Posted on October 28, 2025
Hey everyone, I’m JD Houvener, founder and patent attorney here at Bold Patents Law Firm.
Thanks for stopping by our Santa Ana page.
If you’re an inventor or small business owner around here, you’ve got more support nearby than you might think. I’ve talked to a lot of inventors who say it’s lonely starting out. You’ve got this big idea, but not a lot of people to share it with or ask for help. I get that. So I wanted to pull together a few places that can really help you get plugged in locally.
Let’s just jump in.
1. The OC Startup Council.
They host free mastermind workshops every month. Yeah, free. It’s a great group, people who are building, testing, failing, and learning. You’ll meet founders who’ve been where you are and others just getting started.
A good success story? Noggin. It’s an AI-powered e-commerce company that got its start through this group. They’re now based right here in Santa Ana with over 170 employees. Pretty cool.
2. Chapman University’s Leatherby Center.
It’s an incubator program that helps early-stage startups grow. One quick thing, though: before you join any incubator, protect your intellectual property. Once you start talking about your idea with others, it’s out there.
That’s what we help with here at Bold Patents: making sure your patents and trademarks are set before you get involved in those programs.
3. The Collab Kitchen.
If your invention has anything to do with food, this place is gold. It’s a shared commercial kitchen downtown. You can rent space, get business coaching, and work whenever you want. A lot of food startups have launched from here.
4. The OC Startup Ecosystem Directory.
This is basically your local roadmap. It connects you with investors, mentors, co-working spaces, and other founders. A few well-known startups, Prometheus Fuels, Goodles, and Scoot Science, came out of this network.
5. The local tech and IT community.
Santa Ana’s tech scene is growing fast. Companies like Next Info, Numa Networks, The Orange Crew, and Add-On Networks are all here. If you’re in tech, these are good folks to know.
So yeah, if you’re here in Santa Ana, you’re not alone.
Before you join an incubator or pitch to investors, take a little time to make sure your ideas are protected. It’s worth it. A short consultation with us can help you figure out what’s patentable or what should be trademarked.
I’m JD Houvener with Bold Patents Law Firm.
Welcome to Santa Ana! Go big, go bold.
