Orange County AI Startup Forum 2026

🔷 Orange County AI Startup Forum 2026 Spotlighting the People, Startups & Ideas Shaping AI in Orange County 🚀 Overview The Orange County AI Startup Forum 2026 brings together AI founders, entrepreneurs, business leaders, technologists, investors, advisors, and ecosystem builders for an evening focused on what is happening in AI right here in Orange County. Hosted in Irvine by oGoing, the Forum will spotlight emerging AI startups, local innovators, new technologies, and the people helping shape Orange County’s growing AI ecosystem. This is more than a startup pitch event. The AI Startup Forum is an opportunity to discover what is being built, hear from people working at the forefront of AI, exchange ideas, meet founders and business leaders, and build meaningful connections across Orange County. 🎯 What to Expect 🤖 The State of AI in Orange County Hear perspectives on how AI is developing across Orange County—from startups and entrepreneurs to established businesses, universities, investors, and emerging technologies.What is being built here? Where are the biggest opportunities? What could Orange County’s role be in the next generation of AI innovation? 🌟 OC AI Startup Spotlights Meet a select group of Orange County AI startups and founders building innovative products and companies.Selected founders will have an opportunity to briefly present:• The problem they are solving • What they have built • How AI is being used • Their progress and traction • What they need next Rather than a traditional high-pressure pitch competition, founders will receive constructive feedback and perspectives from experienced entrepreneurs, advisors, industry leaders, coaches, and investors participating in the Forum. 🎤 Featured AI Talks & Conversations Hear from founders, AI practitioners, business leaders, investors, and experts discussing some of the most important developments shaping AI today. Topics may include:• Agentic AI and AI agents • Applied AI and real-world business use cases • Enterprise AI • Healthcare and Life Sciences AI • AI startups and entrepreneurship • Building and scaling AI companies • AI adoption by small and mid-sized businesses • Funding and commercialization • What to expect from AI in 2027 and beyond 🤝 Meaningful OC AI Connections Meet people who are actively building, deploying, funding, advising, and using AI.The Forum is designed to create conversations between:• AI startup founders • Entrepreneurs and business owners • AI developers and technologists • Corporate and industry leaders • Angel investors and VCs • Advisors, mentors, and coaches • University and research communities • Startup ecosystem organizations 💡 Who Should Attend AI Startup FoundersMeet fellow founders, share what you are building, gain visibility, receive feedback, and develop new relationships. Entrepreneurs & Business Leaders Discover emerging AI technologies, practical applications, startups, and potential partners. AI Professionals & Builders Connect with others working on AI products, platforms, agents, applications, and infrastructure. Angel Investors & VCs Meet promising Orange County founders and discover emerging companies and technologies. Advisors, Mentors & Ecosystem Leaders Help strengthen connections across Orange County’s growing AI and startup community. Anyone Interested in the Future of AI in Orange County Come learn what is happening locally and meet the people making it happen. 🚀 Startup Spotlight Opportunity Are you building an AI startup in Orange County or Southern California?Selected startups may receive an opportunity to:• Present their company during an OC AI Startup Spotlight • Receive constructive feedback from experienced founders, advisors, and investors • Meet potential customers, partners, mentors, and supporters • Gain visibility through event promotions • Participate in the startup showcase • Receive post-event amplification through the oGoing ecosystem • Be considered for additional visibility through oGoing.ai Application required. Limited startup spotlight opportunities available. 🏢 Startup & Sponsor Showcase A limited number of showcase tables will be available for startups, technology companies, sponsors, and ecosystem organizations. Showcase participants can demonstrate their products, meet attendees, and continue conversations throughout the evening. 🔷 Featured AI Areas Agentic AI • Applied AI • Enterprise AI • Health AI • FinTech AI • Retail AI • Life Sciences AI • SaaS AI • AI Automation • Emerging AI Technologies 🔷 Agenda 🕠 5:30 – 6:00 PM Networking + OC AI Startup Showcase • Check-in and introductions • Meet founders, AI professionals, investors, and business leaders • Startup and sponsor tables open • Light refreshments 🕕 6:00 – 6:15 PM Welcome + State of AI in Orange County • Welcome to the Orange County AI Startup Forum • What's happening across the OC AI ecosystem • Opportunities ahead for founders, businesses, and innovators 🕕 6:15 – 6:40 PM Featured AI Talk Selected founders present what they are building, followed by constructive feedback and conversation. 🕡 6:40 – 7:05 PM OC AI Startup Spotlights Meet the founders, explore products, and continue conversations. 🕖 7:05 – 7:25 PM Networking + Startup Showcase Founders, operators, investors, and industry leaders discuss where AI is creating real business value and where the next opportunities may emerge. 🕢 7:25 – 7:50 PM Featured AI Conversation / Panel Additional startup, technology, founder, or ecosystem presentations highlighting AI innovation happening across Orange County. 🕗 7:50 – 8:15 PM OC AI Innovation Spotlights Closing perspectives, community announcements, and opportunities to stay connected. 🕣 8:15 – 8:30 PM What's Next for AI in Orange County Continue conversations with founders, speakers, partners, investors, and fellow attendees. 🤝 Open Networking Orange County has entrepreneurs, engineers, researchers, businesses, investors, universities, and innovators working across many areas of artificial intelligence. 🌴 Building the Orange County AI Community The Orange County AI Startup Forum is about bringing more of these people together. Come discover what is being built. Meet the people building it.And help shape what comes next for AI in Orange County. Irvine Ranch Water District makes its facilities available for use by residents and nonprofit organizations merely as a public service, but does not, by allowing this use, endorse or support the purpose of the event or its sponsor.