Ventura County · A 501(c)(3) Startup Accelerator
Startup Ventura backs local founders with the mentorship, capital connections, and community to build high-growth companies right here in Ventura County.
Funds the inaugural Spring 2027 cohort.
Our mission
To keep Ventura County the best place in the world to live by fueling entrepreneurship, building high-growth companies, and transforming our region into a recognized hub of innovation that creates lasting economic success.
The Program
Everything entrepreneurs would leave town to find: a true accelerator with a pathway to raising venture capital.
In the room
I was fortunate to attend the first annual Startup Ventura benefit dinner, and the energy in the room was contagious. Operators, founders, and policy makers all came together with one shared mission: expand opportunity in Ventura, attract top talent, and strengthen the community. I firmly believe that building an entrepreneurial culture here will create economic growth and open doors for generations to come. This is only the beginning, and I am excited to play a part in it.
Throughout my career I have worked with many of the premier venture and private equity firms. Last week I had the privilege to attend an inaugural event for Startup Ventura, meeting an impressive team led by Luke Erickson. It was a pleasure to see a group so focused on benefiting the community, creating new opportunities to support emerging businesses, support entrepreneurs and create jobs in Ventura County.
Startup Ventura is building something special. Their remarkable team is not only helping entrepreneurs launch and grow, but also creating the kind of opportunities that allow people to plant real roots here in Ventura. Because of their work, more people can build a life in this community and play an active role in shaping its future.
Ventura County has an affordability problem that is also a brain drain problem. People grow up here, get educated here, and then have to leave because there are not enough opportunities to stay. Luke and the team are building something from the ground up by bringing together education, capital, entrepreneurs, and government to create the kind of community where founders can actually succeed, where local innovation drives local jobs and we stop losing our best people to other cities.
Backed by the community
News & Events
July 20, 2026
Founder and Executive Director Luke Erickson joined the Joe Knows Ventura podcast to ask a big question: is Ventura becoming the next Silicon Valley, and what would it take to get there?
Read more →July 1, 2026
Luke Erickson, founder of Startup Ventura, steps into the role of Executive Director, leading the Ventura County accelerator he built to keep local talent home.
Read more →June 24, 2026
Startup Ventura has earned the 2026 Platinum Seal of Transparency, the highest level Candid awards, giving donors and funders a complete, verified view of how we operate.
Read more →Who we are
Board Member, Executive Director
Luke Erickson is the founder of Startup Ventura and serves as Executive Director of the organization. With a background in business development and entrepreneurship, Luke launched Startup Ventura in 2025 to bring nationally recognized accelerator programming to Ventura County. Driven by a passion for empowering founders and strengthening the local economy, he leads the organization's programming, partnerships, and community impact initiatives. Luke's vision is to position Ventura as a hub of innovation and entrepreneurial growth.
Board Member, Senior Revenue Executive
Brent Stig Kraus is a senior revenue executive with extensive experience scaling SaaS companies through hypergrowth and strategic exits. He most recently served as CRO at SevenRooms, acquired by DoorDash in a $1.2B transaction, and previously held leadership roles at ChowNow and MINDBODY during its $1.9B acquisition by Vista Equity Partners. Earlier in his career, Brent helped drive Lynda.com's growth leading to its $1.5B acquisition by LinkedIn. With a track record of building high-performing teams and driving transformative growth across multiple SaaS verticals, Brent brings deep expertise in enterprise sales, go-to-market strategy, and operational excellence.
Board Member, Co-Founder & CTO of Curri
Brian Gonzalez is the CTO and co-founder of Curri, a nationwide delivery and logistics platform built for construction wholesalers and distributors. He began his career in startups in 2010 at Dollar Shave Club and has been immersed in the entrepreneurial world ever since. After earning his master's degree in data science, Brian launched Curri in the heart of downtown Ventura, where he continues to lead technology and innovation today. Under his leadership, Curri has raised capital from leading investors including Y Combinator and Bessemer Venture Partners.
Why Ventura County
The county raises and educates talent, then watches affordability and a lack of opportunity push it out. High-growth companies are the fix.
The Ask
Funds the inaugural Spring 2027 cohort. EIN 39-2204612.
