Aliso Viejo, Calif., September 16, 2019 — OCTANe, Orange County’s technology and life sciences accelerator organization, today announced the winners of its 2019 High Tech Awards. The awards program, which entered into its twenty-sixth year, honored Orange County-based companies that have demonstrated exceptional leadership while developing new technological advancements in their respective industries.
Nine awards, selected by a panel of 12 independent judges, were awarded.
2019 Winners:
Outstanding Emerging Technology Company: Syntiant
Best Small Technology Company CEO: Ike Kavas, Ephesoft
Best Technology Innovation in Software: Titan HST
Outstanding Innovation in Medical Technology & Lifesciences: Sonendo
Best Large Technology Company CEO: Jeff Margolis, Welltok
Best Technology Innovation in a Consumer Product: OPKIX
Outstanding Small Technology Company: AWM Smart Shelf
Outstanding Large Technology Company: Edwards Lifesciences
Deal of the Year: Bonti
Three additional high-profile awards were given out this year. The first recognizing vision, leadership and the ability to disrupt the status quo was presented to FivePoint Chairman and CEO, Emile Haddad, for his ongoing support of the Orange County ecosystem. Emile serves on OCTANe’s Board of Directors and is a member of the organizations Executive Committee. The UCI Samueli School of Engineering 2019 Innovator of the Year Award was awarded to Andrei Shkel, Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. At UCI since 2000, Shkel has established and run a highly innovative research program in his state-of-the-art Microsystems Laboratory, which provides rigorous multidisciplinary academic training in MEMS. Lastly, Venture Partners of the Year Award, an award given to two individuals who have managed separate VC funds, created strong performance records and have brought a heighted awareness to Orange County. Bruce Hallett serves as the Managing Partner of Miramar Digital Ventures, a fund dedicated to seed and early stage data tech companies. Jeff Weinhuff is the Managing Partner of Visionary Ventures, a fund focused on ophthalmology and medical aesthetics.
During the event, Bill Carpou, CEO of OCTANe, announced a very significant strategic partnership with FivePoint that will enable further growth and acceleration for ideas, innovation, capital and the creation of high paying jobs. This partnership will provide a center of gravity for the innovation economy across Southern California.
This year’s event was hosted at the Balboa Bay Club in Newport Beach, Ca. and emceed by Dr. Andrew Lyon, Dean of the School of Engineering at Chapman University.
The OCTANe High Tech Innovation Awards were sponsored by Deloitte, Haskell & White, Insperity, JP Morgan Chase, Knobbe Martens, RSM, Savills Studley, Stradling, Squar Milner, UCI Beal Applied Innovation and UPS.
About OCTANe
OCTANe is the organization that convenes and enables the Southern California technology and medical technology business ecosystem by connecting people, resources and capital. Our goal is to create 55,000+ high-value technology jobs in Southern California by 2030. We impact our community through LaunchPad, an industry leading accelerator, Enterprise Solutions, a new platform to provide companies capital and growth resources to accelerate job creation, Signature Events & Programs, and direct access to capital. octaneoc.org
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Media Contact:
Cara Parchment
cara@octaneoc.org
949-330-6579