Huupe
smart basketball hoop developer
18081 Redondo Circle, Huntington Beach
17875 Von Karman Ave., Irvine
Company tagline: “World’s first smart basketball hoop”
About: “Elevate your game with Huupe Mini, the world’s smartest hoop. Play, track stats, and compete with friends on a built-in HD screen for next-level gameplay.”
Bonfire Studios
video game developer
18600 MacArthur Blvd., Irvine
Company tagline: “We craft games that weave pulse-pounding thrill with the warmth of belonging.”
About: “Our goal is to immerse players in an extraordinary and haunting realm. From initial concept art to final in-game elements, we are crafting a compelling aesthetic experience that seamlessly blends with and brings to life the game’s narrative, level design, combat, and audio.”
Slowtide
art-inspired towels, blankets, and changing ponchos
336 E. 17th St., Costa Mesa
Company tagline: “Welcome to the fold.”
About: “Slowtide blends thoughtful materials with artist-driven design to create textiles meant for everyday living. Pieces that move easily between the beach, the outdoors, and the home. Slowtide started in 2015 between California and Hawaii. After long days spent in and around the water, founders Wylie Von Tempsky, Kyle Spencer, and Dario Phillips began to feel the towels they were using could be better. The design felt generic. The quality fell short. So, they started making their own. What began as a better towel quickly became something more.”
Kei Concepts
restaurant group
17011 Beach Blvd., Huntington Beach
Company tagline: “Kei Concepts’ vision and mission is to connect all generations, old and new, through its concepts by offering authentic yet progressive pan-Asian cultural cuisines.”
About: “In 2014, we opened our first restaurant, SUP Noodle Bar, not knowing the surprises it had in store for us in the future. Through the support of friends and family, fans and foodies, we have revolutionized Asian food across Southern California with multiple brands spanning across different tastes and cultures. We knew we wanted to go bigger, so we created Kei Concepts. Kei Concepts serve as inventors and purveyors of unique and experiential brands. Our goal is to bring the best-of-the-best brands to your table.”
JMP Creative
product invention and design
16782 Von Karman, Irvine
Company tagline: “We are inventors. We arrive at work each day with a single purpose: Invent something extraordinary for our clients and partners!”
About: “JMP’s team is a product development powerhouse, having developed concepts resulting in over a billion units of product to reach the marketplace! We’re regarded by toy companies, from the industry’s largest players to smaller outfits across international markets, as one of the top invention resources in the world. And we’ve developed products achieving Toy of the Year status in multiple countries. But our product development abilities don’t end with toys, as we’ve created and provided contributions to numerous industries.”
Melin
premium hats
100 Avenida La Pata, San Clemente
Company tagline: “The world’s most comfortable hat. Built to last. Designed for the perfect fit.”
About: “Melin’s mission is to build the world’s most premium headwear by combining the highest quality materials, unique details, and problem solving innovation, creating hats that last five times longer, fit every head shape, and enhance comfort across any adventure. For us, a hat isn’t just an accessory that we occasionally throw on as we’re leaving the house. It’s the most critical part of our everyday wardrobe. It’s the first thing someone sees when they look at your face and their first impression of your personal style. It’s the billboard that tells the world who you are, what you value, your passions, where you’re from, and how you live your life.”
FightCamp
interactive at-home fitness developer
936 W. 17th St., Costa Mesa
Company tagline: “Inspire the fighter within.”
About: “Originally developed for Olympic teams, our motion technology captures every strike and processes speed, power, and precision to help you train with the accuracy of a pro. The same strength and precision as pro gear, re-engineered for the home to deliver authentic training without compromise.”
CIE Digital Labs
venture studio, innovation lab, business accelerator
19600 Fairchild Road, Irvine
Company tagline: “ideas.built”
About: “We partner with innovative corporate leaders to re-imagine their existing businesses and to sketch out, and build, new business opportunities together. Launching new ventures with visionary entrepreneurs, adventurous corporate partners and our venture studio, we aim to solve real world problems through commercial platforms. Dreamers. Funders. Builders. Accelerators. The common bond across our team is a passion ‘to build incredible businesses that do incredible things’ for our world.”
Kura Sushi Inc.
international restaurant group
17461 Derian Ave., Irvine
Company tagline: “The Kura experience. Revolving sushi bar.”
About: “As pioneers of the revolving sushi concept, the Kura family of companies have improved upon the developed innovative systems that combine advanced technology, premium ingredients, and affordable prices to enhance the unique dining experience. Since the first restaurant opening in 1977, Kura Sushi Inc. has grown substantially with more than 550 locations across Japan, Taiwan, and the United States.”
MobilityWare
game developer, creator of the No. 1 Solitaire game and solitaire-related games
440 Exchange, Irvine
Company tagline: “Bringing joy to others one game at a time”
About: “We’re champions for the game and strive to be the top player in everything we do. Our endless enthusiasm and dedication for our craft means we take creating fun seriously. Getting to the next level means knowing when to involve creative risk taking. We encourage our teams to be bold and think beyond the playbook when needed to achieve results. Change drives innovation. We embrace it and are prepared to pivot with the agility to act fast, the courage to color outside the lines, and the flexibility to try a new route to find the missing piece of the puzzle.”
Willbo
lifestyle brand and apparel maker
353 N. Coast Highway, Laguna Beach
Company tagline: “For life and play under our Western skies”
About: “In the sweeping tapestry of our shared American journey, Willbo stands as a heartfelt reminder of the spirit that unites us across wide prairies and golden coastlines. Each stitch weaves together stories of sport and our heritage, reflecting the timeless ideals of craftsmanship and the humble warmth of community. Rooted in the boundless majesty of the West, Willbo illuminates how our past informs our future, inviting every American, young and old, to embrace the comfort, style, and wonder of a life well-lived under our Western skies.”
Almond Surfboards
surfboard manufacturer
1720 Santa Ana Ave., Costa Mesa
Company tagline: “Skilled hands, thoughtful design, and a commitment to timeless craftsmanship. Built to help you catch waves earlier and more often.”
About: “Every Almond model is the result of careful study and consistent refinement. We design boards that handle everyday conditions with confidence and hold their value through long-term use. Our shapes are purposeful, balanced, dependable, and built to improve a surfer’s time in the water. We stand behind every model we produce because each one reflects the same standard: Make it functional, make it durable, and make it worth riding for years.”
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