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Five founders earned investor dates and a fan favorite emerged at TCVN's newest signature event — a high-energy mix of pitches, panels, and partnerships hosted during LA Tech Week.
IRVINE, Calif. - Californer -- Tech Coast Venture Network (TCVN), Southern California's longest-standing entrepreneur support organization, is proud to announce the results of its newest and most talked-about event: The Investor Dating Game™, which took place Thursday, October 16 at OneDigital in Irvine during LA Tech Week 2025.
The event brought together 75+ founders, investors, and ecosystem leaders for an interactive, high-energy matchmaking experience designed to spark real relationships — and real funding — between early-stage startups and seasoned investors.
Founders + Funders = Real Matches
In a format that combined the fast-paced energy of Survivor™ with the playful tension of a dating show, five Founders were selected by investors for post-event business "dates" — one-on-one meetings to explore funding and mentorship opportunities.
Round Winners:
1. Heather Claus, Flex Axion™
2. Peman Montazemi, Finally Quiet™
3. Thomas Peters, Rapidual™
4. Karim Algabarty, Aalie™
5. Justin Clune, Skysense AI™
Fan Favorite: Marie Moore, Moms in Motion
These five Founders impressed investors not only with their innovation and clarity but also with their readiness to build scalable ventures in Orange County and beyond.
Investor Insights and Actionable Advice
A highlight of the evening was the OSEA™ Angels Women Angel Investors Panel, featuring powerhouse investors who shared candid insights on how Founders can stand out and secure funding in today's market:
Xandra Laskowski
Linda Horioka (Fitz)
Desiree Patno
Monique H.
Their open discussion on early-stage investing, founder storytelling, and representation in venture capital made a lasting impact on the room — and set the tone for future TCVN investor education programming.
Founders Take the Stage — Investors Take Notes
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The Investor Dating Game featured a dynamic lineup of active investors offering to take Founders on "dates" after the show to explore collaboration and deal flow opportunities:
The event's structure emphasized relationship before transaction — creating an environment where genuine conversations could lead to meaningful investment outcomes.
Building Community Through Connection
"The Investor Dating Game is more than a pitch competition — it's a connection accelerator," said Tony Crisp, TCVN President and CEO of CRISPx brand marketing agency. "When Founders and Funders meet in the right environment, the whole community grows stronger."
Behind the Magic
The atmosphere came alive thanks to The FR33WRLD Show, who transformed the conference room into a live podcast studio, capturing founder interviews and pitch recaps throughout the night. DJ KDK kept the energy high while guests enjoyed curated bites and drinks, turning OneDigital's Irvine office into a true LA Tech Week social hub. The seamless production and design were led by The Event Community, whose team handled every detail—from sponsor activations to stage layout—with style and precision.
What the Community Is Saying
"TCVN continues to reinvent what community looks like for startups. As an investor, I'm proud to support an organization that builds genuine connections between founders and funders—because that's where real innovation starts."
— Pat Hwang, TCA Venture Group Orange County
"This event was for high-vibe founders to come together. The conversations were real, the investors were engaged, and the Founders came to play."
— Lillian Victoria Ng, Host & Moderator, The Investor Dating Game
"Proud of Reed Smith's sponsorship of TCVN's Investor Dating Game during LA Tech Week! A huge thank you to Tony Crisp and team for bringing together such a dynamic group of founders, investors and ecosystem builders"
More on The Californer
— Teresa Tate, Co-Chair, U.S. Emerging Companies & Venture Capital Group, Reed Smith LLP
"TCVN keeps proving that Orange County is a serious hub for innovation. Events like The Investor Dating Game remind us that investing can be both impactful and fun."
— Farrah N. Khan, Former Mayor of Irvine & TCVN Board Member
Community in Action
TCVN extends its heartfelt gratitude to the mission-driven Board members and partners who continue to fuel the organization's founder-first mission:
Farrah N. Khan • Teresa M. L. Tate • Arabian Prince • Michael Sawitz • John Russo • Victor Macias • Clint Webb • Tom Miller • Ryan Tabloff • Steve Brown • Laurel Bremmer • Justin Sanders • Julia Vu • Lillian Victoria • Aaron Klein • Isabelle Bart • Cathleen Greiner • Brandon Carl • Bryan Ruef
About TCVN
Founded in 1984, Tech Coast Venture Network (TCVN) is a nonprofit organization on a mission to helping early-stage entrepreneurs become fundable. Hosting signature events: PitchPolish™ workshops, InvestorReady™ workshops, Survivor™ pitch event, Investor Dating Game™, Wingz™ become an angel investor program, and Rocky™ founders choice awards. TCVN's core values: founders first, relationships over transactions, and community over competition, guide everything it does. Join our mission and become a lifetime member at www.tcvn.org/join.
TCVN is Proudly Sponsored by Reed Smith LLP
Reed Smith is a dynamic international law firm dedicated to helping clients move their businesses forward. With an inclusive culture and innovative mindset, we deliver smarter, more creative legal services that drive better outcomes for our clients. Our deep industry knowledge, long-standing relationships and collaborative structure make us the go-to partner for complex disputes, transactions and regulatory matters. Our team of 3,000 people (including more than 1,600 lawyers) operate across more than 30 offices in the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Asia to drive progress for our clients, for ourselves and for our communities. Our Emerging Companies and Venture Capital practice is a trusted partner for innovators at every stage of the venture life cycle, and we partner with founders, start-ups, and investors to help build the next generation of market leaders. Learn more at www.reedsmith.com
The event brought together 75+ founders, investors, and ecosystem leaders for an interactive, high-energy matchmaking experience designed to spark real relationships — and real funding — between early-stage startups and seasoned investors.
Founders + Funders = Real Matches
In a format that combined the fast-paced energy of Survivor™ with the playful tension of a dating show, five Founders were selected by investors for post-event business "dates" — one-on-one meetings to explore funding and mentorship opportunities.
Round Winners:
1. Heather Claus, Flex Axion™
2. Peman Montazemi, Finally Quiet™
3. Thomas Peters, Rapidual™
4. Karim Algabarty, Aalie™
5. Justin Clune, Skysense AI™
Fan Favorite: Marie Moore, Moms in Motion
These five Founders impressed investors not only with their innovation and clarity but also with their readiness to build scalable ventures in Orange County and beyond.
Investor Insights and Actionable Advice
A highlight of the evening was the OSEA™ Angels Women Angel Investors Panel, featuring powerhouse investors who shared candid insights on how Founders can stand out and secure funding in today's market:
Xandra Laskowski
Linda Horioka (Fitz)
Desiree Patno
Monique H.
Their open discussion on early-stage investing, founder storytelling, and representation in venture capital made a lasting impact on the room — and set the tone for future TCVN investor education programming.
Founders Take the Stage — Investors Take Notes
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The Investor Dating Game featured a dynamic lineup of active investors offering to take Founders on "dates" after the show to explore collaboration and deal flow opportunities:
- Pat Hwang, President, TCA Venture Group™ Orange County
- Robert Genthert, Managing Partner, EvoNexus™
- Ashish Saboo, CEO, Startup Steroid™
- Alex Mojtahedi, Founder, Peachscore™
- Anshuman Sinha, Co-Founder, Startup Steroid™
The event's structure emphasized relationship before transaction — creating an environment where genuine conversations could lead to meaningful investment outcomes.
Building Community Through Connection
"The Investor Dating Game is more than a pitch competition — it's a connection accelerator," said Tony Crisp, TCVN President and CEO of CRISPx brand marketing agency. "When Founders and Funders meet in the right environment, the whole community grows stronger."
Behind the Magic
The atmosphere came alive thanks to The FR33WRLD Show, who transformed the conference room into a live podcast studio, capturing founder interviews and pitch recaps throughout the night. DJ KDK kept the energy high while guests enjoyed curated bites and drinks, turning OneDigital's Irvine office into a true LA Tech Week social hub. The seamless production and design were led by The Event Community, whose team handled every detail—from sponsor activations to stage layout—with style and precision.
What the Community Is Saying
"TCVN continues to reinvent what community looks like for startups. As an investor, I'm proud to support an organization that builds genuine connections between founders and funders—because that's where real innovation starts."
— Pat Hwang, TCA Venture Group Orange County
"This event was for high-vibe founders to come together. The conversations were real, the investors were engaged, and the Founders came to play."
— Lillian Victoria Ng, Host & Moderator, The Investor Dating Game
"Proud of Reed Smith's sponsorship of TCVN's Investor Dating Game during LA Tech Week! A huge thank you to Tony Crisp and team for bringing together such a dynamic group of founders, investors and ecosystem builders"
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— Teresa Tate, Co-Chair, U.S. Emerging Companies & Venture Capital Group, Reed Smith LLP
"TCVN keeps proving that Orange County is a serious hub for innovation. Events like The Investor Dating Game remind us that investing can be both impactful and fun."
— Farrah N. Khan, Former Mayor of Irvine & TCVN Board Member
Community in Action
TCVN extends its heartfelt gratitude to the mission-driven Board members and partners who continue to fuel the organization's founder-first mission:
Farrah N. Khan • Teresa M. L. Tate • Arabian Prince • Michael Sawitz • John Russo • Victor Macias • Clint Webb • Tom Miller • Ryan Tabloff • Steve Brown • Laurel Bremmer • Justin Sanders • Julia Vu • Lillian Victoria • Aaron Klein • Isabelle Bart • Cathleen Greiner • Brandon Carl • Bryan Ruef
About TCVN
Founded in 1984, Tech Coast Venture Network (TCVN) is a nonprofit organization on a mission to helping early-stage entrepreneurs become fundable. Hosting signature events: PitchPolish™ workshops, InvestorReady™ workshops, Survivor™ pitch event, Investor Dating Game™, Wingz™ become an angel investor program, and Rocky™ founders choice awards. TCVN's core values: founders first, relationships over transactions, and community over competition, guide everything it does. Join our mission and become a lifetime member at www.tcvn.org/join.
TCVN is Proudly Sponsored by Reed Smith LLP
Reed Smith is a dynamic international law firm dedicated to helping clients move their businesses forward. With an inclusive culture and innovative mindset, we deliver smarter, more creative legal services that drive better outcomes for our clients. Our deep industry knowledge, long-standing relationships and collaborative structure make us the go-to partner for complex disputes, transactions and regulatory matters. Our team of 3,000 people (including more than 1,600 lawyers) operate across more than 30 offices in the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Asia to drive progress for our clients, for ourselves and for our communities. Our Emerging Companies and Venture Capital practice is a trusted partner for innovators at every stage of the venture life cycle, and we partner with founders, start-ups, and investors to help build the next generation of market leaders. Learn more at www.reedsmith.com
Source: Tech Coast Venture Network (TCVN)
Filed Under: Event
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