Description
Why become a member? You might think it’s just to make money, but for many of us it’s also a way to give back to the community, to help build successful companies and to achieve the satisfaction that comes from this involvement. And we hope to make money, too, of course. Membership in TCA Venture Group Orange County (TCA OC) is by invitation and is extended to individuals who share our vision and will actively contribute to our process.
TCA VG operates throughout Southern California and nationally across the US and Canada and is organized into five networks: Orange County, Los Angeles, Inland Empire, Pasadena Angels and MEDA Angels. Review the information below and apply to become a member of TCA OC!
What an Applicant can Obtain
Network Affiliation
Each member is affiliated with a TCA VG network, typically one located near their office or residence. Remote members outside of SoCal may choose a network to join virtually. Our members collaborate extensively within and across networks. They are welcome and encouraged to attend any TCA VG meeting or activity. While deals are reviewed by the group, TCA VG members invest as individuals (including as an investor in our annual TCA OC angel fund, which invests in deals based on the collective funds of its investors). All members have an opportunity to participate in any investment.
A Group Effort
As a group, TCA OC members have typically invested in 10-15 deals per year, including follow-on rounds. Individual members are expected to invest an average of $50,000 per year, typically two individual investments of $25,000 or through an investment in our annual fund (minimum investment is $10,000). While the amount invested by TCA VG members can vary widely according to economic and market conditions, total investment in new and follow-on deals by TCA VG in any given year averages several million dollars.
A Private Platform
TCA VG members have access to a private platform with restricted access that ties TCA VG networks, members and deal information together. The current platform (SparkXYZ.io) contains all deal, member and TCA VG event information. The event listing has event information on private TCA VG events and public events that would be of interest to TCA VG members. Members can also use the website to contact other members and register for TCA VG events. Members interested in a particular deal or topic may elect to see information as it pertains to that deal or topic. There is also an active Flock messaging platform with discussions of deals and topics of interest.
Getting Involved
Members develop by getting involved in due diligence teams, mentoring companies and serving on volunteer committees that support the operations of TCA VG. It is critical that they contribute their domain expertise and general experience to evaluation of potential investments.
ROMAC
TCA VG has formal Rules of Membership and Conduct (ROMAC) which must be executed before becoming a member. The ROMAC covers rules that are designed to support a business-like organization. For instance, members are prohibited from receiving any consideration for sourcing deals. Members may not solicit other TCA VG members for non-TCA VG deals and are not allowed to use group platforms and communications tools for personal announcements not related to TCA VG. However, members who serve as mentors to a venture that is deemed not ready for TCA VG are permitted to receive shares for services rendered, subject to some restrictions. A Board of Governors (BoG) oversees the activities of TCA VG as a whole, and the individual networks are administered either by an Executive Committee of BoG headed by a President, who is automatically a TCA VG BoG member.
