IRVINE, Calif. - TelAve -- OC Tech Week 2026 will open Monday evening, October 19, with a keynote address by Don DiCostanzo. His keynote, "Moonshots: The Future Isn't Predicted. It's Built," will headline the official Opening Ceremony at Sunstone Courtyard in Irvine, presented by Sunstone Venture and Innovation Center.

Hosted by Tech Coast Venture Network (TCVN), Orange County's longest-standing founder-first nonprofit organization, OC Tech Week runs October 19–24, 2026, under the theme "Innovation in Paradise." The decentralized, community-driven celebration will bring together entrepreneurs, investors, technologists, universities, businesses and civic leaders to showcase the region's innovation economy.

"The first-ever OC Tech Week is a moonshot in its own right," said Don DiCostanzo, CEO of The Ticket 500, founder of WaterVO and founder of Pedego Electric Bikes. "It starts with an ambitious belief: Orange County can unite its founders, engineers, investors, universities, corporations, and civic leaders into one visible technology community. OC Tech Week is that first step."

A Career Built on Bold Ideas

As CEO of The Ticket 500, he leads a Newport Beach-based community of founders, operators and builders in Cannery Village, where members gather for classes, roundtables and conversations on topics ranging from artificial intelligence to company building.

In 2008, DiCostanzo founded Pedego Electric Bikes. After purchasing an electric bike to conquer the hill between his home and the beach, DiCostanzo opened a Newport Beach shop that grew into one of the country's largest electric bike retailers. With over 200 retail locations and over $500,000,000 in retail sales. Pedego went on to become a leading U.S. electric bike brand, building a nationwide network of locally owned stores and helping bring e-bikes into mainstream transportation.

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DiCostanzo is also the founder of WaterVO, a Newport Beach company developing atmospheric water generators that turn water vapor in the air into drinking water for the home without requiring plumbing. He is the author of "Microplastic Phobia? What's Real, What's Not," and focuses on startup ventures and co-creation with early-stage founders.

Before launching his own companies, DiCostanzo spent three decades in automotive marketing, including work with Wynn's International. He holds a degree in business administration and marketing from California State University, Fullerton, was named to the Orange County Business Journal's OC 500, EY Entrepreneur of Year 2021, and delivered the Business Journal's Excellence in Entrepreneurship keynote. He also supports Free Wheelchair Mission.

"OC Tech Week is about showing the world what Orange County is building, and there's no better way to start than with someone who has built it here," said Tony Crisp, Co-Chair of OC Tech Week 2026, President of TCVN, and Founder and CEO of CRISPx. "Don has launched companies in Orange County, grown them into national brands and created spaces where other founders can do the same. His 'Moonshots' message captures exactly what this inaugural week represents: bringing our community together to build what comes next."

OC Tech Week 2026 Opening Ceremony

Event: OC Tech Week 2026 Official Opening Ceremony

Keynote: "Moonshots: The Future Isn't Predicted. It's Built."

Keynote Speaker: Don DiCostanzo, CEO of The Ticket 500, founder of WaterVO and co-founder of Pedego Electric Bikes

Presented by: Sunstone Venture and Innovation Center

Date: Monday, October 19, 2026

Time: 5:00–7:00 p.m.

Location: Sunstone Courtyard, Irvine, California. The address will be provided upon registration.

Registration: https://luma.com/ythtctng

Note: Seating is limited, and registration requires host approval.

Six Days of Innovation Across Orange County

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Following the Opening Ceremony, OC Tech Week will continue October 19–24 with programming hosted by organizations across Orange County. Events will span healthcare innovation and MedTech, enabling and creative technologies, life sciences, sustainability, global trade and education.

Highlights include the Global Trade Summit on Tuesday, Startup World Cup qualifier at Best of the Best pitch event on Wednesday, Sustain SoCal's 17th Annual Energy Summit on Thursday, Cars & Coffee on Saturday, and SoCal Celebrates Entrepreneurship on Saturday, hosted by Concordia University Irvine and Chapman University, followed by the closing ceremony and concert.

Each official event is hosted by a member of the community, including universities, accelerators, companies, nonprofits and industry groups. This community-led approach makes OC Tech Week a showcase of the collective strength of Orange County's innovation ecosystem rather than any single organization.

Many events have limited capacity and require individual registration. To explore the full calendar and register, visit https://octechweek.com.

About OC Tech Week

OC Tech Week is a six-day, radically inclusive, decentralized celebration of entrepreneurship and technology hosted by Tech Coast Venture Network (TCVN). Created to unite Orange County's founders, investors, technologists, universities, businesses and civic leaders under one banner, OC Tech Week showcases the people, companies and ideas shaping the region's innovation economy while inviting the global technology community to experience "Innovation in Paradise." OC Tech Week 2026 takes place October 19–24 across Orange County, California.

Learn more at https://octechweek.com.

About Tech Coast Venture Network

Founded in 1984, Tech Coast Venture Network (TCVN) is Orange County's longest-standing founder-first nonprofit organization. TCVN advances the Southern California startup community through education, mentorship, events and peer connection, bringing together entrepreneurs, investors, universities, corporations and community leaders to share knowledge and strengthen Orange County's innovation economy.

Founders First. Relationships over Transactions. Community over Competition.

Learn more at https://TCVN.org.