FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
VENTURA, Calif. — Startup Ventura, a new nonprofit startup accelerator, today announced its official launch to support and connect entrepreneurs, founders, and small business owners across Ventura County.
The organization was founded to solve a problem its founder watched play out for years: Ventura County raises ambitious, talented people and educates them at strong local universities, only to lose them to larger startup hubs because there was nowhere locally to build.
Even high-growth companies already rooted in the county, such as logistics startup Curri, have had to work hard to find the local talent they need to grow. Startup Ventura aims to change that by giving local founders mentorship, capital connections, and community — keeping talent in the region, building companies locally, and letting jobs and investment follow.
“After I exited my first business, I made a conscious decision that I was going to have an outsized impact on this city and county, and turn it into a place that ambitious, innovative people want to call home,” said Luke Erickson, Founder & Executive Director of Startup Ventura. “That is the whole reason Startup Ventura exists. We are just getting started.”
Erickson founded Startup Ventura and served as its Chairman from inception before stepping into the role of Executive Director, effective July 1, 2026, to lead the nonprofit’s day-to-day operations. Before turning his attention to the civic and nonprofit sector, he built and exited his own technology company, giving him firsthand experience with the challenges early-stage founders face.
Under his leadership, Startup Ventura earned its 501(c)(3) status, secured a founding investment from the City of Ventura, and was awarded Candid’s Platinum Seal of Transparency — the highest level, held by fewer than one percent of U.S. nonprofits. Its first annual benefit drew 75 supporters and raised funds toward an inaugural cohort of founders launching in Spring 2027.
Startup Ventura’s work extends beyond direct founder support. Erickson sits on the board of directors of the New West Symphony, mentors students, and works closely with local civic and economic development organizations to strengthen the broader regional ecosystem.
About Startup Ventura
Startup Ventura is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit startup accelerator based in Ventura, California, dedicated to giving the region’s most ambitious builders a reason to stay and grow their companies locally. Learn more at startupventura.com.
Media Contact
Name Jennifer Moeller
Title Community Operations Coordinator, Startup Ventura
Email
Web startupventura.com · startupventura.com/press
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Prepared for media distribution 9-18-2026.
Source: startupventura.com
linkedin.com/company/startup-ventura
Ventura, California · 501(c)(3) · EIN 39-2204612