Aliso Viejo-based OCTANe, the business technology accelerator that largely operates within the medical and technology industries, raised about $306.7 million in the first half of 2019 for small business development specializing in tech and life science entrepreneurs.
OCTANe’s LaunchPad program is an SBDC Accelerator—a program of the Small Business Administration.
More than 600 successful LaunchPad alumni have graduated from OCTANe’s LaunchPad since 2010, which now ranks fifth out of 900 SBDCs nationally.
LaunchPad typically engages with technology and life science entrepreneurs seeking late seed, Series A and Series B funding, ranging from $500,000 to $25 million.
Local Investors Wanted
Most of the funding wasn’t sourced in Orange County.
“The fact that it’s not coming from local firms and investors means that it’s a missed opportunity, because the fees and profits and other gains don’t go back into the startup ecosystem,” OCTANe Chief Executive Bill Carpou said.
OCTANe has a goal of adding 55,000 high-paying tech-related jobs to the Orange County ecosystem by 2030.
The recent launch of the OCTANe Enterprise Solutions is designed to help accelerate growth.
Edwards CEO
OCTANe’s next big healthcare event is the high tech awards on Sept. 12. Medical Technology Innovation Forum will be held Oct. 28 to 29 at Newport Beach Marriott Hotel & Spa.
Keynote speakers will include Edwards Lifesciences Corp. Chief Executive Mike Mussallem.
