Note, and are therefore wrapping up the $9M offering.
Additional new investors: Pureland Ventures, Devices of Tomorrow Capital, Bootstrap Venture Partners, Greensward Ventures, and our strategic partner Nexstim join early backers Sony and BrightFocus Foundation, with follow-on investment from Time Zero Capital and a generous grant from Baycrest/CABHI.
capital raised via DOT network
• Advocacy: reinforced clinical data + regulatory path in multiple investor touchpoints.
• Diligence support: managed info gaps, timing, and investor questions.
• Network effect: unlocked follow-on participation inside the DOT network.
Although at this point we are going to be oversubscribed, we may be able to accommodate timely last allocations before closing the Note and moving forward with initial sites for the Pivotal.”
PAI SHUBHAM, CFA Finance and Operations Manager, Sinaptica Therapeutics
Pictured: Ken Mariash, CEO of Sinaptica Therapeutics, presenting to a panel of judges on the main stage at Neuro Tech Forum 2025.
BOOST Venture Fund
BOOST Venture Fund
tup Growth & Commercialization Roadmap
Pillar 1: Foundation & Readiness
Goal: Build a solid business and compliance backbone
• HR Roadmap: Smar t talent acquisition and retention policies.
• FDA Roadmap: Early regulator y alignment for devices, drugs, diagnostics
Pillar 2: Capital & Storytelling
Goal: Tell a compelling stor y and get funded
• Pitch Deck: Sharpen your narrative, backed by data, traction, and vision
Goal: Tell a compelling stor y and get funded.
BOOST Deliverables
FDA Roadmap
FDA Roadmap
HR Roadmap
HR Roadmap
Grant Roadmap
• Pitch Deck: Sharpen your narrative, backed by data, traction, and vision.
• Stage & Capital Help: structure a capital raise plan.
• Stage & Capital Help:
• Advisor y Board: Assemble domain and investor-savv y advisors to build credibility and get strategic input
structure a capital raise plan
• Advisor y Board: Assemble domain and investor-savv y advisors to build
• Grant Roadmap:
credibility and get strategic input
• Grant Roadmap:
Pillar 3: Validation & Go-to-Market
Goal: Prove it works and get to market faster.
Goal: Prove it works and get to market faster
• Commercialization Roadmap: Lay out clear go-to-market plans including pricing, channels, and pilots
• Commercialization Roadmap: Lay out clear go-to-market plans including
• Innovation Sponsorship: Gain access to corporate par tners who can
pricing, channels, and pilots
validate and sponsor your tech
• Innovation Sponsorship: Gain access to corporate par tners who can
• Peer Group: Learn from other founders navigating similar journeys stay
validate and sponsor your tech.
connected, inspired, and suppor ted.
• Peer Group: Learn from other founders navigating similar journeys stay connected, inspired, and suppor ted
Pillar 4: Diligence & Scale
Goal: Prepare for investor diligence and future growth.
• Diligence:
Goal: Prepare for investor diligence and future growth
Be diligence-ready with clean documentation, data rooms, and audit trails
• Diligence:
• FDA, IP, Financial, and HR docs: All aligned and packaged to meet investor an
Be diligence-ready with clean documentation, data roo
De-risked Venture Addres
Grant Roadmap
Cap Table/409A /
Financial Modeling
Cap Table/409A /
Financial Modeling
409A Valuation
409A Valuation
Commercialization Roadmap
Commercialization Roadmap
IP Roadmap & Corporate Docs
IP Roadmap & Corporate Docs
Pitch Deck
Pitch Deck
Advisor y Board
Advisor y Board
Stage & Capital Help
Stage & Capital Help
Innovation Sponsorship
Innovation Sponsorship
Peer Group
Peer Group
Diligence
Diligence
A representative example of the type of company Boost supports is OccuFlow, which originated out of the UCI Gavin Herbert Eye Institute. The underlying research behind OccuFlow was developed and refined over nearly a decade before being positioned as a commercial entity. Boost helped support the transition from long-standing academic research into a venture-backed company, providing early capital, strategic framing, and access to clinical and industry expertise.
OccuFlow reflects the fund’s thesis: deep, credible science paired with early structure, leadership support, and domain-specific guidance to create a foundation for long-term impact.
TESTIMONIAL
OccuFlow Bio
UCI Gavin Herbert Eye Institute
I wanted to take a moment to sincerely thank you for the incredible support and mentorship you have provided as I begin this entrepreneurial journey with OccuFlow Bio.
Coming from an academic background, much of the startup and business world was completely new territory for me. Your guidance has been truly instrumental in helping me navigate this transition and think about how to translate our laboratory discoveries and IP into a real company. Without your encouragement and support through the Boost program, I honestly do not think I would have taken this step into entrepreneurship. I feel very fortunate and lucky to have met you and Carol.
You have been incredibly generous with your time - helping organize the business foundations of the company, shaping our development roadmap, and guiding early strategy. I was particularly impressed with the Deal Memo you prepared...As a scientist, it was very exciting for me to see our work framed in such a thoughtful and strategic way.
I also want to thank Carol for the tremendous support she has provided. She has been instrumental in connecting me with key service providers, organizing meetings and events, and helping ensure that we stay focused on the right priorities as we move forward. The mentorship and structure that you and Carol provide make the transition from academia to entrepreneurship much less intimidating.
Interestingly, this effort has also become a topic of great excitement within our department. Our Chair and Vice Chair are very enthusiastic about the progress and the possibility of translating these technologies to the clinic. Programs like the Boost initiative are absolutely critical for enabling this type of transition from academic discovery to real patient impact.
Most importantly, thank you for believing in our technology. Your confidence in what we are building means a great deal to me and gives me tremendous motivation to continue moving forward.
I am very excited about what lies ahead and truly look forward to continuing this journey together.”
GULAB ZODE, PHD Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences Center for Translational Vision Research
Gavin Herbert Eye Institute
Octane Preferred Advisors (OPAs)
The resources to help your company grow.
In our commitment to foster the comprehensive growth of companies in the Octane ecosystem, Octane Capital & Growth offers tailored growth services. This initiative taps into a network of top tier and vetted third-party resources, delivering operational expertise to small, mid-market, and large/mature companies.
“ LaunchLab Partners
What stands out about Octane is their true dedication to supporting innovators. They understand that breakthrough innovation doesn’t happen in isolation, it requires the right ecosystem.
As a partner, we deeply value their commitment to creating meaningful connections and guiding companies along their development journey. Their team is incredibly passionate, which makes collaborating with them both energizing and impactful. It feels like we’re building something meaningful together, with real benefits for patients at the end of the day.”
YARI MITCHELL Co-Founder & Co-CEO, Business Strategy & Positioning LaunchLab Partners
Pictured: Yari Mitchell, Co-Founder and CEO as emcee at Ophthalmology Tech Forum 2025.
Through our curated portfolio of Octane Preferred Advisors (OPAs), we provide exclusive access to best-in-class services with customized programs and pricing, expediting your journey to milestones and boosting revenue goals efficiently.
OUR VETTED ADVISORS:
OCTANE PREFERRED ADVISORS
Ophthalmic CRO, Regulatory & Clinical Trial
WHAT OCTANE DELIVERED
29
Trusted Octane Preferred Advisors
areas of expertise
net new introductions in 2025
AI Innovation Hub
Octane and Experian have formed a strategic partnership to create an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Innovation Hub in Orange County, California to capitalize on the region’s untapped AI potential and serve as a catalyst for regional, national and global impact.
In 2025, we asked key leaders of our community one question: what do you need to lead the
WHAT OUR REGION SAYS WE NEED TO BE A LEADER IN AI
How could you or your organization benefit from engaging with the Hub?
Strategic Roadmap
When we started getting serious about Al internally, we built education first. Once people understand how the company is approaching Al, what the goals are, and that they’re free to experiment safely within guardrails, they relax. They’re not closet Al users anymore. They can actually do this, and the company supports them.
That is exactly what we now want to take outside Experian and bring to this Orange County Al initiative.”
What we delivered
Launched Community Survey & Strategic Roadmap
OC leaders - founders, healthcare executives, investors, and educators - told us exactly what they needed. We turned those insights into a full executive summary and strategic roadmap for the region.
READ THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Panel: The Future of Innovation is AI
Leaders from Octane and Experian explored how the new AI Innovation Hub is positioning Orange County as a national model for tech-enabled growth, responsible development, and cross-sector collaboration. The panel covered how coordinated access to talent, capital, education, data, customers, policy and clinical innovation is fueling the region’s AI evolution.
FEB. 2025 MAY 2025 MAY 2025
Fireside Chat: Congressman Jay ObernolteCongressional Al Task Force
As a technologist and policymaker, Obernolte offered clarity on how the U.S. can lead in AI — if we move with urgency, ethics, and vision. He highlighted the new AI Task Force Report released by Congress, which outlines policy priorities and opportunities for responsible innovation.
AI in Practice Across Octane Forums
AI took center stage across Octane’s industry forums. Octane led an AI-focused panel at Ophthalmology Tech Forum and hosted conversations on AI’s impact across Cardiovascular Tech Forum and the Octane Medical Innovation Forum, bringing together founders, investors, physicians, and industry leaders to explore how AI is reshaping healthcare and medtech innovation.
Inaugural “Best AI Innovation” Category High Tech Awards
For the first time in High Tech Awards history, AI Innovation was recognized as its own award category. A permanent signal that Al is now central to Orange County’s technology identity.
Pictured (left to right): Clay Wilemon (4L Data Intelligence), Kathleen Peters (Experian), Bill Carpou (Octane) at Tech Innovation Forum - Day 1.
Pictured: Congressman Jay Obernolte at Tech Innovation Forum 2025 (Day 2).
Pictured (left to right): Attendees from MagicMirror, VIZQ Technologies, Quantum AI Health, and OMNIMED.
Octane Foundation for Innovation (OFI)
The next generation of innovators is already in the room.
Through Octane Foundation for Innovation, programs like UCLA Biodesign connect graduate fellows with physicians, founders, investors, and industry leaders at Octane forums. These experiences introduce emerging talent to the real dynamics of the innovation ecosystem and help prepare the leaders who will build the next generation of healthcare technologies and solve unmet needs.
Pictured: UCLA Biodesign Fellows at Cardiovascular Tech Forum 2025.
Octane Foundation for Innovation (OFI) is the philanthropic engine advancing Octane’s mission to create 55,000+ high-paying technology and life sciences jobs in Southern California by 2030. Through the Octane Impact Fund and strategic philanthropic partnerships, OFI invests in initiatives that expand opportunity, accelerate innovation, and strengthen the region’s economic future.
Our programs span the full innovation pipeline — from advancing STEAM education and workforce development, to empowering leaders through Women Leaders of Octane, strengthening mission-driven organizations through the Non-Profit Accelerator, scaling high-growth companies through the LaunchPad SBDC Accelerator, and positioning Orange County as a global leader in artificial intelligence through the AI Innovation Hub.
Together with philanthropic partners, corporate foundations, and community leaders, OFI is creating generational impact by investing in people, programs, and platforms that ensure Southern California’s innovation economy continues to grow, thrive, and benefit the entire community.
Women Leaders of Octane (WLO)
Women Leaders of Octane (WLO) exists to transform Orange County’s innovation landscape by increasing the social and economic impact of women in business.
Chair: Nanneke Dinklo, Materna Med Co-Chair: Marinela Gombosev, SPARK Neuro
OUR PURPOSE
We’re focused on four key missions: getting more women-founded companies through LaunchPad boosting investment in women-led businesses
providing opportunities for highly qualified women to join corporate boards supporting women in their professional development through mentorship and resource access
Chair: Maria Moskver, Cloudvirga Co-Chair: Summer Taylor, Deloitte
Women on Boards Committee Resources & Communications
increase in women founders supported since WLO initiatives began in 2021 of LaunchPad companies are women-founded or women-led
• 9 investor pitch sessions hosted through the WLO Funding Committee for 12 women founders, facilitating introductions to capital and strategic resources.
• FACES Campaign launched to elevate women leaders in life sciences and technology, featuring more than a dozen interviews and profiles.
WLO Annual Forum
Sponsored by Conexus Advisors and UCI Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute (UCI SSIHI)
MAY 6, 2025 UCI SSIHI
Dr. Shaista Malik Opening · UCI SSIHI
Kathleen Peters Keynote: AI Landscape · Experian
AI to Innovate, Inspire and Impact
Carey Moretti · Debbie Chamkasem
Javier Hernandez · Kathleen Peters
Success: What Is It To You?
Amanda Fowler · Essraa Nawar ·
LaKeisha Landrum Pierre
Afternoon Wellness
Lisa Tanker
Financial Know-How
Jonathan Treussard, PhD · Ouenda Baaissa ·
Ashley Fairon · Xandra Laskowski
Business BOOST Series
MAR. 18 - MAY 20
WLO & Chapman University Leatherby Center for Entrepreneurship produced a 10-week coaching and tutorial workshop curriculum for 15-20 women founders.
WLO
StartUp Lab
MAY 1 — JUNE 26
A pre-accelerator designed for female founders. Coached a 9-week program for twelve (12) med-device and tech women founders.
In Southern California, numerous non-profits work to drive positive change, but many face the ongoing challenge of sustaining their business plans.
Octane addresses this issue by using our acclaimed LaunchPad SBDC process to bolster the fiscal sustainability of non-profits, build their capacity, and enhance their impact in the community. We specifically target non-profits advancing STEM and healthcare programs, particularly those serving underrepresented communities. Our initiative centers on three main goals, seen to the right.
Thanks to the generous backing of the Edwards Lifesciences Foundation, a dedicated partner in our mission to provide essential resources to Southern California, we express our heartfelt appreciation for their ongoing support and forward-thinking guidance. Together, we’re cultivating enduring change and fortifying our community’s groundwork.
Cohort Graduates in 2025
WE’RE FOCUSED ON THREE KEY MISSIONS:
Using the LaunchPad SBDC Accelerator process, we enable non-profits to make a greater and lasting impact in the community.
Our Non-Profit Accelerator program assists nonprofits in refining strategies and presentations to secure vital grants and funding.
Octane advocates for non-profits’ selfsustainability while fulfilling their crucial missions, making the Non-Profit Accelerator pivotal in achieving long-term viability.
OC-based nonprofit graduates since 2019
individuals served in underrepresented & underserved communities in Southern California
NON-PROFIT ACCELERATOR 2.0 PITCH LAB
JULY 10 | MEDTRONIC
The Non-Profit Accelerator 2.0 Pitch Lab convened more than 60 nonprofit management team members for a day focused on presentation skills, feedback, and funding readiness.
Seven graduated nonprofits presented live pitches. Cash awards were granted to the top-ranked organizations.
JUDGES
Tiffany Roberts, F&M Bank Foundation
Dan Mularkey, Sun Family Foundation
Amanda Fowler, Edwards Lifesciences Foundation
TESTIMONIAL
Cancer Kinship
YOLI ORIGEL CEO, Cancer Kinship
PRESENTERS
• Beyond Blindness
• OCIACC
• Achievement Institute for STEM Scholars
• The Youth Center
• Cancer Kinship
• Drones4Kids
• Dreams for Schools
WINNERS
1. Dreams for School
2. The Youth Center
3. OCIACC
I made the strategic decision to join Octane’s Non-Profit Accelerator Program during a pivotal time in Cancer Kinship’s history. Octane’s extensive nonprofit evaluation process helped us identify the greatest opportunities for organizational investments and prioritize our capacity-building.
Cancer Kinship’s participation has also opened additional capacitybuilding doors with a special invitation to access the Women on Boards Registry to further expand and diversify Cancer Kinship’s Board of Directors. ”
Pictured (left to right): Dreams for Schools, Drones4Kids, Beyond Blindness, Cancer Kinship, OCIACC, The Youth Center, Achievement Institute for STEM Scholars.
Connect
We focus on what works for innovation - getting industry leaders, investors, and startups in the same room to make real things happen.
At Octane events, you’re joining a community that stays connected long after the event ends. We create an environment where meaningful relationships form naturallywhether you’re an entrepreneur seeking capital, a strategic looking for innovation, or a physician exploring new technologies.
Our track record shows it: the connections made here transform into lasting partnerships, successful exits, and groundbreaking collaborations. That’s because we focus on quality over quantity - it’s not about collecting business cards, it’s about meeting the right people who will make a real difference in your business journey.
AESTHETICS TECH FORUM
NEURO TECH FORUM
TECH INNOVATION FORUM
OPHTHALMOLOGY TECH FORUM
CARDIOVASCULAR TECH FORUM
HIGH TECH AWARDS
MEDICAL INNOVATION FORUM
Built on two decades of the right relationships.
THE OCTANE ECOSYSTEM
Relationships as infrastructure
Every node in this ecosystem is an active, maintained relationship — not a contact list. Octane serves as the trusted intermediary that keeps these connections warm and purposeful.
Knowledge flows where capital flows
The most valuable currency in innovation is context — who’s seen this problem before, what failed, what worked. Octane compresses years of learning into a single introduction.
A convening force, not a gatekeeper Octane’s role is to keep the ecosystem open, dynamic, and mutually reinforcing — ensuring that founders, investors, clinicians, and strategics are always in productive proximity.
Octane exists because innovation doesn’t happen in isolation. Since 2002, we’ve been the connective tissue of Southern California’s tech and medtech ecosystem — deliberately building a network where capital flows toward great science, knowledge moves across disciplines, and the right introductions happen at the right time.
Signature Events
Attendee Breakdown
There is real commercial gravity. Industry is the largest block in every forum. That signals these are not just idea rooms. They are rooms with operators, budgets, and buyers.
The ecosystem has transaction potential. OTF, OMIF, and NTF all show meaningful founder + investor density. That means people can raise, partner, hire, and sell in the same room.
The rooms are not monocultures. Clinical, academic, university, and healthcare representation stays material across the portfolio. That makes the network more credible and more useful for commercialization.
Each forum has a role. ATF is industry-heavy. OTF is strongest for founder-capital mix. TIF pulls in university talent and research adjacency. OMIF has one of the most balanced cross-sections. That is what makes it feel like an ecosystem instead of a one-note conference series.
Data from CVENT & Soapbox, self-reported by attendees and audited internally. Each bar represents 100% of attendees for designated forum.
Octane
Signature Events
January 8-9
VEA Newport Beach
April 4
VEA Newport Beach
550+ 230+
Attendees
May 7 UCI Beall May 5-9
90+
Attendees Companies Companies Companies
PRESENTING COMPANIES
• AiViva
• ArtifeX AI
• Eirion Therapeutics
• Innopath Therapeutics
• NovoThelium
• Pictoria
• Ponce AI
• RheoTek Medical
Attendees
PRESENTING COMPANIES
• Interactome Biotherapeutics
• NeuroTrigger
• Piezolabs Medical
• Sinaptica Therapeutics
The Octane Forum was THE most intimate and potentially powerful forum I have ever attended. Everyone, from the directors, to speakers, to industry leaders were beyond generous with their time and information to help others succeed. The forum was well run and not over crowded and the food was delicious and delightful and abundant.”
FAY SOLOMON, Unitox
Octane’s Neuro Tech Forum was an outstanding addition to the “Must Attend” conferences in neurotech. Well curated content and outstanding presentations along with quality networking made this an immediate favorite. ”
JOJO PLATT, Platt & Associates
PRESENTING COMPANIES
• 2Pi-Sigma Corp.
• Bluumly
• Bloodhound SOS
• Body Energy Technologies
• CISGAM
• EZ Script
• FirstPeel
• IrvineI
• Keyron
• KYG Trade
• LarmoreBio
• Lidavex
• Magnima
• Makani Science
• MyTradeZone
• Need2Say LLC
• Path Free
• Persperion Diagnostics
• Piezolabs Medical
• Polybiomics
• Pretika MedTech
• Vizualeyes (SB3D Technologies)
June 26-27
VEA Newport Beach
410+
Attendees
Sept. 11-12
VEA Newport Beach
Sept. 25
AV Irvine (see p. 39)
Oct. 28-29
Irvine Marriott
380+ 470+
Attendees Companies
PRESENTING COMPANIES
• AI4Eyes Medical Technologies Inc.
• Beyeonics Vision
• EyeDura Therapeutics
• Eyecool Therapeutics
• Optigo Biotherapeutics
• Pantheon Vision
• Recornea
Attendees
Companies Companies
PRESENTING COMPANIES
• Aufero Medical
• Berlin Heals
• Echo IQ
• Learup
• PolyVascular
• Valthera
• Veritas Aortic Solutions
PRESENTING COMPANIES
• Auctus Surgical
• Corstasis
• D2Type Health
• Exactice Med
• Eyesonix
• Finally Quiet
• Interro IQ
• Northern Vascular Systems
• OMNIMED®
• Regeneration Biomedical
• Single Pass
“ “ “
Octane Ophthalmology - an exclusive, visionary model in Orange Countyseamlessly equips engineers, clinicians, and innovators with every resource they need...I’m continually impressed by how beautifully Octane orchestrates innovation and connection.”
ALI ARDAKANI, Novateur Ventures
There was ample time to connect with many people we know and also make new connections. The content was meaningful and thoughtful, not rushed or abbreviated as many meetings are scheduled. If you were not at CTF, you missed something special; be sure to show up next years!”
STAN ROWE, NXT Biomedical
Huge thanks to Octane OC and their incredible team for building and sustaining one of the most impactful innovation communities in the country. Their continued support for startups like ours is what keeps SoCal’s medical technology scene thriving.”
PEMAN MONTAZEMI, Finally Quiet!
2,500+ 270+ 5 Attendees Companies Days
The premier gathering for visionaries seeking to explore and invest in the region’s cutting-edge creations. MAY 5-9, 2025
OC Innovation Week 2025 brought together the builders, funders, and thinkers who are shaping what Southern California becomes next. From a full day dedicated to women in leadership, to hard tech founders pitching on stage, to a sitting U.S. Congressman making the case for responsible AI policy — no two days looked the same, and that was the point. This was Orange County showing up in full force: across sectors, across disciplines, across the ideas that don’t fit neatly into any one room.
KEYNOTE: Marques McCammon, President,
KEY SESSIONS:
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(R-CA)
Presented by Insperity
Presented by Conexus Hosted by UCI SSIHI
The High Tech Awards spotlight the trailblazers who drive innovation and position Orange County as a leader in technology and medical technology.
This year, over 160 companies were nominated across 11 categories, showcasing the best in tech and medtech excellence.
2025 HIGH TECH AWARD FINALISTS
Visionary Ventures
Visionary Ventures is a dynamic venture capital fund specializing in life sciences and the future of ophthalmology, founded by Octane in 2015.
The fund invests opportunistically from Series A through commercialization — targeting $5M to $15M — with a structural edge built on partnerships with Key Opinion Leaders, industry experts, and strategic acquirers.
Beyond financial returns, the fund focuses on companies that address unmet and underserved markets, guiding innovative entrepreneurs from idea to market-leading business.
FOUNDING GENERAL PARTNER
Octane
TARGET RANGE
$5M – $15M per investment
STAGE
Series A through commercialization
ADVANTAGE
KOL + strategic acquirer network advantage
“ Better information leads to better investments with exceptional returns.”
Pictured: The Investment Landscape panel at Ophthalmology Tech Forum 2025, where Marty Waters (Wilson Sonsini) and partners from Visionary Venture Fund — Jeffry Weinhuff, Bill Carpou, Garrett Hamontree, Ehsan Sadri and Toby Tyson — joined Dan Gil, PhD (Pelage) and Perry Sternberg (Sydnexis) to outline capital flows into ophthalmology.
WHAT OCTANE AND VISIONARY VENTURES DELIVERED
$190M+
$15.9M
New AUM added in 2025 Raised for portfolio companies
FUND TRAJECTORY
FUND I
Top quartile IRR and top decile DPI.
FUND II
Top decile DPI with performance positioned for future exits.
2025
New co-invests include Pelage, Inatrek, and Sydnexis.
PORTFOLIO MOMENTUM
OCTOBER 10, 2025
Series B financing co-led by ARCH Venture Partners and GV (Google Ventures), with participation from existing investors including Main Street Advisors, Visionary Ventures, and YK Bioventures. The financing will support the continued advancement of Pelage’s lead program, PP405, a topical small molecule designed to reactivate dormant hair follicle stem cells, offering a potential first-in-class approach for both men and women experiencing hair loss.
AUGUST 20, 2025
The Series C was led by U.S. Venture Partners (USVP), joined by aMoon Fund, along with existing investors Visionary Ventures, Sectoral Asset Management, Radius Special Situations Fund, and Civilization Ventures. Funding the U.S. commercial launch of AlloFlo™ Uveo, a first-of-its-kind surgical solution targeting the uveoscleral pathway, as well as broader pipeline expansion.
Confidential. Reach out to Bill Carpou at bill@octaneoc.org to learn more.
Octane Impact Fund
What will your legacy be?
“
OUR LEGACY WILL BE...
extending a person’s active lifestyle — well beyond the golden years.
JAMES KIM CEO, OVERTURE ORTHOPAEDICS
Be part of the legacy that’s elevating Orange County, fueling innovation, creating high-paying jobs, and driving a healthier, brighter future for all.
Let’s explore the stories of these passionate innovators and uncover what drives their journey towards a better future.
“
OUR LEGACY WILL BE...
AI adoption with confidence, privacy, and control.
DAPHNA
WEGNER FOUNDER & CEO, MAGICMIRROR
“
OUR LEGACY WILL BE...
“ making great technology at an affordable price.
WILLIAM
WANG
CEO, VIZIO
“
OUR LEGACY WILL BE...
enabling breakthroughs in AI data centers...and defense.
RUSS GARCIA CEO, MENLO MICROSYSTEMS
Be a Legacy Leader
At Octane, we are on a mission to transform Southern California’s tech and medtech landscape. Our commitment to fueling innovation has launched the Octane Impact Fund, a fund to bring about lasting generational change.
Southern California’s potential knows no bounds, but to unlock it, we need to invest in the future. The Octane Impact Fund is our strategic response to this challenge. By channeling resources into existing successful Octane programs, we’re supercharging their impact, creating a ripple effect that reverberates across industries, communities, and generations.
Support the Octane Impact Fund today to:
• Launch & Grow life-changing companies
• Build a global AI Innovation Hub & education
• Deliver high-impact community solutions
Together, let’s build a legacy.
OUR LEGACY WILL BE...
“ helping therapuetics get to hardto-reach areas, like the kidney.
LAURA BAE CEO, SILVER SPUR THERAPEUTICS
Retired Chairman & CEO, Conexant Systems, Inc.
Executive Chairman, Neurotech
Chairman, Western Digital
Chairman & Retired CEO, Edwards Lifesciences
Thank you to our Board of Directors.
Executive Committee
Former Vice Chancellor, UC Irvine; Founder & Principal, TenXGrow
Chair of the Board
Michael Mussallem
Scott Whitcup
Jag Dosanjh
James Mazzo
Dwight Decker
Carrie Strom
Celine Martin
Bruce Feuchter
Matthew Massengill
Brett Wall
Bill Carpou
James Mazzo
Bob Jacobson
Thomas Moebus
Hugel Inc.
Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth
Octane
RSM US LLP
Janelle Brunette Octane
Linnea Burman Medtronic Neurovascular
Rady Children’s Health K&L Gates Experian J.P. Morgan Private Bank Alcon Newport Diagnostic Center
