MATT MCCUE CEO / CO-FOUNDER DZYNE TECHNOLOGIES WHY: Runs Irvine-based company that makes an assortment of long-range unmanned drones and aircraft primarily for military uses, as well as Dronebusters anti-drone devices. Major customers include the U.S. military as well as overseas buyers. IN THE NEWS: Graduated from California Polytechnic State Read More
DONALD MCCLYMONT CO-FOUNDER / CEO INDIE SEMICONDUCTOR WHY: Co-founded chip company uses sensors, semiconductors and software with a goal to enable the “uncrashable” car. The Aliso Viejo-based chip company, which was founded in 2007 and went public in 2021 when it raised $495M through a SPAC. It focuses on technology Read More
Palmer Luckey, co-founder, Anduril and Oculus VR PALMER LUCKEY FOUNDER OCULUS VR CO-FOUNDER ANDURIL INDUSTRIES WHY: At age 21, sold the virtual reality gear maker Oculus VR, which he founded, to Facebook for $2.3B in 2014. After being ousted from Facebook, returned to Orange County and founded Anduril in 2017. Read More
Westcliff University celebrates the grand opening of its College of Nursing in Corona ANTHONY LEE CEO WESTCLIFF UNIVERSITY WHY: Took over Westcliff University from his father who founded the school, growing its student base from 20 to thousands by combining technology-based learning with traditional campus classes. Expanded the school’s academic Read More
Brent Kulp accepts his entrepreneurship award BRENT KULP CEO / PRESIDENT TRAFFIX DEVICES INC WHY: Joined family business year after his parents founded it in 1987 to make products for highway safety, from signs to barricades. In 2020, took over business from parents. What started as a self-storage unit in Read More
Arthur Kuan at Nasdaq on CG Oncology’s IPO day ARTHUR KUAN CEO / CHAIRMAN CG ONCOLOGY WHY: The 34-year-old leads research for bladder cancer treatments that investors have called “game changers.” Went public in January 2024 after raising $380M in an initial public offering, marking the largest IPO for an Read More
Twenty-seven of the largest restaurant chains headquartered in Orange County generated $37 billion in systemwide sales for 2024, an 8.5% increase from last year. While local headcounts fell 6.4% to 20,900 people across the board, that’s not stopping OC-based restaurant companies seeking to grow stores over the next five to Read More
Editor’s Note: Brothers Wing Lam, Ed Lee and Mingo Lee opened the first Wahoo’s Fish Taco location in Costa Mesa in 1988. The Tustin-based restaurant chain has more than 40 locations throughout California, Texas, Nevada and Japan. Ed Lee is also the founder of Toast Kitchen & Bakery in Tustin. Read More
Picture an Italian café where you can enjoy coffee and pastries in the morning, sandwiches, salads and charcuterie in the afternoon, and wine and tapas in the evening. That is the description of CasaDamí, a European-style eatery tucked within the luxury waterfront villas at Peninsula Village on the Balboa Peninsula. Read More
After several stints working at some of Orange County’s most critically acclaimed restaurants, Antonio Bevacqua is finally striking out on his own. “I always wanted to open a restaurant,” Bevacqua told the Business Journal. He’s now managing partner at the newly opened Il Girasole at South Coast Collection (SOCO) shopping center Read More
