About us
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
75
IIT2026 4/22/26-4/25/26
Long Beach Convention Center, 300 E Ocesn Blvd, Long Beach, CA, USInnovate, Ignite, Thrive at IIT 2026 Next Week
RSVP using the link - https://www.iit2026.org/register
Celebrating 75 years of excellence, the IIT2026 Conference is a historic global gathering of visionaries, entrepreneurs, technologists, and changemakers - right here in Southern California!
Join them Wednesday, April 22 to Saturday, April 25, 2026 from 9:00AM to 12:00PM at Long Beach Convention Center, 300 E Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90802. $399 for all three days and $199 for daily passes.
Open to all professionals, this three-day event is your opportunity to connect with over 2,500 leaders from around the world and explore the future of innovation.
From cutting-edge breakthroughs to conversations that spark global impact, IIT2026 is where ideas take flight.
Dive into four powerful tracks - Artificial Intelligence, Health & Sustainability, Investment, and Global Connect - plus keynotes from world leaders, hands-on sessions, and immersive networking.
Get discount on tickets with this promo code: scott10.
One day passes available as well.[ Startup Founders & Investors: Contact OCSC for a new Special Discount for qualified attendees. ]
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-news5 attendees![Cross-Market Business Networking [ONLINE] | All Professionals Welcome](https://secure.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/5/4/1/c/highres_525501532.jpeg)
Cross-Market Business Networking [ONLINE] | All Professionals Welcome
·OnlineOnlineWhy go it alone? Who might you meet today that could change your life personally or professionally? What connection could open a new door for you, your business, or someone you care about?
All professionals welcome. Especially valuable for small business owners, creatives, consultants, marketers, service providers, collaborators, and other growth-minded professionals seeking meaningful connections across multiple markets.
Exceptional Entrepreneurs ("EE") is one of the largest business networking organizations in the USA, bringing together professionals from many Meetup communities and metro areas. This event is designed for people who want more than the same local circle: potential clients, collaborators, strategic connections, fresh ideas, and new opportunities.
Meeting format:
- First 30 minutes: check-in, arrivals, and breakout rooms on relevant topics
- Remaining 60 minutes: structured agenda in the main room, including participant introductions and more
- After the formal close: breakout rooms reopen for those who want additional networking time
No membership required. No attendance requirement. Attend when it works for you, introduce yourself, and connect with professionals you may not otherwise meet.
Special Guest Edition: On select events, we feature a guest speaker who brings timely, practical value to a broad business audience and adds one more reason to attend live.
Info to join the EE virtual networking meeting:
#######################################
http://nroi.us/eeonline
(the shortlink above will remain updated with the current Zoom link)
#######################################17 attendees
Exemplars In Leadership 4/29/26
Marriott Irvine Spectrum, 7905 Irvine Center Dr, Irvine, CA, USWhat sets exceptional leaders apart when they’re working in the same environment, playing by the same rules, and with the same resources as everyone else?
RSVP using the link - https://greaterirvinechamber.com/events/exemplars-in-leadership
Join Greater Irvine Chamber for an exclusive gathering of exemplary executives as they explore the insights, innovations, and impact driving business success, and uncover what it takes to rise above and lead with lasting influence.
Join them Wednesday, April 29 from 11:00AM to 1:30PM at Marriott Irvine Spectrum, 7905 Irvine Center Dr, Irvine, CA 92618.
This executive-level event features a dynamic keynote presentation and a panel of accomplished leaders sharing real-world stories and practical strategies for standing out in today’s business landscape.
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
5 attendeesCross-Market Business Networking [ONLINE] | All Professionals Welcome
·OnlineOnlineWhy go it alone? Who might you meet today that could change your life personally or professionally? What connection could open a new door for you, your business, or someone you care about?
All professionals welcome. Especially valuable for small business owners, creatives, consultants, marketers, service providers, collaborators, and other growth-minded professionals seeking meaningful connections across multiple markets.
Exceptional Entrepreneurs ("EE") is one of the largest business networking organizations in the USA, bringing together professionals from many Meetup communities and metro areas. This event is designed for people who want more than the same local circle: potential clients, collaborators, strategic connections, fresh ideas, and new opportunities.
Meeting format:
- First 30 minutes: check-in, arrivals, and breakout rooms on relevant topics
- Remaining 60 minutes: structured agenda in the main room, including participant introductions and more
- After the formal close: breakout rooms reopen for those who want additional networking time
No membership required. No attendance requirement. Attend when it works for you, introduce yourself, and connect with professionals you may not otherwise meet.
Special Guest Edition: On select events, we feature a guest speaker who brings timely, practical value to a broad business audience and adds one more reason to attend live.
Info to join the EE virtual networking meeting:
#######################################
http://nroi.us/eeonline
(the shortlink above will remain updated with the current Zoom link)
#######################################16 attendees
Past events
1063
Group links
Members
3,014
