OC Tech Week 2026 to Bring Orange County's Innovation Ecosystem to the Global Stage
The Californer/10359538

ORANGE COUNTY, Calif. - Californer -- Orange County is preparing to put its innovation ecosystem on the global stage with the launch of OC Tech Week 2026, a six-day, community-driven celebration of entrepreneurship and technology taking place October 19–24, 2026, across the region.

Hosted by Tech Coast Venture Network (TCVN), Orange County's longest-standing founder-first nonprofit entrepreneur support organization, OC Tech Week will unite founders, investors, technologists, universities, businesses, civic leaders and innovators from across Orange County's 34 cities under one banner.

The goal: give Orange County's innovation economy a unified voice—and invite the world to experience "Innovation in Paradise."

Orange County is home to world-class universities, a deep capital base and established leadership across industries including MedTech, life sciences, clean energy, gaming, creative technology and defense technology. OC Tech Week was created to connect those individual centers of innovation into a more visible and collaborative regional ecosystem.

"OC Tech Week brings Orange County's innovation ecosystem together and puts our region on the global stage," said Tony Crisp, Co-Chair of OC Tech Week 2026, President of TCVN, and Founder & CEO of CRISPx. "It's an opportunity to showcase what we're building here and connect the people driving innovation forward."

Taking place immediately following the broader California technology circuit, OC Tech Week is also extending an invitation to founders, investors and innovators from around the country and the world to continue their journey through Southern California and discover what makes Orange County's ecosystem unique.

From its coastline and university corridors to the technology, industrial and creative centers of Irvine, Anaheim and communities throughout the county, OC Tech Week will transform Orange County into a decentralized campus for entrepreneurship and innovation.

"After almost three years of conversations and community building, OC Tech Week is bringing together Orange County's best and brightest innovative ideas and putting them on the global stage," said Farrah N. Khan, Co-Chair of OC Tech Week 2026, Former Mayor of the City of Irvine, and Board Member of TCVN.

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Six Days. One Innovation Ecosystem.

Rather than taking place inside a single convention center, OC Tech Week is designed as a decentralized, community-driven experience, with organizations throughout Orange County hosting events, conversations and experiences as part of the official calendar.

Programming will highlight key sectors shaping the region's economy, including Healthcare Innovation & MedTech; Enabling & Creative Technologies; and High-Tech, Life Sciences & Sustainability, while creating opportunities around capital, global trade, entrepreneurship, education and civic collaboration.

Event Highlights

MONDAY, OCTOBER 19 — KICKOFF & GLOBAL REACH

The Pitch Masters Deal Flow Golf Series by Inov8 Capital, hosted by OG Arabian Prince, launches the week, followed by the opening ceremony.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20 — GLOBAL TRADE & EMERGING TECHNOLOGY

International Impact Connections hosts the Global Trade Summit, bringing together Consul Generals and trade offices from more than a dozen countries to discuss global opportunities. The AI Lab spotlights artificial intelligence.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21 — CAPITAL & CONNECTION

Best of the Best, hosted by TCA and Alliance for SoCal Innovation, connects founders and investors, followed by PeachScore's Innovation Yacht Reception.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22 — ENERGY & ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Sustain SoCal's 17th Annual Energy Summit brings energy and sustainability leaders together, alongside the MasterMinds Startup Accelerator Workshop, hosted by the OC Startup Council.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23 — CONNECTION & INDUSTRY

Coast & Capital connects Orange County's startup builders, funders and supporters.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24 — NEXT GENERATION & CELEBRATION

The week ends with OC Tech Week Cars and Coffee, SoCal Celebrates Entrepreneurship, hosted by Concordia University Irvine and Chapman University, a student innovation showcase, and the closing ceremony and concert.

Built by Orange County, for Orange County

At the heart of OC Tech Week is a radically inclusive model: the community creates the week.

Companies, universities, accelerators, investors, nonprofits, technology organizations and community leaders throughout Orange County are invited to host their own official OC Tech Week events.

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Events can range from founder breakfasts and investor panels to workshops, demonstrations, industry gatherings, university programs, networking experiences and community celebrations.

Submitted events undergo a brief curation review before being added to the official OC Tech Week calendar.

The decentralized model is designed to showcase not simply one organization or industry, but the collective strength of Orange County's entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Putting Orange County on the Innovation Map

OC Tech Week arrives at a defining moment for the region.

Orange County already possesses many of the ingredients of a globally competitive innovation hub: research universities, successful entrepreneurs, sophisticated investors, established industries, emerging technology companies and an unmatched quality of life.

OC Tech Week is designed to connect those assets and create a stronger regional identity around innovation.

One week. 34 cities. One innovation ecosystem.

By bringing together founders building the next generation of companies, investors searching for opportunities, universities developing talent and technology, corporations driving industry, and civic leaders shaping the region's future, OC Tech Week aims to create connections that continue long after the six-day celebration concludes.

Join OC Tech Week 2026

OC Tech Week 2026
October 19–24, 2026
Orange County, California

Founders, investors, businesses, universities, community organizations and innovators are invited to participate.

Organizations interested in becoming part of the official OC Tech Week calendar can also submit an event proposal for consideration.

To learn more, join the interest list, explore the growing event calendar or submit an event, visit octechweek.com.

About OC Tech Week

OC Tech Week is a six-day, radically inclusive, decentralized celebration of entrepreneurship and technology hosted by Tech Coast Venture Network (TCVN). Created to unite Orange County's founders, investors, technologists, universities, businesses and civic leaders under one banner, OC Tech Week showcases the people, companies and ideas shaping the region's innovation economy while inviting the global technology community to experience Innovation in Paradise.

OC Tech Week 2026 takes place October 19–24 across Orange County, California.

About Tech Coast Venture Network

Founded in 1984, Tech Coast Venture Network (TCVN) is Orange County's longest-standing founder-first nonprofit organization dedicated to helping entrepreneurs become fundable.

TCVN strengthens the bridge between founders and funders through community, education, mentorship, events and meaningful connections. Through signature programs and ecosystem initiatives, TCVN brings together entrepreneurs, investors, universities, corporations and community leaders to strengthen Orange County's startup and innovation economy.

Founders First. Relationships over Transactions. Community over Competition.

Learn more at TCVN.org.