ORANGE COUNTY, Calif. - eTradeWire -- Orange County startup Vytala, led by Founder and CEO Jim O'Connell, has won the Startup World Cup Orange County Regional Qualifier, earning the opportunity to compete for a $1 million investment prize at the Startup World Cup Grand Finale in San Francisco, November 4–6, 2026.

The win came during the sold-out Best of the Best Startup Pitch Showcase on October 21, a featured event of inaugural OC Tech Week 2026. Co-organized by TCA Venture Group and the Alliance for SoCal Innovation, the showcase brought together 13 promising technology and medical technology startups from across Southern California to present before a panel of five judges. The event connected founders with investors and industry leaders while highlighting the region's growing innovation ecosystem.

Vytala is a venture-backed food technology company at the intersection of food and health. Its proprietary structured crystallized lipid technology is designed to improve fat and nutrient absorption, enable healthy weight gain, and reduce gastrointestinal distress. The management team brings over 125 years of experience across healthcare, food technology, clinical nutrition, and reimbursement.

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"Vytala was founded with the belief that essential nutrition can transform lives. Winning the Orange County Regional helps bring greater awareness to the challenges that nutrient malabsorption can cause, and the high unmet medical need for those living with this condition. The innovative science behind Seracal represents a breakthrough for clinicians, patients and their families. We're proud to represent Orange County and look forward to sharing Vytala's mission and the phenomenal outcomes Seracal is achieving on a global stage at the Startup World Cup Grand Finale," said Jim O'Connell, Founder and CEO of Vytala.

As the regional champion, Vytala will represent Orange County at the Startup World Cup Grand Finale, organized by Pegasus Tech Ventures. The competition brings together regional winners from around the world for the chance to secure a $1 million investment.

Pegasus Tech Ventures also extended complimentary Gold Package invitations to the other 12 participating startups, providing access to all three days of the Grand Finale.

"The million-dollar prize is exciting, but the real story is access," said Dave de Csepel, Chairman of TCA Venture Group. "When founders get in front of experienced investors and build relationships beyond their own networks, that's how a strong regional ecosystem becomes globally competitive."

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The showcase was part of OC Tech Week 2026, a six-day celebration of innovation and entrepreneurship organized by Tech Coast Venture Network (TCVN). The inaugural event featured 59 events and an estimated 3,000 attendees across Orange County.

"At TCVN, our mission is simple: we help founders become fundable," said Tony Crisp, President of Tech Coast Venture Network and Co-Chair of OC Tech Week. "Jim's victory is a powerful example of what's possible when our community comes together to create meaningful opportunities for founders."

OC Tech Week will return in 2027, continuing its mission to connect Orange County's startup ecosystem and expand opportunities for founders.

Learn more:

• OC Tech Week: https://octechweek.com/
• Startup World Cup: https://www.startupworldcup.io/
• Vytala: https://VytalaHealth.com
• Tech Coast Venture Network: https://tcvn.org/

About Tech Coast Venture Network

Founded in 1984, Tech Coast Venture Network (TCVN) is a Southern California entrepreneurial organization dedicated to helping founders become fundable through startup pitch competitions, investor engagement, educational programs, and community partnerships.