SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2026

Empowering Student Entrepreneurs

SoCal Celebrates Entrepreneurship 2026 sparks innovation, fosters collaboration, and drives growth by connecting entrepreneurs, students, business leaders, and investors in Southern California’s vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem.

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SCCE-26

✦

SCCE-26 ✦

George W. Wright Lightning Pitch

Congratulations to our 2026 Winners!

SCCE-26 Highlights

✓ Free Admission & Parking
✓ Live Student Fast Pitch
✓ 3 Expert-Led Panels

✓ Exhibitor Showcase
✓ Awards & Raffles
✓ Orange County Tech Week

Program

VIP LUNCHEON (INVITE ONLY)

12:00 - 12:45 PM

ATTENDEES CHECK-IN

12:30 - 1:00 PM

WELCOME

1:00 - 1:20 PM

FIRESIDE CHAT

1:20 - 1:40 PM

EXHIBITOR SHOWCASE

1:30 - 5:30 PM

LAUNCH PANEL

1:50 - 2:30 pm

GROWTH PANEL

2:40 - 3:20 pm

EXIT PANEL

3:30 - 4:10 pm

LIGHTnING PITCH

4:20 - 5:30 pm

AWARDS & CLOSING

5:30 - 6:00 pm

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Fireside Chat
Entrepreneurship rarely follows a straight path. In this Fireside Chat, serial entrepreneur and investor Clarence Wooten shares lessons from building, scaling, funding, and supporting innovative companies throughout his career. Attendees will hear firsthand insights on entrepreneurship, technology, investing, and the experiences that have shaped his journey.
Speaker:
- Clarence Wooten, Founder & CEO,
  CoFounder.AI
Moderator:
- Mario Reza, Interim Director, Leatherby Center for Entrepreneurship and Business Ethics, Chapman University
Launch
Entrepreneurs create businesses that solve problems. The Launch Panel explores developing products and services, finding early adopters, building teams, securing funding, and adapting when plans encounter reality. Attendees will learn how entrepreneurs have successfully launched a business or two (or more!).
Speakers:
- Bill Beverly, Co-Founder, Evolectric
- Dailin Hu, Founder, SafeLab AI Engineering
- Karen Caswelch, Co-Founder, bridgED manufacturing
Moderator:
- Cynthia West, Speaker and Author, CynthiaWestPhD.com
Growth
Entrepreneurs build companies that thrive. The Growth Panel explores scaling operations and teams, expanding into new markets, raising capital, and adapting as businesses evolve. Attendees will gain insights into the decisions, opportunities, and tradeoffs entrepreneurs face as they take their companies to the next level.
Speakers:
- Joshua Lee, CEO & Co-Founder,
  Gumshoe Ventures
- Marlene Mardirossian, Founder, Drop Socials
- Woo Kim, Founder, LynkMe.Co
Moderators:
- Wade Martin, Director, Institute for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, CSU Long Beach
- Kevin Meredith, Innovation Obsessor, 4th Sector Innovations
Exit
Entrepreneurs turn successful companies into lasting value. The Exit Panel explores acquisitions, succession, public markets, and other paths entrepreneurs can pursue as their businesses mature. Attendees will learn how entrepreneurs prepare for and navigate an exit, and what they have learned from the journey.
Speakers:
- Ashley Fairon, Managing Director, Western Alliance Bank
- Dick VerWayne, Certified Mentor, SCORE Orange County
- Ritu Arora Thakur, CEO and Founder, Smart Tech Inc.
Moderator:
- Karl Hoenecke, Dean, School of Business and Economics, Concordia University Irvine

Past Pitch Winners

2025

1st place winner ($1,000):
Jonathan Alvarez, Soft School
2rd place winner ($750):
Danny Nguyen, Leksa
3rd place winner ($500):
Helina Herrera, Chaux
2024

1st place winners ($1,000):
Thinh Q Ho, LabMate
Truong Dat Thanh Pham, LabMate
2rd place winner ($750):
Adrian Vasquez, TalonLocks
3rd place winners ($500):
Alan Cortez, Bag/Get
Rohan Kunchala, Bag/Get
2023

Winner ($1,000):
Rachel Littell, Gotta Go Foods LLC