Octane leads a diverse innovation community, accelerating access to capital, resources & solutions, while providing high-value support to our partners and clients.
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.
Since 2010, LaunchPad has helped companies receive $8.3B in funding. Those companies have created 33,421 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
Teresa Madden
Senior Director, Partner Relations
Natalie Matsumoto
Director, Marketing & Strategy
Rita Battocchio
Head of Events
Cara Parchment
Senior Signature Event Manager, Aesthetics & Ophthalmology Tech Forum
Cheryl Wood
Senior Signature Event Manager
Mike Hill
Managing Director, Octane Capital Markets
Carol DiStanislao
Managing Director, Octane Capital & Growth
Jonno Wells
Director, Venture and Corporate Venture
Larry Stofko
Octane Capital & Growth, Executive in Residence
Linda DiMario
Director, Community Engagement, Octane Foundation for Innovation
Andree Jacques
Director, Operations
Jenny De Anda Fast
Office Manager
Ryan Nishimoto
Marketing & Partnership Manager
Jennifer Nguyen
Digital Marketing & Graphic Design Coordinator
Paul Symczak
Director, LaunchPad SBDC
Shaun Sanders
Senior Associate Director, LaunchPad SBDC
Darren Pak
Software Development Lead, Haystax
Laura Beken
Senior Advisor, Octane
Marc Bellotti
Senior Advisor, Octane
Kenneth Stanigar
Senior Advisor, Octane
David Friedman
Senior Advisor, Octane
Joseph Wyno
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
Women Leaders of Octane Quarterly Meeting (April 2024)
VirtualPlease join Women Leaders of Octane for our virtual quarterly meeting, Wednesday, April 17 from 12 – 1 pm PST, featuring our Spotlight Thought Leader, Sabina Pons, Managing Director, Growth […]
Swiss AMCHAM SoCal – Opportunity MeetUp MedTech & LifeScience
Planet Innovation Convention Space 80 Technology, Irvine, CA, United StatesThe 3rd Life Science & BioTech Opportunity MeetUP, hosted by the SoCal Chapter of the Swiss-American Chamber of Commerce and Planet Innovation, focuses on Orange County & Southern California's rapid […]