A Night to Remember: SoCal Venture Pipeline Alumni Dinner 2025

On the evening of June 26, something special happened in Southern California’s startup scene. Twenty-seven founders—each building in wildly different spaces, from deep tech and medtech to consumer products—gathered for an intimate and energizing dinner hosted by the Alliance for SoCal Innovation. While their sectors varied, what united them all was a shared milestone: being selected into the SoCal Venture Pipeline (SVP) program powered by Banc of California, the Alliance’s curated program that connects top regional startups with institutional capital.

This wasn’t just another networking event. For the Alliance team, it was a rare chance to bring together a remarkable community we’ve been lucky to support—founders, partners, and sponsors—all in one room. The vibe was warm, casual, and full of gratitude. Relationships deepened, new connections were sparked, and everyone walked away feeling just a bit more plugged into something bigger.

Of course, none of this would be possible without the ecosystem partners who help us power the SVP program. We were proud to host leaders from our title sponsor, Banc of California, whose support has been instrumental over the past three years. They were joined by sponsors and friends from KPPB, HCVT, and Countsy. Special thanks to Industry Partners who co-hosted the dinner and welcomed us into their stunning space for the evening. (While Wilson Sonsini and Riviera Partners couldn’t join us in person, their support continues to make this work possible.)

A standout moment of the evening came between the cocktail hour and dinner, when Adam Hansmann, co-founder of The Athletic (acquired by The New York Times for $550M), joined us for a candid fireside chat moderated by Mark diTargiani of Banc of California. Adam shared reflections from his journey scaling a startup in the high-stakes world of sports media—lessons on team ownership, the importance of work-life balance, and the power of empathy in leadership. His honesty and humility resonated with every founder in the room.

At its core, this dinner wasn’t just about celebrating past milestones. It was about cultivating the relationships and trust that fuel future ones. And as the last glasses clinked and the final conversations wrapped up, the energy in the room made one thing clear: Southern California’s startup ecosystem is vibrant, resilient, and just getting started. We can’t wait to bring the community back together!

For a taste of the evening, check out the following video: