Inaugural OC Tech Week Draws 3,000 From 12 Countries, Sends Finalist to $1M Startup World Cup
Nov 3, 2026
IRVINE, Calif. - Nov. 3, 2026 - PRLog -- OC Tech Week hosted by Tech Coast Venture Network drew an estimated 3,000 attendees from 12 countries to 59 events across Orange County, organizers said, and produced a regional champion who will compete for a $1 million investment prize at the Startup World Cup Grand Finale in San Francisco.
The six-day event, organized by Tech Coast Venture Network (TCVN) under the theme "Innovation in Paradise," ran Oct. 19-24. Instead of a single conference, it was built as a radically inclusive, decentralized series of community driven events hosted by companies, universities, investor groups and community organizations across the county. Organizers said the goal is a single regional identity for Orange County's innovation economy. OC Tech Week will return Sept. 20-25, 2027.
"Orange County has all the ingredients to become one of the world's leading innovation economies: exceptional talent, investment capital, research institutions and entrepreneurial ambition," said Farrah N. Khan, former Mayor of Irvine, co-chair of OC Tech Week. "Our vision is to connect those strengths and make Orange County a place where the next generation of transformative companies can thrive."
"Founders don't succeed in isolation. They need relationships, resources, visibility and a community that believes in them…before there is traction," said Tony Crisp, president of Tech Coast Venture Network, co-chair of OC Tech Week, and Founder of CRISPx brand marketing. "Farrah had the vision, we created the spark, and the community turned it into a fire. You don't find your community, you build it."
Startup World Cup regional champion
Jim O'Connell, founder and CEO of Vytala, won the Startup World Cup Orange County Regional Qualifier on Oct. 21 at the sold-out Best of the Best Startup Pitch Showcase, organized by the Alliance for SoCal Innovation and TCA Venture Group. Thirteen startups pitched to a panel of five judges.
Vytala advances to the Startup World Cup Grand Finale in San Francisco, Nov. 4-6, where regional winners from around the world will compete for a $1 million investment prize from Pegasus Tech Ventures. Pegasus also invited the other 12 competing startups to attend the Grand Finale.
"The million-dollar prize is exciting, but the real story is access," said Dave de Csepel, chairman of TCA Venture Group. "When founders get in front of experienced investors and build relationships beyond their own networks, that's how a strong regional ecosystem becomes globally competitive."
Global participation
The Oct. 20 Global Trade Summit, organized by International Impact Connections, featured perspectives from China, India, the United Arab Emirates, Mexico, Romania, South Korea and Europe's technology sectors. Speakers included Marques McCammon, CEO of Karma Automotive; John Shen, founding partner of Sunstone Management; and Christopher K. Lee, venture partner at GoAhead Ventures.
Week highlights
The week opened Oct. 19 at the Sunstone Courtyard in Irvine with a keynote by Don DiCostanzo, founder of Pedego Electric Bikes and CEO of The Ticket 500, titled "Moonshots: The Future Isn't Predicted. It's Built." Irvine Mayor Larry Agran opened with a warm welcome.
Other events included:
- FOX 11 Los Angeles covered The AI Lab's "The People vs. The AI Lab" debate and The AI Lab is now inviting NVIDIA, Meta, OpenAI, Google and Microsoft to adopt TIP
- Startup Pitch Fest, hosted by Startup Steroid, Sunstone and SGC Angels
- Quantum Security Day, at Microsoft's Innovation Hub with Quantum eMotion
- Gorilla Cars & Coffee, hosted by Adriana's Insurance, which organizers estimated brought together $10 million worth of vehicles, speakers OG Arabian Prince, founding member of Rock n Roll hall of fame rap group N.W.A., and founder of Rezvani Motors, Ferris Rezvani
- Pickleball with investors was a *hit*
"Ten million dollars in cars is impressive, but the real value is the community those cars bring together," said Adriana Gallardo, founder and CEO of Adriana's Insurance. "Gorilla Cars and Coffee give people a reason to connect beyond business cards and formal introductions."
The week closed Oct. 24 at the CU Center at Concordia University Irvine, in partnership with TiE Los Angeles and SoCal Celebrates Entrepreneurship.
Golden Unicorn Awards
OC Tech Week honored its founding committee with Golden Unicorn Awards, named for the event's orange unicorn mascot. In startup terms, a unicorn is a private company valued at more than $1 billion, and organizers said the award reflects a goal of building the ecosystem that produces them. The honorees are listed below.
All attendance and participation figures are preliminary organizer estimates.
2026 Golden Unicorn Award honorees
- Farrah N. Khan, co-chair, OC Tech Week; board member TCVN, former Mayor, Irvine
- Jennifer Huang, director of marketing, Sunstone Investment Group
- Karl Hoenecke, dean, School of Business and Economics, Concordia University Irvine
- Don DiCostanzo, CEO, The Ticket 500; founder, Pedego Electric Bikes
- Bob Genthert, managing director, EvoNexus Irvine; CEO, GlyTR Therapeutics
- Jerry Heikens, executive director, TiE Los Angeles
- Cynthia West, Ph.D., founder, Rezultant
- Vicente Sarmiento, Orange County supervisor, 2nd District
- Anshuman Sinha, board of trustee, TiE Global
- Dave de Csepel, chairman, TCA Venture Group
- Tedy Fugel, founder and CEO, KICKFLP
- Arabian Prince, founder, iNov8; board member TCVN; founding member, N.W.A.
- Aaron Klein, founder, LYNX Enterprise; executive director, TCVN
- Venkatesh Sankaran, president, TiE Los Angeles; board member, TCVN
- David Ochi, executive director at CSUDH Innovation Incubator
- Chris Weber, CEO, Only on the Rancho Productions
- Gia Ly, managing director, SoCal Celebrates Entrepreneurship
- Lillian Victoria, founder, Awesomeness Lifestyle; board member TCVN
- Tony Crisp, president, TCVN; co-chair, OC Tech Week; founder CRISPx
About OC Tech Week
OC Tech Week is Orange County's community-powered week of events on innovation, entrepreneurship and technology, organized by Tech Coast Venture Network. More information is at octechweek.com. Sponsorship and hosting inquiries go to OCtechweek.com.
About Tech Coast Venture Network
Founded in 1984, Tech Coast Venture Network is an Orange County entrepreneurial support organization that helps founders become fundable through pitch competitions, investor connections, education and community partnerships. Learn more at tcvn.org.
Photos: (Click photo to enlarge)
Source: Tech Coast Venture Network (TCVN)
Read Full Story - Inaugural OC Tech Week Draws 3,000 From 12 Countries, Sends Finalist to $1M Startup World Cup | More news from this source
Press release distribution by PRLog
More News
For Midterms Night, a TV Schedule Overflowing With Options
Viewers will be flooded with options, including 13 straight hours of NBC footage and a continuous livestream of Steve Kornacki and his big board.
Kanye West's Yeezy makes runway comeback after four-year break
Kanye West's Yeezy makes runway comeback after four-year breakKanye West will bring his Yeezy brand back to the runway on November 4. The show will celebrate the opening of the brand’s first brick-and-mortar store, in Los Angeles. Invitations sent to press on Monday evening say it will take...
Kim Kardashian gets honest about her place in Hollywood
. Kim Kardashian gets honest about her place in HollywoodKim Kardashian is dishing on why she believes that it is important to keep learning and trying new things throughout life.The Kardashians star, who is all set to star in the second season of the legal drama All's Fair, told Extra that...
A Conceptual Artist Entwines Her Work With the State
How Jill Magid made the government her publisher and her artistic collaborator.
A Deluge of (Loud, Twangy) Music Puts Twisted Teens on the Map
Applying lessons from their past as buskers, the duo are releasing their third album of 2026 and winning over influential fans.
‘Elsinore,’ ‘I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning’ and ‘Animol’ Lead British Independent Film Awards Nominations
“Elsinore,” the acclaimed biographical drama that has already propelled its lead star Andrew Scott into the Oscars best actor race, has emerged as the film to beat at the 2026 British Independent Film Awards. The Studiocanal feature, in which Scott portrays Ian Charleson, the “Chariots of Fire” star who was offered the career-peak role of […]
Independent Talent to Rep Outernet London for Creative Commercial Strategy (EXCLUSIVE)
Independent Talent Group have been appointed creative commercial agency for immersive U.K. venue Outernet London. The partnership will unite Independent’s substantial client list – which includes artists, filmmakers, creators, musicians and producers – with Outernet’s immersive capabilities. The central London entertainment district offers wrap-around immersive digital screens which are among the largest and most advanced […]
Bosses At ‘Clangold’ Producer Beetz Brothers Hail Skydance For Backing Casey Bloys: “A Strong Sign The HBO Line Will Continue”
Ever since Paramount and Warner Bros. merged, producers around the world have been wondering what it will mean for their prospects. For Germany’s Beetz Brothers, which launches crime doc Clangold on HBO Max globally on November 13, the appointment of Casey Bloys as Skydance’s content chief is a “strong sign” those making high-end, mainstream productions […]
British Independent Film Awards: ‘Elsinore’ Leads Nominations
Simon Stone’s Elsinore, starring Andrew Scott, leads this year’s British Independent Film Awards nominations with 12 nods. Scroll down for the full list of winners. Elsinore earned nominations for Best British Independent Film, Best Director for Simon Stone, Best Screenplay for Simon Beresford, Best Lead Performance for previous winner Andrew Scott, and Best Supporting Performance […]
Tallinn Black Nights Festival: New Artistic Director Triin Tramberg on Making Sure That at 30 It Stays ‘Bold, Unpredictable Yet Accessible’
The Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival – also known as PÖFF – marks a milestone this year as the festival celebrates its 30th anniversary and the first under the helm of artistic director Triin Tramberg as festival founder Tiina Lokk moves sideways to a strategic role within PÖFF. Tramberg’s own imprint on the festival as […]
Nicolas Cage's living situation takes unexpected turn after sinkhole: 'Homeless'
Nicolas Cage's living situation takes unexpected turn after sinkhole: 'Homeless'Nicolas Cage has revealed that he is currently living in hotels following the sinkhole tragedy near his Malibu home. The Spider-Noir star recently shared the update during a panel at L.A. Comic Con on October...
Jennifer Hudson reacts to producer Matthew Wright's shocking death
Jennifer Hudson reacts to producer Matthew Wright's shocking deathJennifer Hudson is mourning the sudden death of television producer Matthew Wright.As soon as sad news of Matthew's passing broke out, the 45-year-old singer took to her Instagram handle to pay tribute to the TV producer.The...
Recommended
Alton Towers closes World of David Walliams
YOUR NEWS, OUR NETWORK.
Do you have Great News you want to tell the world?
Be it updates about your business or your community, you can make sure that it’s heard by submitting your story to our network reaching hundreds of news sites across 6 verticals.