
What we’re about
See ALL the startup events in Orange County at https://OCStartupCouncil.org
Entrepreneurship is empowerment - and social capital is currency.
If you're working on business #1 ... or even business #100, this community is here to help make valuable connections with potential business partners or investors, as well as learn from experts regarding the skillsets and mindsets necessary to succeed in today's entrepreneurial environment.
Our members include but are not limited to: entrepreneurs, small business owners, corporate executives, company representatives, tech professionals, creative arts professionals, angel and accredited investors, startup experts, revolutionary startup entrepreneurs looking to change the world - or their local community (lean, bootstrap, crowdfunding, or venture capital focused), and people seeking to expand their professional development and/or network.
The Harvard Business Review has noted: "Face-to-face communication is the broadest bandwidth communication you can have in professional life", and we believe the current business environment will continue a transition towards what thought leader Seth Godin refers to as the "connection economy" - where value is increasingly created through the connections we make and less so through industrialism.
Therefore we endeavor to provide networking and educational events that will be uniquely effective in initiating professional connections, developing important relationships, and leveraging social capital to grow a business and increase personal influence.
It only takes one person to change our personal or professional lives. Undoubtedly, you will make new connections at our events likely to change yours... forever. Every event will have its own unique opportunities. Every. Single. One. It's "about time" to enhance your Networking ROI:
- Return on financial investment.
- Return on time investment.
- Return on emotional investment.
- Return on influence.
- Return on integrity.
- Return on ideas.
Thank you for your consideration in sharing this group with your network, and/or bringing a friend or business associate with you to our events. As author and thought leader Simon Sinek noted:
"We do not become great leaders, we do not fulfill our potential when we work to see ourselves grow or rise. It is when we devote ourselves to seeing those around us rise that we actually grow. And when the people we care about also work to see us grow, then they too will grow... The only true way for any of us to grow, to truly fulfill our full potential, is when we work to help others do the same."
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- SoCal Celebrates Entrepreneurs 2025 (SCCE-25) 4/19/25CSUF Titan Student Union, Fullerton, CA
SoCal Celebrates Entrepreneurship 2025 (SCCE-25) is the premier gathering for entrepreneurs, students, business leaders, and investors, uniting for a day filled with innovation, inspiration, and opportunity.
RSVP for the Event using the link - https://www.socalentrepreneurship.org/
This annual event celebrates the entrepreneurial spirit that fuels Southern California’s economy, fostering connections, learning, and growth for aspiring and seasoned professionals alike.
Join them Saturday, April 19 from 12:30PM to 6:00PM at CSU Fullerton - Titan Student Union, 800 N State College Blvd, Fullerton, CA 92831.
Attendees will experience a dynamic lineup of activities designed to empower and elevate their entrepreneurial journey. The event offers free admission, making it accessible to all who want to engage with the region’s vibrant startup ecosystem. One of the key highlights is the live fast pitch competition, where student entrepreneurs from schools across Southern California will showcase their groundbreaking ideas to a panel of investors and industry experts, competing for funding and recognition.
Want more events? Please see the full OC Startup Events Calendar here.
And, get startup events emailed to you automatically by joining the Free Startup Events Email List here:
https://www.ocstartupcouncil.org/startup-news - Face to Face with Investors 4/21/25Chapman University - Leatherby Center for Entrepreneurship and Business Ethics, Orange, CA
Join TCA Venture Group for their signature round table "Face to Face" sessions, where you'll get to engage closely with dozens of local investors, diving deep into discussions and Q&As that are designed to enlighten and inspire you, the driving force of entrepreneurship.
THIS IS A PAID EVENT – YOU MUST BUY A TICKET USING THE LINK. https://lu.ma/fvgkg3c3
Join them Monday, April 21 from 4:00PM to 8:00PM at Chapman University Leatherby Center for Entrepreneurship & Business Ethics, 549 W. Palm Ave, Orange, CA 92868.
Agenda
4:00 pm - 4:45 pm: Check in, come early to mingle and experience delicious appetizers by Tea Modern Chinese.
4:45 pm - 5:00 pm: Beyond the Check!
How We Invest and Empower Your Startup to Thrive?- Dave de Csepel, Chairman, TCA Venture Group
- Cynthia West, Director of the Leatherby Center Chapman U.
5:00 pm - 5:30 pm: Funding Strategies in Economic Uncertainty
- Nardo Manaloto, Qubits Ventures Fund
- JC Ruffalo, Partner, The Cove Fund
- Dave de Csepel, Chairman, TCA Venture Group
Want more events? Please see the full OC Startup Events Calendar here.
And, get startup events emailed to you automatically by joining the Free Startup Events Email List here:
https://www.ocstartupcouncil.org/startup-news - OC CTO Talks | How to deliver bad news 4/24/25Seven Co, Irvine, CA
Talk about the conversations no one wants to have—but every leader must master.
RSVP for the Event on Eventbrite - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/oc-cto-talks-how-to-deliver-bad-news-tickets-1301437056269?aff=OCStartupCouncil
Delivering bad news is inevitable—how you do it defines your leadership.
Join CTO Talks Thursday, April 24 from 6:00PM to 8:00PM at Seven Co, 5151 California Avenue #100, Irvine, CA 92617.
Strong leadership isn’t just about making the right decisions—it’s about delivering the hard ones with clarity and confidence. At this edition of CTO Talks OC, they’ll explore the art of navigating difficult conversations in leadership.
Want more events? Please see the full OC Startup Events Calendar here.
And, get startup events emailed to you automatically by joining the Free Startup Events Email List here:
https://www.ocstartupcouncil.org/startup-news - [ONLINE] EE Business Networking @Lunch (free!)Link visible for attendees
Why go it alone? It only takes one person to change our lives personally or professionally. Who will you meet today at "EE"?
Exceptional Entrepreneurs is one of the largest business networking organizations in Southern California - and one of the best values in business networking. At EE:
- There is no membership required.
- There is no attendance requirement.
- There is no business profession or category exclusivity.
ALL business professions are welcome to attend!
Virtual Meeting Agenda (Pacific Time):
- 11:30am - 12:00pm; Login, check a/v, networking breakout rooms open.
- 12:00pm - 1:00pm; Structured agenda, with introductions + more!
We end at 1:00pm sharp.
Interested in being the featured speaker for this event? Information and registration is at:
http://EEspeaker.comInfo to join the EE virtual networking meeting Thursdays and Fridays:
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http://nroi.us/eeonline
(the shortlink above will remain updated with the current Zoom link)Passcode: 7772021
#######################################- Limited to the first 100 participants.
- We will be live-streaming this event (12p-1pm portion) in our EE FB Group here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/networkingeesd
The meetings (including chat) will be recorded to the cloud and made available - temporarily - afterwards. Link to these will be in the FB live stream comments following the meeting.
Exceptional Entrepreneurs was founded in November, 2008 by David & Gina Demangos. Since then, "EE" has become one of Southern California's largest business networking organizations, due to the Demangos' vision and leadership to provide "exceptional" opportunities for connecting local professionals. David Demangos is an eXp real estate agent based in San Diego, CA. For more information on David, please see Awesome San Diego Real Estate at:
http://www.awesomesandiegorealestate.com"Effective networking is a learned skill. Exceptional Entrepreneurs are highly trusted professionals who share ideas and know that in order to receive you must first be willing to give." - David Demangos
Thank you for your continuing support of "EE"! See you at the next event.