Connecting People, Resources & Capital to Help Create 55,000+ Jobs in Southern California.
Octane is future-focused.
Octane is a convening organization of the Southern California technology and medical technology business ecosystem by connecting people, resources and capital. We will help create 55,000+ high-paying technology jobs in Southern California by 2030 through our accelerator LaunchPad SBDC as well as our platform Octane Capital & Growth. In addition, Octane hosts dozens of programs throughout the year and has direct access to capital and partners. We believe that action focused locally has impact globally.
Octane Foundation for Innovation*
The Octane Foundation for Innovation (OFI) was launched as a complement to Octane’s mission of creating 55,000+ high-paying jobs by 2030. The Foundation is targeted to advance equity, diversity, and inclusiveness across all industry sectors alongside Octane’s ambitious mission of growing & strengthening the Southern California innovation ecosystem by creating jobs, scaling startups, and developing businesses. Octane and OFI work with partners to enhance the economic vitality of the region, contribute to a sustainable ecosystem and augment the live/work experience in Orange County.
Octane Foundation for Innovation’s work is achieved through our initiatives, Women Leaders of Octane, Non-Profit Accelerator, and STEAM Fellows. These initiatives cover the spectrum of opportunities for young students, underserved communities, and women.
Since 2010, LaunchPad has helped companies receive $4.3B in funding. Those companies have created 26,316 jobs.
Our Team
Our Team is based in sunny Southern California, with our offices in Aliso Viejo, CA.
Bill Carpou
Chief Executive Officer
Janelle Brunette
Chief Operating Officer
Natalie Matsumoto
Director, Marketing
Teresa Madden
Senior Director, Partner Relations
Linda DiMario
Director, Community Engagement, Octane Foundation for Innovation
Mike Hill
Director, LaunchPad SBDC
David Beck
Vice President, Octane Capital & Growth
Carol DiStanislao
Managing Director, Octane Capital & Growth
Cara Parchment
Senior Signature Event Manager, Aesthetics & Ophthalmology Tech Forum
Zeeshan Subzwari
Managing Director, healthsocal.ai
Cara Davidoff
Managing Director, Next Wave
Rita Battocchio
Head of Events
Ivy Zhou
Digital Marketing & Graphic Design Specialist
Cheryl Wood
Senior Signature Event Manager
Andree Jacques
Director, Operations
Yuewen Chun
Sales Operations Analyst
Marc Bellotti
Senior Advisor, Octane
Ted Wilm
Managing Director, Capital Markets & Strategies
Shaun Sanders
Senior Associate Director, LaunchPad SBDC
Laura Beken
Senior Advisor, Octane
Kenneth Stanigar
Senior Advisor, Octane
David Friedman
Senior Advisor, Octane
Tom Mattoon
Senior Advisor, Octane
Kevin Nicusanti
Senior Advisor, Octane
Kip Knight
Chair, Octane Marketing Leaders Peer Group
Paul Symczak
Senior Advisor, Octane
RJ Teno
Senior Advisor, Octane
Joseph Wyno
Senior Advisor, Octane
Lori-Ann Christie, PhD
Principal, Visionary Venture Fund
Earl Slee
Chair, Octane Mavericks Peer Group
Jeffry Weinhuff
Managing Partner, Visionary Venture Fund
Garrett Hamontree
Principal, Visionary Venture Fund
Scott Kitcher
General Partner, Elevation Ventures
Neal Rickner
Managing Partner, Elevation Ventures
Alex Shoer
Venture Partner, Elevation Ventures
Rachel Payne
Venture Partner, Elevation Ventures
Events Search and Views Navigation
February 2023
Octane Webinar: Employment Law Update 2023
It is time for Octane's annual Employment Law Update. The laws on COVID in the workplace have been loosened, but the Legislature and local governments continue to enact new laws that impact most employers in other areas. One major development is a new California law requiring most employers to publish pay scales for every job posting and to file annual reports of pay data broken down by sex and ethnicity. This law goes hand in hand with other amendments that…
Find out more »April 2023
Women Leaders of Octane- April 2023 Quarterly Meeting
Please join Women Leaders of Octane for our virtual quarterly meeting, Wednesday, April 19th from 12:00 – 1:00 pm PST, featuring Thought Leader: Anne Mulcahy In addition to our thought leader, our committee chairs will share progress reports. Our Committees and Committee Chairs: Creating Women-led Businesses & LaunchPad Committee – Marinela Gombosev, SPARK Neuro Funding Committee – Delilah Panio, Toronto Stock Exchange Women on Boards Committee – Joyce Averna, JP Morgan Private Bank Resources & Communications – Nanneke Dinklo Plus, after the WLO Quarterly meeting,…
Find out more »May 2023
Tech Innovation Forum 2023
Tech Innovation Forum 2023 will focus on the acceleration of innovation in technology. The Forum will concentrate on topics such as the next industrial revolution- the role that Southern California is playing in both climate tech and space, and feature topics related to the investment landscape for emerging and growth companies. Learn more. Register here.
Find out more »June 2023
Ophthalmology Tech Forum 2023
Join industry physicians and top ophthalmologists who are defining the future of the field at Octane’s Ophthalmology Technology Forum (OTF). The event is held annually in Orange County, the center for Ophthalmology in the US. We will be hosting Ophthalmology Tech Forum 2023 as a hybrid experience, which will allow our guests to attend in person or online. Learn more Register here
Find out more »September 2023
Cardiovascular Tech Summit 2023
Octane’s Cardiovascular Tech Summit 2023 will synergize innovative solutions in cardiology with physicians, industry strategics, and investors convening together to advance patient care. The Summit will explore the unmet needs in cardiology, highlight current buying trends of strategics and investors, review current funding models of cardiology innovation, present innovation trends, and showcase top emerging cardiology companies to our ecosystem of strategics and investors.
Find out more »High Tech Awards 2023
The much-anticipated High Tech Awards celebrate the top innovators, entrepreneurs, and technology leaders in Orange County. Join us for the 2023 High Tech Awards to celebrate and recognize those individuals and companies who make Orange County a center of technology and medical technology innovation.
Find out more »October 2023
Octane’s Medical Innovation Forum 2023
Octane will host our Medical Innovation Forum 2023 as an in-person experience. Join us in collaborating with industry experts, strategics, physicians, entrepreneurs, and investors who have made significant strides toward an accelerated future in the medical industry. The Forum will highlight the wide-ranging impact of the most recent medical innovations and how the industry will adapt to enhance patient care.
Find out more »