u/Herschberg

Here's what happened in Orange County business yesterday.

1. TTM Technologies is making its biggest move yet

Santa Ana-based TTM Technologies agreed to acquire Epiq Design Solutions for approximately $1.1 billion in cash, its largest deal in years. Epiq builds AI-enabled software-defined radios and space compute hardware used in missile defense, satellite communications, and electronic warfare. TTM is funding the deal with committed loans from JPMorgan, Bank of America, and Barclays, expecting net leverage of 2.3x at closing before working it back down over the next year and a half. This comes right on the heels of TTM's record quarter, so the company isn't just riding demand, it's actively buying its way into deeper defense and space work. Shares ticked up slightly on the news.

2. Anduril just put its first satellite in orbit

Costa Mesa-based Anduril confirmed its first fully self-funded satellite, ANDURIL-216, reached orbit last month and is now sending back calibrated imagery from all three onboard sensors. The company also used its Lattice command and control software to task a spacecraft on orbit for the first time. Going from a clean sheet design to a working satellite in under two years is a fast turnaround by any industry standard, and it puts Anduril squarely into the space domain alongside its ground and air systems. Worth watching how quickly they scale beyond this first launch.

3. Staar Surgical took a hit after an analyst downgrade

The Lake Forest eye lens maker dropped 8% at midday after an analyst cut its price target. Meanwhile, MdxHealth has climbed 85% since reporting Q2 results back on August 13, a sharp contrast in how the market is treating two OC healthcare names in the same week. Worth watching whether Staar's new CEO addresses the downgrade directly in any upcoming investor communications.

What to keep an eye on today

• TTM's Epiq deal still needs regulatory approval, with a closing deadline set for November 15, extendable into next spring. Worth tracking any updates on that timeline.
• Anduril's next satellite launches are worth watching now that the first one is operational and sending back usable data.
• Jamie Dimon confirmed JPMorgan plans major growth in Orange County, calling the expansion "massive." Worth watching for specifics on hiring or new branch locations as those plans take shape.

That's the update. Drop anything I missed below.

Halfway through the week. Let's hear something good.

It doesn't have to be a big deal. Closed a deal, landed a meeting, got a response you'd been waiting on, hired someone great, finally launched the thing — all of it counts.

Small wins matter too. Maybe you had a conversation that cracked something open. Maybe you made a decision you'd been putting off. Maybe you just got through a brutal Tuesday and you're still standing.

Drop it here. No humblebragging required, no false modesty either. Just tell us what went right.

If someone shares a win that connects to what you do — reach out. Shared momentum is a good reason to start a conversation.

Here's what's been making the rounds in Orange County business, since Monday stayed light on brand new headlines.

1. Huntington Beach's biggest resort has a new GM

Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa named Sid Ramani as its new general manager, filling the seat after Jon Benson stepped down earlier this year. Ramani spent almost 30 years with Hyatt, most recently running Hyatt Regency Irvine, where he led that property through a $55 million renovation back in 2024. Bringing in someone with that much internal experience and a track record on major renovations says the resort is looking for steady, proven leadership rather than a fresh outside hire.

2. Disney is doubling down on Anaheim's Avengers Campus

Work continues on expanding the Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure, with two new rides in the pipeline. Disney executives also pointed to strong recent Spider-Man box office numbers as a good sign heading into the December release of Avengers: Doomsday. Every time Disney invests in a bigger themed land, it tends to ripple out into more foot traffic, more hotel bookings, and more business for everything around the resort district, not just the park gates themselves.

3. Vizio's founder is looking at what's next

William Wang, who stepped down as CEO of Irvine-based Vizio at the end of June, is reportedly looking to back the next generation of tech founders. Wang built Vizio into the largest U.S.-based flat-panel TV maker in history, funding it with a $600,000 second mortgage after surviving the crash of Singapore Airlines Flight 006 and multiple failed ventures before that. Walmart bought Vizio for $2.3 billion at the end of 2024. A founder with that kind of comeback story turning into a backer for new entrepreneurs is worth watching, especially for anyone building something in OC's tech scene.

What to keep an eye on today

• Mach Industries' next funding round is still expected sometime this year, and worth watching who leads it given the company's rapid climb to a $1.8 billion valuation.
• Aviation Capital Group's ownership shift with ITOCHU is still working its way toward a November close. Worth tracking any updates on how that affects local leadership.
• William Wang's next move as an investor is worth watching closely. If he starts backing OC-based startups specifically, that could be a real boost for the local tech ecosystem.

That's the update. Drop anything I missed below.

The best business relationships in OC don't start with cold emails. They start with someone saying "you need to meet this person."

This is that thread.

If you know someone worth knowing — a contractor who actually shows up, an accountant who actually returns calls, a designer who actually hits deadlines, a realtor who actually knows the market — put them here.

Format keeps it useful:

Name:
What they do:
Why I recommend them:
How to reach them: (DM me or [contact info if they're okay with it])

One rule: only recommend people you've actually worked with. "I heard they're good" doesn't count. Your reputation travels with every referral you make here.

If someone recommends you and you see it — say thank you publicly. It takes thirty seconds and it means something.

Here's what happened in Orange County business yesterday.

1. Mach Industries' 22-year-old founder says the company is just getting started

Huntington Beach defense startup Mach Industries has raised $500 million total since founder Ethan Thornton started the company three years ago, reaching a $1.8 billion valuation with backing from Sequoia Capital and Khosla Ventures. Thornton told the Business Journal he expects to raise even more capital in the next year, with the company's weapons systems already in use by the Army, Air Force, and Special Operations Command. He's also working with a Nashville aerospace firm on a VTOL fixed-wing aircraft called Atlas, which he thinks could eventually have passenger airline applications. A 22-year-old running a company this size, with this kind of capital behind it, keeps reinforcing how much Orange County has become a real hub for defense tech, not just a side player.

2. Aviation Capital Group's ownership structure is shifting

The Newport Beach aircraft lessor posted first-half revenue of $668.3 million, up 9% from last year, with operating cash flow up 23%. At the same time, parent company Tokyo Century announced plans to transfer a 50% stake in ACG's direct parent to Japanese trading giant ITOCHU, a deal expected to close in November. Solid numbers paired with a major ownership shift happening simultaneously is worth watching, since new co-ownership can sometimes shift strategy even when the underlying business is performing well.

3. Chipotle is heading to Saudi Arabia

The Newport Beach-based burrito chain announced plans to enter Saudi Arabia this month, continuing its international expansion push. Fast casual concepts expanding into new international markets has become a bigger trend across the industry, and Chipotle picking the Middle East as a growth market says a lot about how confident the brand is in its ability to travel beyond its core U.S. base.

What to keep an eye on today

• Mach Industries' next funding round is expected sometime in the next year. Worth watching who leads it and what valuation the company commands next time around.
• ACG's ownership transition with ITOCHU is still months from closing. Worth tracking any details that emerge about how it might affect local operations or leadership.
• Chipotle's Saudi Arabia launch details are still light. Worth watching for an actual opening date and how the menu translates to a new market.

That's the update. Drop anything I missed below.

Here's what happened in Orange County business yesterday.

1. Westcliff University just picked up a nursing school

Irvine-based Westcliff University acquired Pacific College, a Costa Mesa nursing school founded in 1993 with a 95.83% NCLEX-RN pass rate. The deal brings Pacific College's vocational, associate, bachelor's and master's nursing programs under Westcliff's roof, building on the College of Nursing Westcliff already launched in Corona last year. California is projected to need more than 61,000 additional registered nurses by 2033, so a local university consolidating nursing pathways this aggressively is a smart bet on where healthcare education demand is headed. Financial terms weren't disclosed.

2. Mobix Labs took a hit despite landing a new supply deal

Shares fell 21% at midday even after the Irvine-based company announced a $20 million supply deal with agricultural products supplier The Mighty Oak Inc. A drop like that on good news usually means the market had bigger expectations baked in already, or investors are more focused on something else weighing on the stock. Worth watching if the deal's terms come into clearer focus and whether the stock finds its footing.

3. Jamie Dimon made a stop in Irvine, burger in hand

JPMorganChase CEO Jamie Dimon toured the bank's Southern California offices, including its newly opened Newport Beach branch, with a stop at In-N-Out in Irvine along the way. Not exactly a market-moving headline, but when the head of the largest bank in the country makes time to tour local branches in person, it's a small signal that OC remains a market worth showing up for in person, not just on a balance sheet.

What to keep an eye on today

• Mobix Labs' next moves are worth tracking closely given the disconnect between the new supply deal and the stock's sharp drop.
• Westcliff's nursing expansion could be a sign of more consolidation in healthcare education across Southern California. Worth watching if similar acquisitions follow.
• JPMorganChase's continued investment in its Newport Beach branch is worth watching, especially any follow-up announcements about hiring or expanded services locally.

That's the update. Drop anything I missed below.

No agenda today. Just an honest question.

What's something you're genuinely trying to work out right now — in your career, your business, your industry, or your professional life in general?

Not a gotcha. Not a setup for your own answer. A real question you don't have a clean answer to.

The best communities are the ones where people are willing to say "I don't know" out loud. OC is full of smart people who have figured a lot of things out. Some of them are in this sub right now, and they might have exactly the answer you need.

Ask the thing you'd normally only ask a mentor or a trusted peer. This is a good room.

Here's what happened in Orange County business yesterday.

1. Veritone's stock got hammered on a going concern warning

The Costa Mesa AI company saw shares drop 23% in after-hours trading after telling regulators there's substantial doubt about its ability to stay operating over the next year, even as revenue climbed. Veritone already cut roughly a quarter of its workforce back in June, and now has $45.6 million in convertible notes coming due in November with no refinancing lined up yet. A company can grow revenue and still land in serious trouble if debt and cash burn are moving faster than sales. Worth watching whether Veritone lines up new financing before that November deadline hits.

2. Irvine picked up a piece of the leukemia drug supply chain

Forma Life Sciences, an Irvine-based contract manufacturer formed earlier this year out of BioDuro's old operations, was selected by UK-based Cycle Pharmaceuticals to manufacture CAVHANZA, an FDA-approved treatment for a type of chronic leukemia. Forma will produce the oral tablets at its Irvine facility as Cycle prepares to launch in the U.S. market. Domestic drug manufacturing keeps becoming a bigger priority industry-wide, and Forma landing a commercial supply deal this soon after standing up as its own company is a strong early signal for the business.

3. Pokeworks kept expanding through the first half of the year

The Irvine-based poke chain posted 10% unit growth as of June, continuing its steady build-out across Southern California and beyond. Fast casual concepts have had a mixed year overall, so a double-digit growth rate this far into 2026 says the brand's model is still resonating with customers even as some competitors slow down.

What to keep an eye on today

• Veritone's next moves on refinancing are worth close attention. With the going concern warning now public, watch for any announcements on debt restructuring, asset sales, or new capital raises.
• Forma Life Sciences could be a sign of more CDMO activity coming to Irvine. Worth watching if more pharma manufacturing deals land in the same cluster.
• Reborn Coffee and Virgin Galactic shares both fell in yesterday's midday trading. Worth tracking whether that's a one-day dip or the start of a rougher stretch for either name.

That's the update. Drop anything I missed below.

Once a week we open the floor.

This is the one thread where you can talk about what you do without it being considered self-promotion. Tell us about your business, your practice, your side project, your freelance work — whatever you're building.

Format:

Business name:
What you do:
Who you serve:
Where you're based:
What you're looking for right now: (clients / referrals / partnerships / employees / advice)
Best way to reach you:

Keep it honest. "Who you serve" and "what you're looking for" are the two most important fields — they're what make someone stop scrolling and actually contact you.

One post per member per month. If you already posted this month, wait your turn.

Browse the thread before you post. Someone in here probably needs exactly what you do. Someone in here might do exactly what you need.

Here's what happened in Orange County business yesterday.

1. Yamaha's exit from Cypress just got real

Yamaha Motor Finance Corporation will permanently close its 279,000-square-foot campus on Katella Avenue in October, with 58 employees laid off October 1 and three more leaving in January 2027. This is the finance arm of Yamaha's broader move to Kennesaw, Georgia, a relocation the company first announced back in March after nearly 50 years in Cypress. The site once housed up to 450 employees at its peak, and Yamaha now plans to sell the full 25-acre campus. Cypress has taken a couple of these hits before, with Mitsubishi Motors doing something similar back in 2019. Worth watching who steps in to redevelop a property that size once it hits the market.

2. A Chicago firm just made its first California play in Anaheim

Northpond Partners bought the fully leased Link OC retail center on North Tustin Avenue for $16.5 million, marking the firm's first acquisition in the state. The three-building, 26,000-square-foot center sits near Kaiser Permanente Anaheim Medical Center and more than 700 newly built apartment units, and it's fully leased with tenants like Wendy's and Reborn Coffee. An out-of-state investor picking Anaheim for their California debut says something about how much confidence outside capital still has in OC's infill retail, even while bigger corporate names are packing up and leaving.

3. TTM Technologies kept climbing

The Santa Ana circuit board maker rode continued momentum in yesterday's trading, building on last week's record-breaking earnings report. AI infrastructure demand keeps fueling this stock, and it's quickly becoming one of the more reliable growth stories among OC's public tech names.

What to keep an eye on today

• Adagio Medical's stock dropped 5% after its Q2 net loss widened to $6.7 million, tied to a pause in its European commercial rollout. Worth watching if the Laguna Hills medical device company gives more clarity on next steps.
• Yamaha's 25-acre Cypress campus is expected to hit the market soon. Worth tracking who ends up buying a property with that much square footage in a prime Orange County location.
• Virgin Galactic just delayed its spaceflight resumption, with ticket prices set to top $750,000 a seat. Not headquartered in OC, but worth watching given how closely tied the local aerospace and space tech scene is to the broader industry's momentum.

That's the update. Drop anything I missed below.

End of the week. What's worth passing along?

One article, one podcast, one video, one book, one conversation — whatever genuinely gave you something useful this week. Business, industry-specific, personal development, doesn't matter. If it's relevant to people who are out here building something in SoCal, it belongs here.

Format:

What it is: (article / podcast / book / video / conversation)
Where to find it:
One sentence on why it's worth your time:

No affiliate links. No content you created. This thread is for things you genuinely found valuable, not things you want people to read because you wrote them.

If someone shares something you already read — say so and add what you took from it. The best threads end up being conversations about the content, not just lists of links.

https://preview.redd.it/t3xdf0ce89jh1.png?width=396&format=png&auto=webp&s=febc116244fcd4935a43b004272bd3aa6f44ea1e

Here's what happened in Orange County business yesterday.

1. CG Oncology is officially out of Irvine

The bladder cancer biopharmaceutical company, worth $6.7 billion, confirmed its Irvine lease ends this month after relocating headquarters to Dallas earlier this year under a new eight-year lease. Shares barely moved on the news, sitting at $76.20. A company this size leaving OC stings a little, but it's worth remembering the biotech and pharma talent that built CG Oncology here doesn't just vanish. Watch whether any of that expertise resurfaces at other local life sciences companies.

2. GEN Korean BBQ's parent company might sell off its restaurants

Cerritos-based GEN Restaurant Group received a non-binding $100 million offer from an unnamed multi-concept restaurant operator to buy its 54 U.S. restaurant locations. The plan would let GEN keep full ownership of its faster-growing consumer packaged goods business, essentially turning the company into a pure CPG play instead of a restaurant operator. Shares jumped 11% on the news. A restaurant chain choosing to sell off the part of the business that made it famous, in order to double down on retail products, is a real bet that packaged goods margins beat restaurant margins long term.

3. Local stocks had a mixed midday session

Clean Energy Fuels and RxSight both moved higher in yesterday's trading. Clean Energy Fuels has been riding steady demand for renewable natural gas infrastructure, while RxSight's climb comes as the Aliso Viejo company settles into its new leadership under CEO Aziz Mottiwala. Two very different sectors both trending up on the same day is worth watching for any follow-through today.

What to keep an eye on today

• GEN Restaurant Group's board still needs to evaluate the buyout offer. Worth watching if this moves from a letter of intent to an actual signed deal, and what it means for GEN's California locations specifically.
• RxSight's stock momentum is worth tracking as the company works through a rough stretch following its cut sales guidance earlier this summer.
• More local biotech and pharma companies bear watching for similar headquarters decisions. With CG Oncology now gone, worth seeing if Texas or other lower-cost states keep pulling talent and capital away from OC's life sciences cluster.

That's the update. Drop anything I missed below.

Every person in this sub has a professional edge that most people outside their field don't have.

Today's thread is simple: share something genuinely useful from inside your industry.

Not a blog post you found. Not a trend piece. Something you actually know from working in your field that would help someone else make a better decision, ask a better question, or avoid a mistake.

A few prompts if you need them:

• What's something clients almost always get wrong before they hire someone like you?
• What's a common assumption in your industry that's actually false?
• What should someone ask before signing a contract in your space?
• What's changed in your field in the last 12 months that most people haven't caught up to yet?

Keep it practical. If someone can use it on Friday, that's the right level of specific.

Reply to each other. If someone's answer opens a question you have, ask it. That's the whole point.