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Keiretsu Forum Southern California (K4 SoCal)

Keiretsu Forum SoCal is comprised of 4 Chapters which currently include Westlake Village, Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Diego.

Newport Beach, CA, USA

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Description

The Keiretsu Forum Southern California (K4 SoCal) is the regional chapter of the world's largest by-invitation-only angel investor network. It connects accredited investors across its Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange County, and Ventura County chapters with early-stage companies, providing capital, resources, and mentorship. 
  • Seed & Series A/B: K4 SoCal primarily invests in companies with high growth opportunities, typically seeking between $250,000 and $3 million in capital.
  • Traction Required: Companies applying are usually in their A or B rounds and often have initial funding from founders, friends, and family already in place. 
  • Method: Entrepreneurs apply online via the K4 SoCal website portal.
  • No NDA: Keiretsu Forum does not sign non-disclosure agreements for initial proposals; only information comfortable for sharing should be submitted.
  • Materials: A comprehensive business summary, pitch deck, financials, and exit strategy are required.
  • Fees: There is no fee to apply or present at the initial Deal Screening. However, companies selected to present at the main Forum Meeting are required to pay an administrative fee to cover organizational costs.

Pitch Competition and Deadline (2026)
  • Monthly Cycle: Keiretsu SoCal holds monthly virtual forum meetings.
  • Upcoming Forum Meeting: The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, January 22, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM PST.
  • TechCon SoCal 2026: Related to the ecosystem, the First Quarter Final Pitch Event is scheduled for January 29, 2026, for post-seed or Series A startups.
  • Rolling Intake: Applications are accepted year-round, with submissions vetted monthly. 

Eligibility

  • Geography: Primarily Southern California (Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange County, and Ventura County), with access to the global Keiretsu network.
  • Sectors: Industry-agnostic, with significant activity in emerging technologies, healthcare/life sciences, consumer products, real estate, and other high-growth areas.
  • Valuation & Profitability: The company must demonstrate a clear exit strategy and potential for long-term cash generation and profitability within 2-3 years of funding. 

Process

The process emphasizes rigorous pre-screening and peer-to-peer due diligence: 
  1. Online Application: Founders submit their plan through the online application.
  2. Pre-Screening: Applications are reviewed by committees who select 7-10 companies for a monthly Deal Screening session.
  3. Deal Screening: Selected companies present for 10-12 minutes with an 8-10 minute Q&A session via Zoom. The committee decides who advances to the main Forum.
  4. Forum Meeting: Finalists present to the full network of investors. Members then indicate interest on a "Gold Sheet" interest form.
  5. Due Diligence (DD): Interested members form a DD team for a 6–8 week review of the business.
  6. Investment: Members make individual investment decisions, collaborating during due diligence. 

What an Applicant can Obtain

  • Strategic Capital: Access to a large pool of capital from an extensive network of accredited investors, VCs, and institutional partners.
  • Expert Mentorship: Guidance from successful entrepreneurs and business leaders who actively participate in the due diligence process and advisory roles.
  • Global Exposure: The potential to present to Keiretsu chapters across three continents and access a global online deal room (K4-DealRoom).
  • Credibility: The rigorous K4 SoCal vetting process provides significant validation that can help secure follow-on funding from other angel groups and VCs.