Alliance for Southern California Innovation

alliancesocal.org

The Alliance directly supports leaders and stakeholders to nurture and grow the SoCal innovation ecosystem through programs that drive collaboration and economic development, with specific focus on connecting early-stage startups (Seed and Series A) with institutional capital and facilitating research commercialization.

Check Size

$120K - $200M

Stages

Pre Seed, Seed, Series A, Series B, Series C, Growth, Late Stage

Focus Areas

Ai Ml, Enterprise Saas, Vertical Saas

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Investment Thesis

The Alliance for SoCal Innovation operates as a non-profit ecosystem connector rather than a traditional VC firm. Their philosophy centers on removing friction from the innovation economy by facilitating strategic relationships between founders, investors, corporations, and research institutions across Southern California. They believe in democratizing access to capital and resources, particularly for founders who might be historically overlooked, by leveraging their deep network and acting as a trusted matchmaker.

What Sets Them Apart

Non-profit structure with no fees or equity taken from startups or investors - funded by sponsors and federal grants
Established relationship network of over 200 institutional investors across Seed and Series A stages
Two-committee vetting process (Evaluation Committee and Selection Committee) ensuring only investor-ready companies receive introductions
The Catalyst Fund - direct co-investment vehicle targeting first institutional checks for historically underrepresented founders
Deep connections with SoCal's 11 major research universities and institutions for research commercialization
Regional focus on Southern California's diversity of innovation sectors (software/tech 21%, health 19%, media 18%)
Provides warm introductions specifically matched to investor thesis rather than generic pitching