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. We connect 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.  

*The Octane Foundation for Innovation is funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration as well as through public and private agreements. Funding is not an endorsement of any product, opinion, or service. All programs are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis.
Octane Foundation for Innovation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Tax ID# 90-0176361

Since 2010, LaunchPad has helped companies receive $4.3B in fundingThose companies have created 26,316 jobs

Our Team

Our Team is based in sunny Southern California, with our offices in Newport Beach, 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
Managing Director, Octane Capital Markets

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
Marketing & Graphic Design Specialist

Cheryl Wood
Senior Signature Event Manager

Andree Jacques
Director, Operations

Ryan Nishimoto

Marketing & Partner Engagement Coordinator

Joseph Wyno
Director, LaunchPad SBDC

Shaun Sanders
Senior Associate Director, LaunchPad SBDC

Yuewen Chun
Sales Operations Analyst

Laura Beken
Senior Advisor, Octane

Marc Bellotti
Senior Advisor, Octane

Ted Wilm
Managing Director, Capital Markets & Strategies

Kenneth Stanigar
Senior Advisor, Octane

David Friedman
Senior Advisor, Octane

Paul Symczak
Senior Advisor, Octane

RJ Teno
Senior Advisor, Octane

Tom Mattoon
Senior Advisor, Octane

Kevin Nicusanti
Senior Advisor, Octane

Kip Knight
Chair, Octane Marketing Leaders Peer Group

Earl Slee
Chair, Octane Mavericks Peer Group

Jeffry Weinhuff
Managing Partner, Visionary Venture Fund

Garrett Hamontree
Principal, Visionary Venture Fund

Lori-Ann Christie, PhD
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

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Past Events

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October 2022

Octane / Insperity Webinar: Recession, Inflation, Business realities – what they mean to your employees and your profits

October 12, 2022 @ 8:00 AM

Join Octane and Insperity for a live webinar on Wednesday, October 12th at 8AM PST. Tough times don't last; tough people do. In business, tough means resilient, adaptable, strategic, and focused on a vision.  Unfortunately, the news lately has been ominous, and the economy, the stock market, and the supply chain are all telling us there might be a storm approaching.  This webinar will discuss things you, as a business owner or leader, can do to shore up your people…

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Women Leaders of Octane Quarterly Meeting – October 2022

October 19, 2022 @ 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

RSVP Here Please join Women Leaders of Octane for our virtual quarterly meeting, Wednesday, October 19th from 12 - 1 pm PST, featuring Spotlight Thought Leader, Caren Mason, President and Chief Executive Officer at STARR Surgical. 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…

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WLO Workshop: Women on Corporate Boards

October 27, 2022 @ 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Irvine Marriott, 18000 Von Karman Avenue
Irvine, CA 92612 United States

Join us at for a Women Leaders of Octane interactive workshop part of Octane's Medical Innovation Forum taking place October 27-28 at the Irvine Marriott! You must be registered for the forum to attend this free workshop. Register first for Octane's Medical Innovation Forum here. Once registered for the Forum, to attend the Women On Boards Workshop you can sign up here>> Women on Corporate Boards: What it’s Like, How to Prepare & How To Do It Thursday, October 27…

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November 2022

Webinar: Thinking of Opening a US Branch Office? US Work Visa Options

November 4, 2022 @ 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Setting up a business in the USA can be quite exciting. But there are also many challenges. In-depth market research and planning can minimize the risks. Join Mitch Wexler, Managing Partner, Fragomen as he discusses US Work Visa Options. This will go over the more common visa options that you should consider, their timelines, eligibility requirements, challenges and the application process for each. Register Here>>  

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January 2023

Women Leaders of Octane Quarterly Meeting – January 2023

January 18 @ 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

RSVP Here Please join Women Leaders of Octane for our virtual quarterly meeting, Wednesday, January 18th from 12 - 1 pm PST, featuring Spotlight Thought Leader, Anastasia Williams, The A List.  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 &…

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Open House/New Year Social

January 18 @ 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Octane HQ, 4041 MacArthur Blvd #260
Newport Beach, CA 92660 United States
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Hosted in Octane's new office space! 4041 MacArthur Blvd, 1st Floor Atrium, Newport Beach, CA 92660 Co-hosted by Sustain Socal and Lincoln Property Company Register here: https://register.octaneoc.org/social2023

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FoundHERS Preview Program

January 19 @ 8:30 AM - 9:30 AM

FoundHERS is a new training program to serve Women-led start-ups led by Women Leaders of Octane a leading advocacy organization that provides Women Founders with access to capital, networking, and influence on Boards. Octane hosts one of the top business accelerators in the nation. Through our cohort approach, you will meet subject matter experts, develop a winning pitch deck, and hone investor presentation skills. This is a no-cost program. We are hosting a zoom event on Thursday, January 19th from 8:30 AM -…

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Next Wave Founder’s Circle January Program

January 19 @ 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM
LCAD Gallery, 374 Ocean Ave
Laguna Beach, CA 92651 United States
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Join Octane and our Next Wave Founder’s Circle for a program featuring Asante Cleveland, podcast host and former pro-football player on January 19th 5-6:30pm at LCAD Gallery. During this session, Asante will talk about his background, upbringing and how it shaped him to where he is today. He will also discuss the importance of arts, culture and diversity as it relates to sport and growth on and off the field. The program will be interactive, where we will encourage you to ask questions as…

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Aesthetics Technology Forum 2023

January 26 @ 8:00 AM - January 27 @ 5:00 PM
Balboa Bay Resort, 1221 West Coast Highway
Newport Beach, CA 92663 United States

The 2nd Annual Aesthetics Technology Forum will be held at the Balboa Bay Resort in Newport Beach. This event will bring together leading physicians, industry, and entrepreneurs to discuss groundbreaking medical aesthetic technologies as well as unmet clinical needs and new business opportunities. Join leaders in the aesthetics field to examine how they fuel innovation in the medical aesthetic industry in Southern California. Learn more here.

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February 2023

Octane Webinar: Employment Law Update 2023

February 8 @ 7:30 AM - 9:00 AM
business handshake

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…

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info@octaneoc.org

949.459.3366

4041 MacArthur Blvd, Suite 260 Newport Beach, CA 92660

 

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