Impact Report 2026

1

Table of Contents About Octane

3

Impact Metrics

4

LaunchPad SBDC Accelerator

10

Octane Capital & Growth

16

Octane Foundation for Innovation

26

Signature Events

32

Visionary Ventures

40

Octane Impact Fund

42

Board of Directors

44

Annual Partners & Sponsors

46

“

Someone once told me, “1 + 1 isn’t 2. It’s 11.”

When an ecosystem aligns, the outcomes multiply.

2 0 2 6 I M PA C T R E P O R T

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.

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.

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.

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.

The truth is, collaboration alone rarely creates Collective Impact. It requires shared goals, mutual accountability, and sustained commitment over time.

We invite those who share this vision — organizations, sponsors, entrepreneurs, and investors — to join us.

Someone once told me, “1 + 1 isn’t 2. It’s 11.”

When an ecosystem aligns, the outcomes multiply.

Together, we are shaping the future of innovation.

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.

Bill Carpou CEO, Octane

3

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.

2 0 2 6 I M PA C T R E P O R T

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 COMPANIES ASSISTED

CAPITAL IN EXITS (IPOS, M&AS, ETC.)

$14.8B

by Octane LaunchPad SBDC Alumni & supported companies*

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

92.6% $12.1B

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.

5

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 2026 2 0 2 6 IMPACT I M PA C TREPORT REPORT

CONNECT Convening organization for innovation and content creation across Southern California

LAUNCHPAD SBDC Accelerator for Late Seed & Series A companies

COMMUNITY IMPACT Catalyst for high-paying job creation and community activation & engagement

CAPITAL & GROWTH Solutions to raise capital & accelerate revenue growth & commercialization

AI INNOVATION & ANALYTICS A global hub for AI Innovation and decision intelligence offering predictive analytics for investors

7

7

E N D -T O - E N D S O L U T I O N

R&D GR ANTS

End-To-End Solution Built to accelerate access to capital, revenue generation, and commercialization for innovators.

2026 2 0 2 6 IMPACT I M PA C TREPORT REPORT

F R I E N D S , FA M I LY & ANGELS

Concept Execution PA G E 2 0

Octane Boost Incubator NEW IN 2025

OVERVIEW

S E E D C A P I TA L

E A R LY S TA G E

G R O W T H C A P I TA L

LIQUIDIT Y

VENTURE

EVENT

Operational Execution

Revenue Execution

PA G E 1 0

PA G E 1 6

Octane LaunchPad Accelerator

Octane Capital & Growth

FL AGSHIP OFFERING

SINCE 2022

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.

9 9

L A U N C H PA D S B D C A C C E L E R AT O R

OVERVIEW

LaunchPad SBDC Accelerator LaunchPad SBDC, our awardwinning accelerator program, is generously offered pro-bono thanks to the support of SBDC and SBA.

Our accelerator has four essential components:

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.

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

Pictured (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.

BENJA MIN ALBAUM Co-Founder, VIZQ Technologies

2 0 2 6 I M PA C T R E P O R T

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

D E M O D AY

I N S I D E L A U N C H PA D S B D C ’ S F I R S T D E M O D AY

PRESENTERS

$10,000 in non-dilutive funding awarded to standout founders

MedTech Track Presenters • SenoGuard Diana Tucker • Feminora Christine King, PhD • VIZQ Technologies Benjamin Albaum • OMNIMED® Robert Brown

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.

Tech Track Presenters • Taram Manoj Krishnamaraja • Geyser Data Nelson Nahum • Sclanet AI Murali Kandlagunta • SPORTY Technologies Aaron Greco

OPENING REM ARKS 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

MEDTECH TR ACK WINNER Lidavex Inc: advancing maternal health through LiDAR and optical sensing

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.

TECH TR ACK WINNER Summit Technology Laboratory (STL): creator of Artemis, an AI-powered computer vision platform

L A U N C H PA D SENIOR ADVISORS

Jim Gustafson

Paul Symczak

Tapasya Bali

Laura Beken

Marc Bellotti

Dan Behrendt

David Friedman

Thomas Lee

Tom Mattoon

Alex Shoer

Kenneth Stanigar

Lori Torres

Bill Waldo

11

L A U N C H PA D S B D C A C C E L E R AT O R

Billions of dollars raised by alumni.

Zero dollars charged.

LaunchPad Alumni Durability by Cohort Percent operational by Octane Program Year from past 5 years.

100%

89.6%

% of companies operational

80%

94.5%

96.2%

99.5%

100.0%

85.0%

60%

40%

20%

0% 2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

n=212

n=200

n=163

n=395

n=195

n=231

LaunchPad cohort year (Octane Program Year) Definition: “Operational” = PitchBook business status not marked “Out of Business.” Recent cohorts (2024–2025) reflect early lifecycle survival.

National benchmark (~50% 5-year survival)

W H AT T H I S M E A N S

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.

2 0 2 6 I M PA C T R E P O R T

Source: U.S. BLS survival data

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.

METRICS

Top 10 LaunchPad Alumni by total funding raised RANK

COMPANY

COHORT YEAR

TOTAL RAISED ($M)

1

RxSight

2017

457.4

2

Sonendo

2016

3

Enevate

4

LAST FINANCING

HEADQUARTERS

Public Inv. 2nd Offering

5/8/24

Aliso Viejo, California

447.3

PIPE

5/1/25

Laguna Hills, California

2017

202.4

Secondary Transaction - Priv.

10/1/22

Irvine, California

Novaliq

2018

193.6

Later Stage VC

10/11/18

Heidelberg, Germany

5

Hyperice

2016

187.8

Debt - General

12/31/22

Irvine, California

6

Cloudbreak Therapeutics

2020

171.4

IPO

7/3/25

Irvine, California

7

Medikabazaar

2021

165.9

Later Stage VC

9/13/23

Mumbai, India

8

iTrustCapital

2020

128.0

Early Stage VC

1/19/22

Long Beach, California

9

Med - X

2017

123.3

Equity Crowdfunding

5/30/25

Encinitas, California

10

Geltor

2019

117.3

Later Stage VC

8/1/25

San Leandro, California

W H AT T H I S M E A N S

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.

LAST FINANCING (TYPE)

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.

13

L A U N C H PA D S B D C A C C E L E R AT O R

From Toronto to Irvine How Octane helped Acorn Biolabs move to Southern California and build the relationships that unlocked capital, advisors, and market momentum.

Pictured: Drew Taylor, CEO of Acorn Biolabs and William Hall, COO of Acorn Biolabs at Aesthetics Tech Forum.

W H AT O C TA N E H E L P E D D E L I V E R

22

hours of expert counseling

• • • •

6

$500K+

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

equity capital raised in 2022

• • • •

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

T H E R E S U LT

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.

2 0 2 6 I M PA C T R E P O R T

ACORN BIOL ABS

C A S E S T U DY

A C O N V E R S AT I O N W I T H W I L L H A L L

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.

B I L L : Will, when you and Drew created Acorn Biolabs, what problem were you trying to solve?

W I L L : 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.

B I L L : 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.

W I L L : 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?

LISTEN

B I L L : Sounds like a good board member.

W I L L : 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.

B I L L : Very true. What was your situation when you came to [Aesthetics Tech Summit 2022]?

W I L L : 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.

B I L L : Congratulations on your expansion. How did that first Octane event go?

W I L L : 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.

B I L L : 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?

W I L L : 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 introductions across investors, partners, and clinical leaders - remain incredibly valuable as we move into our next phase of growth.

B I L L : Thanks Will. Great conversation. We’ll be here every step of the way.

15

O C TA N E C A P I TA L & G R O W T H

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

AESTHETICS TECH FORUM

NEURO TECH FORUM

NovoThelium

Sinaptica Therapeutics

PEOPLE’S & JUDGE’S CHOICE WINNER

PEOPLE’S & JUDGE’S CHOICE WINNER

O C I N N O V AT I O N W E E K

O PHTH A L MO LO GY TECH FO R UM

Pretika MedTech

EyeDura

FA S T P I T C H W I N N E R

PEOPLE’S & JUDGE’S CHOICE WINNER

C A R D I OVAS CU L A R TECH FO R UM

M E D I C A L I N N O V AT I O N F O R U M — D AY 1

PolyVascular

Auctus Surgical

PEOPLE’S & JUDGE’S CHOICE WINNER

PEOPLE’S CHOICE WINNER

M E D I C A L I N N O V AT I O N F O R U M — D AY 1

M E D I C A L I N N O V AT I O N F O R U M — D AY 2

Regeneration Biomedical

OMNIMED®

JUDGE’S CHOICE WINNER

PEOPLE’S & JUDGE’S CHOICE WINNER

2 0 2 6 I M PA C T R E P O R T

O C TA N E P O R T F O L I O C O M PA N I E S

AT- A - G L A N C E

AESTHETICS

AESTHETICS

AESTHETICS

AESTHETICS

AESTHETICS

Acorn Biolabs

AiViva BioPharma

Aurris AI

Bemy

Eirion Therapeutics, Inc.

AESTHETICS

AESTHETICS

AESTHETICS

AESTHETICS

AESTHETICS

Innopath Therapeutics

NovoThelium

Pictoria Systems

Ponce AI

RheoTek Medical Inc.

AESTHETICS

CARDIO

CARDIO

CARDIO

CARDIO

Truelastin

Trufacial

AutoMedicus

BioLeonhardt

Corstasis Therapeutics

Magellan Biomedical Inc.

CARDIO

CARDIO

CARDIO

MEDTECH

MEDTECH

MEDTECH

Myochron

Second Heart Assist

ValThera

Auctus Surgical

Autonomix

Cobionix

MEDTECH

MEDTECH

MEDTECH

MEDTECH

MEDTECH

MEDTECH

D2Type Health Inc.

Darroch Medical Solutions Inc.

Eisana Health

Elle, MD Biotechnologies

Exactice Medical, Inc.

Finally Quiet, Inc.

MEDTECH

MEDTECH

MEDTECH

MEDTECH

MEDTECH

MEDTECH

Interro IQ

Makani Science

Moonrise Medical

OMNIMED, Inc.

Oraq.ai

Prosetta Biosciences

MEDTECH

NEURO

NEURO

NEURO

NEURO

MEDTECH

Stimcore

Interactome Biotherapeutics

MemoryCareAI

NeuroTrigger

Piezolabs Medical

PulseMedica

NEURO

OPHTHALMIC

OPHTHALMIC

OPHTHALMIC

OPHTHALMIC

Sinaptica Therapeutics

AI4Eyes

ExOcular

EyeDura Therapeutics

Implandata

OPHTHALMIC

TECH

Pantheon Vision

Guac App

GetHairMD

AESTHETICS

AESTHETICS

Etienna Bio

AESTHETICS

OPHTHALMIC

Myoptechs

50 portfolio companies across medtech, digital health, AI, and advanced technologies.

17

O C TA N E C A P I TA L & G R O W T H

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: S P E E D T O C A P I TA L

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.

T H E O C TA N E A P P R O A C H

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.

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

T H E R E S U LT

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.

2 0 2 6 I M PA C T R E P O R T

SINAPTICA THERAPEUTICS

C A S E S T U DY

Pictured: Ken Mariash, CEO of Sinaptica Therapeutics, presenting to a panel of judges on the main stage at Neuro Tech Forum 2025.

W H AT O C TA N E D E L I V E R E D

• • •

84%

6 mo

$400K+

People’s Choice Awards vote share

intro → investment close cycle

capital raised via DOT network

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.

• • •

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.

U P D AT E F R O M T H E S I N A P T I C A T E A M ( F E B . ‘ 2 6)

“

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.

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.”

PA I S H U B H A M , C FA Finance and Operations Manager, Sinaptica Therapeutics

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O C TA N E C A P I TA L & G R O W T H

BOOST Venture Fund BOOST Venture Fund

A curated path from idea to investor-ready, de-risked, and revenue-capable.

A curated path from idea to investor-ready, de-risked, and revenue-capable.

Startup Growth & Commercialization Roadmap Startup & Commercialization Roadmap PillarGrowth 1: Foundation & Readiness Goal: Build a solid business and compliance backbone.

Pillar 1: Foundation & Readiness

• • • • • • • •

Corporate Docs: Legal infrastructure (incorporation, bylaws, operating agreements).

Corporate Docs: Cap Table / 409A / Financial Model: Legal infrastructure (incorporation, bylaws, operating agreements).

Investor-ready equity and dynamic forecasting.

Cap Table / 409A / Financial Model: 409A Valuation: Accurate valuation for equity grants.

Investor-ready equity and dynamic forecasting.

IP Roadmap: Patent and trade secret strategy.

409A Valuation: Accurate valuation for equity grants.

HR Roadmap: Smart talent acquisition and retention policies.

IP Roadmap: Patent and trade secret strategy.

FDA Roadmap: Early regulatory alignment for devices, drugs, diagnostics.

HR Roadmap: Smart talent acquisition and retention policies.

•

FDA Roadmap: Early regulatory alignment for devices, drugs, diagnostics.

•

Goal: Build a solid business and compliance backbone.

• •

BOOST Deliverables BOOST Deliverables ✓

FDA Roadmap

✓ ✓

FDA Roadmap HR Roadmap

✓ ✓

HR Roadmap Grant Roadmap

✓ ✓

Grant Roadmap Cap Table/409A/

✓

Cap Table/409A/ Financial Modeling

✓

Financial Modeling 409A Valuation

Pillar 3: Validation & Go-to-Market

✓ ✓

409A Valuation Commercialization Roadmap

Pillar 3: Validation & Go-to-Market

✓ ✓

Commercialization Roadmap IP Roadmap & Corporate Docs

✓ ✓

IP Roadmap Pitch Deck & Corporate Docs

✓ ✓

Pitch Deck Advisory Board

✓ ✓

Advisory Board Help Stage & Capital

✓ ✓

Stage & Capital Help Innovation Sponsorship

✓ ✓

Innovation Peer GroupSponsorship

✓ ✓

Peer Group Diligence

✓

Diligence

Pillar 2: Capital & Storytelling Goal: Tell and get funded.

Pillar 2:a compelling Capital &story Storytelling

• Pitch Deck: Sharpen your narrative, backed by data, traction, and vision.

Goal: Tell a compelling story and get funded.

• Stage & Capital Help: • Pitch Deck: Sharpen your narrative, backed by data, traction, and vision. structure a capital raise plan.

• Stage & Capital Help: • Advisory Board: Assemble domain and investor-savvy advisors to build structure a capital raise plan. credibility and get strategic input.

• Advisory Board: Assemble domain and investor-savvy advisors to build • Grant Roadmap: credibility and get strategic input.

•

Grant Roadmap:

Goal: Prove it works and get to market faster.

Commercialization Roadmap: Lay out clear go-to-market plans including Goal: Prove it works and get to market faster. pricing, channels, and pilots.

• Commercialization Roadmap: Lay out clear go-to-market plans including • Innovation Sponsorship: Gain access to corporate partners who can pricing, channels, and pilots. validate and sponsor your tech.

• Innovation Sponsorship: Gain access to corporate partners who can • Peer Group: Learn from other founders navigating similar journeys—stay validate and sponsor your tech. connected, inspired, and supported.

• Peer Group: Learn from other founders navigating similar journeys—stay connected, inspired, and supported.

•

Pillar 4: Diligence & Scale

Goal: Prepare for investor diligence and future growth.

Pillar 4: Diligence & Scale

•

Diligence: Be diligence-ready with clean documentation, data rooms, and audit trails.

Diligence: FDA, IP, Financial, and HR docs: Be diligence-ready with clean documentation, data rooms, and audit trails.

All aligned and packaged to meet investor and acquirer expectations.

FDA, IP, Financial, and HR docs: All aligned and packaged to meet investor and acquirer expectations.

Goal: Prepare for investor diligence and future growth.

• • •

Why This Works Why This Works Mike Hill

De-risked Venture De-risked Address investor Venture concerns before

Smart Capital Strategy Smart Capital Blend equity and Strategy funding non-dilutive

they arise. for smarter Address investor Blend equitygrowth. and 2 0 2 6before I M PA C T R E Pnon-dilutive ORT concerns funding they arise. for smarter growth.

Speed to Market

Credibility

Regulatory, IP, Speed to Market and financial prep done early =IP, faster Regulatory, launch. and financial prep done early = faster launch.

Backed by expert Credibility advisors, clean cap tables, and strong Backed by expert narrative. clean cap advisors, tables, and strong narrative.

Managing Director, Mike Hill Octane Capital Markets Managing Director, Email: mike@octaneoc.org Octane Capital Markets Email: mike@octaneoc.org

BOOST VENTURE FUND

TESTIMONIAL

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.”

GUL AB ZODE , PHD Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences Center for Translational Vision Research Gavin Herbert Eye Institute

21

O C TA N E C A P I TA L & G R O W T H

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.

TESTIMONIAL

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.”

YA R I M I T C H E L L Co-Founder & Co-CEO, Business Strategy & Positioning LaunchLab Partners

Pictured: Yari Mitchell, Co-Founder and CEO as emcee at Ophthalmology Tech Forum 2025.

2 0 2 6 I M PA C T R E P O R T

O C TA N E P R E F E R R E D A D V I S O R S

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 VET TED ADVISORS:

O C TA N E P R E F E R R E D A D V I S O R S

Ophthalmic CRO, Regulatory & Clinical Trial

W H AT O C TA N E D E L I V E R E D

29

40+

150+

Trusted Octane Preferred Advisors

areas of expertise

net new introductions in 2025

23

A I I N N O VAT I O N A N D A N A LY T I C S

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.

Orange County has always had the talent, the capital, and the ambition. In 2025, we asked key leaders of our community one question: what do you need to lead the AI era? Their answers built this hub.

O U R I M PA C T

W H AT O U R R E G I O N S AY S W E NEED TO BE A LE ADER IN AI

Strategic Roadmap

How could you or your organization benefit from engaging with the Hub? Revenue growth

51.7%

Cost savings and efficiency

44.1%

Market expansion

48.5%

Expanded professional network

62.8%

Talent acquisition and development

40.7%

Increased innovation output Other (please specify) 0.0%

56.4% 12.8%

F U T U R E O F I N N O VAT I O N I S A I T E C H I N N O VAT I O N F O R U M 2 0 2 5

K AT H L E E N P E T E R S Chief Innovation Officer, Experian

A I I N N O VAT I O N H U B A D V I S O R Y B O A R D

2 0 2 6 I M PA C T R E P O R T

AI Innovation Hub Community Survey, February 2025

10.0% 20.0% 30.0% 40.0% 50.0% 60.0% 70.0%

“

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.”

A I I N N O VAT I O N H U B

What we delivered FEB. 2025

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.

MAY 2025

READ THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Tech Innovation Forum

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.

MAY 2025

Pictured (left to right): Clay Wilemon (4L Data Intelligence), Kathleen Peters (Experian), Bill Carpou (Octane) at Tech Innovation Forum - Day 1.

Tech Innovation Forum

Fireside Chat: Congressman Jay Obernolte Congressional 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.

Pictured: Congressman Jay Obernolte at Tech Innovation Forum 2025 (Day 2).

JUNE–OCT. 2025

AI in Practice Across Octane Forums

SEPT. 2025

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.

Tech Innovation Forum

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): Attendees from MagicMirror, VIZQ Technologies, Quantum AI Health, and OMNIMED.

25 25

O C TA N E F O U N D AT I O N F O R I N N O VAT I O N

Octane Foundation for Innovation (OFI)

Pictured: UCLA Biodesign Fellows at Cardiovascular Tech Forum 2025.

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.

2026 2 0 2 6 IMPACT I M PA C TREPORT REPORT

OVERVIEW

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.

227 7

O C TA N E F O U N D AT I O N F O R I N N O VAT I O N

Women Leaders of Octane (WLO)

OUR PURPOSE

We’re focused on four key missions: 1

Women Leaders of Octane (WLO) exists to transform Orange County’s innovation landscape by increasing the social and economic impact of women in business.

2

3 WLO Co-Chairs Tara Capalbo, AbbVie & Natalie Harney, Insperity 4 Funding Women Founders Committee

Women on Boards Committee

Chair, Ashley Fairon, Silicon Valley Bank

Chair: Maria Moskver, Cloudvirga Co-Chair: Summer Taylor, Deloitte

Creating Women-led Businesses & LaunchPad Committee

Resources & Communications

Chair: Nanneke Dinklo, Materna Med Co-Chair: Marinela Gombosev, SPARK Neuro

Chair: Elaine Marshall, Empowered PR Co-Chair: Mischa Martineau, IAMWHOISAYIAM.Global

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

2 0 2 5 W L O P R O G R A M I M PA C T B U L L E T S

•

1,200+ 35.2%

50%+

women engaged through WLO programming

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.

2 0 2 6 I M PA C T R E P O R T

•

FACES Campaign launched to elevate women leaders in life sciences and technology, featuring more than a dozen interviews and profiles.

W O M E N L E A D E R S O F O C TA N E

JAN

Dr. Sophia Ononye

WLO Annual Forum

Sponsored by Conexus Advisors and UCI Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute (UCI SSIHI) MAY 6, 2025 · UCI SSIHI

Founder & CEO, The Sophia Consulting Firm Author, Cancer Researcher & Entrepreneur FEB

Dr. Shaista Malik

Opening · UCI SSIHI

Haeri Roh-Schmidt, PhD

VP Product Innovation, Herbalife Acquiring & Deploying Transferable Leadership Skills

Kathleen Peters

Keynote: AI Landscape · Experian

AI to Innovate, Inspire and Impact Carey Moretti · Debbie Chamkasem Javier Hernandez · Kathleen Peters

MAR

Patty Civalleri

Success: What Is It To You?

Author, Becoming Trader Joe (Harper Collins)

Amanda Fowler · Essraa Nawar · LaKeisha Landrum Pierre

The Trader Joe's Story — From Joe's Journals to Best-Seller

Afternoon Wellness Lisa Tanker

Financial Know-How

Jonathan Treussard, PhD · Ouenda Baaissa · Ashley Fairon · Xandra Laskowski

Business BOOST Series MAR. 18 - MAY 20

APR

Lisa Tanker Wellness Speaker & Consultant Demystifying Women's Wellness

MAY

WLO & Chapman University Leatherby Center for Entrepreneurship produced a 10-week coaching and tutorial workshop curriculum for 15-20 women founders.

Jessica Walsh

Founder & CEO, RxBandz Drug delivery innovation & the world's smallest auto-injector JUN

WLO StartUp Lab

Paige Hendrix Buckner

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.

Tapasya Bali

CEO, All Raise Propelling women & non-binary VCs in the venture ecosystem JUL

Founder, 100CalSnacks.com Senior Advisor, LaunchPad SBDC

Natalie Plain

Founder & CEO, Billion Dollar Beauty

AUG

Concept to consumer, brand acquisitions & licensing

Summer Social

Women Leaders of Octane

SEP

Lori Bober

Sr. Director Talent Management, Experian

Business BOOST Series

Staying Relevant Through a 48-Year Career of Impact & Leadership

SEPT. 16 – NOV. 18

WLO & Chapman University Leatherby Center for Entrepreneurship produced a 10-week coaching and tutorial workshop curriculum for 15-20 women founders.

OCT

Stephanie Mitchell

VP Marketing, AVAVA Integration, Not Balance — Leading Through a 25-Year Career & Neurodiversity NOV

Khryzza Kelley

Co-founder, CoWorq & Isla & Co. Advocacy-First Entrepreneurship

29

O C TA N E F O U N D AT I O N F O R I N N O VAT I O N

Non-Profit Accelerator

B A C K E D BY

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.

WE’RE FOCUSED ON THREE KE Y MISSIONS: 1

Using the LaunchPad SBDC Accelerator process, we enable non-profits to make a greater and lasting impact in the community.

2

ur Non-Profit Accelerator program assists nonO profits in refining strategies and presentations to secure vital grants and funding.

3

Octane advocates for non-profits’ selfsustainability while fulfilling their crucial missions, making the Non-Profit Accelerator pivotal in achieving long-term viability.

SPRING COHORT

FA L L COHORT

W H AT O C TA N E D E L I V E R E D

10

60

509K+

Cohort Graduates in 2025

OC-based nonprofit graduates since 2019

individuals served in underrepresented & underserved communities in Southern California

2 0 2 6 I M PA C T R E P O R T

N O N - P R O F I T A C C E L E R AT O R

Pictured (left to right): Dreams for Schools, Drones4Kids, Beyond Blindness, Cancer Kinship, OCIACC, The Youth Center, Achievement Institute for STEM Scholars.

N O N - P R O F I T A C C E L E R AT O R 2 . 0 P I T C H L A B

PRESENTERS

J U LY 1 0 | M E D T R O N I C

• • • • • • •

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.

WINNERS 1. Dreams for School 2. The Youth Center 3. OCIACC

JUDGES Tiffany Roberts, F&M Bank Foundation Dan Mularkey, Sun Family Foundation Amanda Fowler, Edwards Lifesciences Foundation

TESTIMONIAL

Cancer Kinship

YO L I O R I G E L CEO, Cancer Kinship

Beyond Blindness OCIACC Achievement Institute for STEM Scholars The Youth Center Cancer Kinship Drones4Kids Dreams for Schools

“

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. ”

31

S I G N AT U R E E V E N T S

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 naturally whether 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.

2026 2 0 2 6 IMPACT I M PA C TREPORT REPORT

OVERVIEW

Signature Events AESTHETICS TECH FORUM JAN. 8-9

NEURO TECH FORUM APR. 4

M AY 7

JUN. 2 6 -2 7

S E P. 1 1 -1 2

TECH INNOVATION FORUM

OPHTHALMOLOGY TECH FORUM

CARDIOVASCULAR TECH FORUM

S E P. 2 5

HIGH TECH AWARDS O C T. 2 8 -2 9

MEDICAL INNOVATION FORUM

333 3

S I G N AT U R E E V E N T S

Built on two decades of the right relationships.

T H E O C TA N E E C O S Y S T E M

Academic Institutions

Innovators

Service

Entrepreneurs

Providers

Strategics Industry

Investors SMEs Experts

KOLs

Health

Physicians

Systems

Community Leaders

Orange high-activity relationship

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.

2 0 2 6 I M PA C T R E P O R T

Gov. Leaders

Gray supporting pathway

Orbits proximity to convening

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.

ABOUT OUR ECOSYSTEM

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

Data from CVENT & Soapbox, self-reported by attendees and audited internally.

Each bar represents 100% of attendees for designated forum.

ATF 2025

NTF 2025

TIF 2025

OTF 2025

CTF 2025

OMIF 2025

20%

LEGEND

Entrepreneur

Investor

40%

Physician

60%

Strategic Advisor

80%

Industry

Academic

100%

Other

W H AT T H I S M E A N S

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.

35

S I G N AT U R E E V E N T S

Octane Signature Events

JAN

FEB

MAR

APR

M AY

Tech Innovation Forum

January 8-9 VEA Newport Beach

550+ Attendees

April 4 VEA Newport Beach

260+ Companies

230+ Attendees

May 7 UCI Beall

90+

Companies

P R E S E N T I N G C O M PA N I E S

P R E S E N T I N G C O M PA N I E S

• • • • • • • •

• • • •

AiViva ArtifeX AI Eirion Therapeutics Innopath Therapeutics NovoThelium Pictoria Ponce AI RheoTek Medical

“

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 S O L O M O N , Unitox

2 0 2 6 I M PA C T R E P O R T

Interactome Biotherapeutics NeuroTrigger Piezolabs Medical Sinaptica Therapeutics

“

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. ” J O J O P L AT T, Platt & Associates

230+ Attendees

May 5-9 OC, CA (see p. 38)

90+

Companies

P R E S E N T I N G C O M PA N I E S • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

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)

Y E A R AT A G L A N C E

JUN

JUL

AUG

SEP

OCT

NOV

DEC

Medical Innovation Forum

Sept. 11-12 VEA Newport Beach

June 26-27 VEA Newport Beach

410+ Attendees

205+ Companies

380+ Attendees

Sept. 25 AV Irvine (see p. 39)

190+ Companies

Oct. 28-29 Irvine Marriott

470+ Attendees

190+ Companies

P R E S E N T I N G C O M PA N I E S

P R E S E N T I N G C O M PA N I E S

P R E S E N T I N G C O M PA N I E S

• • • • • • •

• • • • • • •

• • • • • • • • • • •

AI4Eyes Medical Technologies Inc. Beyeonics Vision EyeDura Therapeutics Eyecool Therapeutics Optigo Biotherapeutics Pantheon Vision Recornea

Aufero Medical Berlin Heals Echo IQ Learup PolyVascular Valthera Veritas Aortic Solutions

Auctus Surgical Corstasis D2Type Health Exactice Med Eyesonix Finally Quiet Interro IQ Northern Vascular Systems OMNIMED® Regeneration Biomedical Single Pass

“

“

“

A L I A R D A K A N I , Novateur Ventures

S TA N R O W E , NXT Biomedical

P E M A N M O N TA Z E M I , Finally Quiet!

Octane Ophthalmology - an exclusive, visionary model in Orange County seamlessly equips engineers, clinicians, and innovators with every resource they need...I’m continually impressed by how beautifully Octane orchestrates innovation and connection.”

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!”

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.”

37

5

270

+

Days

Companies

2,500

+

Attendees

M AY 5 - 9, 2 0 2 5

The premier gathering for visionaries seeking to explore and invest in the region’s cutting-edge creations.

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.

5

MON. MAY 5

6

TUES. MAY 6

7

8

WEDS. MAY 7

THURS. MAY 8

9

FRI. MAY 9

MORNING

OCBC Healthcare Forum THE WATERFRONT BEACH RESORT NOON

Born in California UCI BEALL APPLIED INNOVATION

Fast Pitch Presented by Insperity

WLO Forum

Presented by Conexus Hosted by UCI SSIHI

UCI SUSAN SAMUELI INTEGRATIVE HEALTH INSTITUTE (UCI SSIHI)

Tech Innovation Forum (TIF)

Tech Innovation Forum (TIF)

KEYNOTE: Marques McCammon, President, Karma Automotive

CONGRESSMAN JAY OBERNOLTE (R-CA)

KEY SESSIONS:

BRUNCH WITH EXPERTS

•

StartUp to Scale Up

is AI •

Future of Work

•

How to Partner with the Largest Investor in

UCI BEALL

the US •

EVENING

OCIW Opening Reception Hosted by the Irvine Company`

THE COMMONS UCI RESEARCH PARK

2026 2 0 2 6 IMPACT I M PA C TREPORT REPORT

Survivor™ Fast Pitch Competition

Networking Reception

View from the Family Office

•

Cyber & AI: The Future of Innovation and Security

•

Building the Future: Local Entrepreneurs

Presented by TCVN UCI BEALL APPLIED UCI BEALL APPLIED INNOVATION INNOVATION

The Future of Innovation

ECONOMIC UPDATE

Redefining Success

UCI BEALL APPLIED INNOVATION

AV IRVINE

BALBOA BAY RESORT

S E P T E M B E R 2 5 | AV I R V I N E

The High Tech Awards spotlight the trailblazers who drive innovation and position Orange County as a leader in technology and medical technology.

2025 H I G H TEC H AWA R D FI N A LI S T S

This year, over 160 companies were nominated across 11 categories, showcasing the best in tech and medtech excellence.

AWA R D W I N N E R S

39 39

VISIONARY VENTURES

Visionary Ventures Visionary Ventures is a dynamic venture capital fund specializing in life sciences and the future of ophthalmology, founded by Octane in 2015.

F O U N D I N G G E N E R A L PA R T N E R

Octane

TA R G E T R A N G E

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.

INVESTMENT MODEL

Operational Execution

→

Investment

$5M – $15M per investment S TA G E

Series A through commercialization A D VA N TA G E

KOL + strategic acquirer network advantage

→

Clinical Validation

→

Strategic Exit

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.

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Better information leads to better investments with exceptional returns.”

2 0 2 6 I M PA C T R E P O R T

OVERVIEW & METRICS

W H AT O C TA N E A N D V I S I O N A R Y V E N T U R E S D E L I V E R E D

$190M+

$15.9M

Raised for portfolio companies

New AUM added in 2025

FUND TR AJEC TORY

FUND I

FUND II

2025

Top quartile IRR and top decile DPI.

Top decile DPI with performance positioned for future exits.

New co-invests include Pelage, Inatrek, and Sydnexis.

PORTFOLIO MOMENTUM

PEL AGE

OC TOBER 10, 2025

$120M

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.

IANTREK

AUGUST 20, 2025

$42M

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.

SYDNE XIS

$20M

Confidential.

Reach out to Bill Carpou at bill@octaneoc.org to learn more.

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Octane Impact Fund What will your legacy be?

Be part of the legacy that’s elevating Orange County, fueling innovation, creating high-paying jobs, and driving a healthier, brighter future for all.

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OUR LEGACY WILL BE...

extending a person’s active lifestyle — well beyond the golden years.

Let’s explore the stories of these passionate innovators and uncover what drives their journey towards a better future.

JAMES KIM CEO, OVERTURE ORTHOPAEDICS

“

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

2026 2 0 2 6 IMPACT I M PA C TREPORT REPORT

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.

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OUR LEGACY WILL BE...

enabling breakthroughs in AI data centers...and defense.

RUSS GARCIA CEO, MENLO MICROSYSTEMS

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

octaneoc.org/octane-impact-fund

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Founders

Dwight Decker

James Mazzo

Matthew Massengill

Michael Mussallem

Thomas Moebus

Retired Chairman & CEO, Conexant Systems, Inc.

Executive Chairman, Neurotech

Chairman, Western Digital

Chairman & Retired CEO, Edwards Lifesciences

Former Vice Chancellor, UC Irvine; Founder & Principal, TenXGrow

Thank you to our Board of Directors.

Executive Committee

Bill Carpou Octane

Celine Martin (Former) Johnson & Johnson MedTech

Jag Dosanjh AbbVie

James Mazzo Neurotech

2 0 2 6 I M PA C T R E P O R T

Bruce Feuchter Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth

Bob Jacobson RSM US LLP

Carrie Strom Hugel Inc.

Brett Wall Medtronic

Chair of the Board

Scott Whitcup Whitecap Therapeutics

Laurent Attias Alcon

Rema Awad K&L Gates

Charles Black J.P. Morgan Private Bank

Janelle Brunette Octane

Linnea Burman Medtronic Neurovascular

Anthony Chang, MD, MBA, MPH, MS Rady Children’s Health

Hazem Chehabi, MD Newport Diagnostic Center

Janet Clardy Experian

Sean Crafts BLDG Labs

Pete Deutschman The Buddy Group

Adam Fingersh Experian

Randy Fisher Insperity

Warren Foust STAAR Surgical

Russ Garcia Menlo Micro

Marinela Gombosev SPARK Neuro

Ray Grainger Mavenlink/ Kantata

Fauad Hasan

Michael Hedge

Reza Jahangiri

Scott Joslyn

Dr. Edward Kim

Jason Lantgen

Appiell.ai

K&L Gates

Bloom Retirement Holdings

UCI Health

City of Hope

JLL

Sabing Lee Knobbe Martens

Goran Matijasevic UC Irvine

Tatjana Mitchell Evolus

Thomas Mitro Formerly Aerie Pharmaceuticals

David Moatazedi Evolus

Aziz Mottiwala Tarsus Pharmaceuticals

YJ Oh

Ryan Olsen, MBA, MPH Hoag Health System

Arshad Quadri, MD inQB8 Medical Technologies

Ehsan Sadri, MD, FACS Visionary Eye Institute

Marc Schneider

Andrew Stewart

Dean Stoecker

Ian Williamson

Ted Wilm

Bausch + Lomb

Alteryx

Dr. Sridhar (Sri) Sundaram Cal State University, Fullerton

Ramin Valian

Stradling

Emmecell

UC Irvine

PwC

Ashlie Woods Goldman Sachs

Edwards Lifesciences

Kamakshi R. Zeidler, MD Aesthetx

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Octane Annual Partners & Sponsors Diamond

Platinum

Gold

Supporting

Thank you to our annual partners & sponsors for driving innovation.

2 0 2 6 I M PA C T R E P O R T

Highlighted Event Sponsors Ace Vision Group, Inc. Acorn Biolabs Alliant Insurance Services American Heart Association Amplifica Holdings Group, Inc. Apellis Pharmaceuticals Aurion Biotech Baker Tilly US, LLP BENEV Beyond Blindness BioPhotas, Inc. Biosense Webster BLDG Labs Broadview Ventures Bryn Mawr Communications Group Cardiac Interventions Today CardiacVascular News CathWorks Inc Cedars Aspens Cloudbreak Therapeutics LLC Cognoa Cutera Elevai Labs Establishment Labs Eversana Evolus Excelestar Ventures Exfluential, Inc Eye News Media Eyes on Eyescare Geneo Glaukos GLO Guidepoint Qsight Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association Howard Building Corporation ICON plc Ingram Micro inQB8 Medical Technologies Investor Brand Network Irvine Company

iuvo BioScience jCyte Johnson & Johnson Vision Kingsmen Digital Ventures LaunchLab Partners LENZ Therapeutics Lionheart Health, Inc. LSI Marcum Masimo Menlo Micro Modern Aesthetics Neurotech OCRA Orange County Business Council Orasis Pharmaceuticals OWL Advancing Diversity in Leadership PatientFi Perfect Corp.

Portrait Pretika MedTech PRN Medical Solutions Rion Aesthetics ROTH Capital Partners RxSight Samsara Vision Sanoculis Savills Inc. SIA | An Integra LifeSciences Company Silicon Valley Bank Sinclair Pharma Skytale Group Smilefish Strive Compounding Pharmacy Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Inc. Sunstone Management, Inc. Symbio Syprosoft Inc. Tech Coast Consulting Group LLC Teijin Pharma Limited The Irvine Company Trukera Medical TSX Inc. UC Irvine Health UCI Gavin Herbert Eye Institute University Lab Partners ZO Skin Health 47 47

We convene and enable the Southern California tech and medtech ecosystem by connecting people, resources, and capital. octaneoc.org 2 0 2 6 I M PA C T R E P O R T