Large crowd of people networking and browsing booths at a startup or tech event in a grand hall with high ceilings, arched windows, and a projector screen displaying a harbor scene.

Building a Stronger OC Startup Ecosystem

Orange County has the talent, creativity, and potential to become a thriving innovation hub. What’s missing is a connected, founder-led community that brings these elements together and builds lasting momentum.

Tropicali Ventures is spearheading an initiative to bolster the startup ecosystem in Orange County. Our goal is to connect founders, investors, mentors, and supporters through a proven model designed to meet the needs of local builders.

This is not just another accelerator or event series. It’s a focused effort to build real startup infrastructure for Orange County, shaped by the people building here every day.

Are you a founder building in Orange County?

We’re gathering insights from local founders to understand better what the community needs. If you’re building something here, we want to hear from you. Your input will directly shape the evolution of this community.

The survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.

Locally rooted. Founder focused. Built for Impact.

What We’re Building

A connected, founder-focused startup community — designed for OC.

We’re working to bring a structured, supportive ecosystem to Orange County. One that helps early-stage founders access what they actually need to grow: clarity, capital, mentorship, and consistent connection.

Inspired by community-driven startup models used in cities across the world, this initiative will bring together events, resources, and networks that support every stage of the founder journey.

Here’s what that could include:

  • Founder meetups and circles to build relationships, share challenges, and grow together

  • Startup weekends for testing ideas and building companies in real time

  • Pre-accelerator programs to strengthen business models and investor readiness

  • Pitch events and demo days to connect with capital and gain visibility

  • Curated mentorship and advisory from experienced founders and operators

  • Community updates and startup digests to keep the region in sync

We’re not here to replace what already exists — we’re here to amplify it, fill the gaps, and bring it all into one cohesive system that supports OC founders from day one.

Why Now

Orange County is ready — we just need to connect the dots.

The talent is here. The ideas are here. The energy is here. What’s still missing is a unified system that brings it all together and helps founders move faster, with more support.

We believe Orange County has everything it takes to become a nationally recognized startup hub — but only if we invest in the people and infrastructure that make that possible.

This effort is not about replacing what’s already working. It’s about amplifying it.

We deeply respect and appreciate the organizations already building in this space — including:

These groups have laid a strong foundation. Our goal is to build on top of it — to connect more founders, fill key gaps, and bring greater visibility to what’s happening here.

By developing a more structured and founder-focused community system, we can:

  • Create consistency in how support, mentorship, and capital are accessed

  • Increase regional visibility for OC startups across national and global networks

  • Strengthen the pipeline for accelerators, investors, and civic partnerships

  • Unlock long-term infrastructure for the kinds of businesses OC is uniquely positioned to support — from climate tech to urban innovation

This is how we go from scattered momentum to a thriving, recognizable startup ecosystem.

Let’s build it — together.

Share Your Voice

Founders, this community is being built with your input.

We’re in active discovery mode. This means we’re listening before we build and using honest feedback to guide what comes next.

If you’re a founder, operator, or builder in Orange County, we’d love to hear from you. Your insights will help shape the types of programs, events, and support this community offers.

A simple roadmap for a stronger startup ecosystem

  • Phase 1: Discovery

    Listening, learning, and gathering input from founders and ecosystem partners across Orange County.

  • Phase 2: Activation

    Pilot events, meetups, founder circles, and early community programming, shaped by what we hear.

  • Phase 3: Structure

    Launch of a formal community system with ongoing programming, partnership, and mentorship support.

  • Phase 4: Growth

    Demo Days, capital access, global network ties, and a clear path into accelerator programs and funding.

Need Strategic Support Now?

Tropicali Ventures works directly with founders navigating early-stage growth.

If you're building a project and need assistance with fundraising, financial modeling, investor strategies, or streamlining your operations, we provide hands-on guidance to help you progress with confidence.

This community initiative is part of Tropicali Ventures' broader mission: to support builders by providing both the strategies and systems necessary to scale what truly matters.

Learn more about how we support founders. 

Reach out directly 

Want to stay connect?

We’ll be sharing updates on pilot programs, meetups, and community initiatives. If you’d like to stay informed, please enter your email address below.

No spam. No fluff. Just relevant updates for people building in OC.

Want to support the OC Startup Ecosystem?

We’re currently in the discovery phase and exploring aligned partnerships with:

  • Government agencies focused on innovation, workforce, and entrepreneurship.

  • Family offices and private foundations interested in economic development

  • Corporate partners are looking to connect with early-stage talent and innovation.

  • Venture funds and investors seeking visibility into OC’s startup pipeline

If you’d like to connect or explore partnership opportunities, click here to express interest.