At Best Startup California we track over 300,000 Californian startups and over 1,500,000 people who hold key positions in these companies. We use this directory of startups to highlight top employees, founders and organisations we think deserve more appreciation than they are currently getting.
We’ve ranked the top 101 Association companies in California, United States. The companies, startups and institutions listed in this article are all exceptional companies, well worth a follow. We have included links to their websites, socials and CrunchBase (if you’re interested in their financials).
We selected the organisations listed in this article based on:
- Track record
- Executive leadership
- Market share
- Innovation
- ESG rating
Our Data – We source our data from OSINT (open source intelligence) and public directories such as Crunchbase, SemRush and many more. The data from these sources should be treated with a degree of caution and verified yourself.
Top Association Companies & Startups (California, United States)
Eventbrite
Eventbrite develops an online platform that lets users find and create events.
Founder(s): Julia Hartz, Kevin Hartz, Renaud Visage
Location: San Francisco, California, United States
Industries: Association, Event Management, Events, Internet
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Esper
Esper provides a platform for governments to create and manage public policy from a single dahsboard.
Founder(s): Andrew Lee, Jason Mirra, Joe Lonsdale, Lilli Oetting, Maleka Momand
Location: Redwood City, California, United States
Industries: Association, Big Data, Enterprise Software, Government, Information Technology, Mobile, Non Profit, Software
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Beyond12
Beyond 12 is increasing the number of low-income, first-generation, and historically under-represented students who graduate from college.
Founder(s): Alexandra Bernadotte
Location: San Francisco, California, United States
Industries: Association, Education, Non Profit, Training, Underserved Children
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Higher Ground Education
Higher Ground Education aims to bring the Montessori education methodology to the mainstream through modernization.
Founder(s): Ray Girn
Location: Lake Forest, California, United States
Industries: Association, EdTech, Education, Management Consulting, Non Profit
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Revel
Revel is a marketplace for women over 50 to host and attend small, local gatherings on topics of their choice.
Founder(s): Alexa Wahr, Lisa Marrone
Location: San Francisco, California, United States
Industries: Association, Communities, Marketplace, Women’s
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ManageCasa
The leading intuitive, interactive and automated software for property managers, associations and landlords.
Founder(s): Debe K.
Location: San Francisco, California, United States
Industries: Accounting, Association, Building Maintenance, Computer, Document Management, Enterprise Software, Finance, Mobile, Payments, Software
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University of California, San Francisco
Director of the Lab for Advanced Cytometry (LAC) and the Sony Biotechnology Center at UCSF in the Department of Laboratory Medicine
Founder(s): Hugh Toland
Location: San Francisco, California, United States
Industries: Association, Biotechnology, Education, Medical, Pharmaceutical
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Pixura
Pixura is a platform for creating, tracking, and exchanging crypto collectibles.
Founder(s): Charles Crain, John Crain, Jonathan Perkins
Location: Los Angeles, California, United States
Industries: Association, Blockchain, Internet
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South Park Commons
South Park Commons brings together talented people to share ideas, explore directions, and realize the opportunities that’ll get you there.
Founder(s): Ruchi Sanghvi
Location: San Francisco, California, United States
Industries: Association, Communities
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Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies
MAPS is a non-profit organization that develops medical, legal, and cultural contexts from psychedelics and marijuana.
Founder(s): Rick Doblin
Location: Santa Cruz, California, United States
Industries: Association, Cannabis, Non Profit
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MabPlex International
MabPlex International is the second professional CDMO company
Founder(s):
Location: Fremont, California, United States
Industries: Association, Non Profit
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Zuman
Zuman provides the premium solution for HR, payroll, and benefits administration.
Founder(s): Doug Devlin, Mike Triantos, Steve Carlson
Location: Pleasanton, California, United States
Industries: Association, Human Resources, Mobile, SaaS, Small and Medium Businesses, Software
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Daily Kos
Daily Kos is a news and media company that specializes in the fields of communities, social media, news, politics, and the internet.
Founder(s):
Location: Berkeley, California, United States
Industries: Association, Communities, Internet, News, Politics, Social Media
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GNOME
GNOME is a non-profit community that develops free software.
Founder(s): Federico Mena Quintero, Miguel de Icaza
Location: Orinda, California, United States
Industries: Association, Communities, CRM, Information Technology, Non Profit, Software
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Scripps Health
Scripps Health is a nonprofit health care system based in San Diego, California.
Founder(s): Ellen Browning Scripps
Location: San Diego, California, United States
Industries: Association, Fitness, Health Care, Non Profit
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City of Hope
City of Hope is a leading research and treatment center for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases.
Founder(s):
Location: Duarte, California, United States
Industries: Association, Education, Health Care
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All Across Africa
All Across Africa (AAA) brings best business practices to artisans in Africa through market development, training, and teaching.
Founder(s): Alicia Wallace, Greg Stone
Location: National City, California, United States
Industries: Association, Education, Social Entrepreneurship
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Hack the Hood
Hack the Hood preps low-income youth of color for careers in tech via bootcamps, career coaching, job/internship referrals & more
Founder(s): Mary Fuller, Susan Mernit, Zakiya Harris
Location: Oakland, California, United States
Industries: Association, Education, Internet, Non Profit, Training
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California Primary Care Association
CPCA recognized voice representing the interests of California community clinics and health centers and their patients.
Founder(s):
Location: Sacramento, California, United States
Industries: Association, Government, Health Care
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All Raise
All Raise is a nonprofit on a mission to accelerate the success of female founders and funders to build a more prosperous equitable future.
Founder(s): Jenny Lefcourt, Jess Lee, Sarah Tavel, Stacey Bishop
Location: San Francisco, California, United States
Industries: Association, Financial Services, Management Consulting, Non Profit, Women’s
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Startup Grind
Startup Grind is a global startup community designed to educate, inspire, and connect entrepreneurs.
Founder(s): Casper Sermsuksan, Derek Andersen, Endri Mataj, Spencer Nielsen
Location: San Francisco, California, United States
Industries: Association, Communities, Education, Event Management, Events
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Vets In Tech
VetinTech supports our current and returning veterans by connecting them to the national technology ecosystem.
Founder(s): Katherine Webster
Location: San Francisco, California, United States
Industries: Association, Education, Information Technology
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Team4Tech Foundation
Team4Tech is an organization dedicated to improving education in underserved communities through technology.
Founder(s): Lila Ibrahim
Location: Redwood City, California, United States
Industries: Association, E-Learning, Education, Logistics
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CareConnectMD
CareConnectMD provides home health care services for medically complex patients.
Founder(s): Christine Mlot, Kim Phan
Location: Huntington Beach, California, United States
Industries: Association, Health Care, Home Health Care, Wellness
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CalPERS
They administer health and retirement benefits on behalf of more than 3,000 public school, local agency and State employers.
Founder(s):
Location: Sacramento, California, United States
Industries: Association, Government, Health Care, Retirement
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Vote.org
Vote.org is a nonpartisan nonprofit digital voting organization.
Founder(s): Debra Cleaver
Location: Oakland, California, United States
Industries: Association, Digital Signage, Government, Non Profit
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WITHIN
Karma-Inspired Peer Mentorship for Professionals
Founder(s): Kavita Shah, Rohan Shah
Location: San Francisco, California, United States
Industries: Association, Communities, Mobile, Professional Networking
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Creative Artists Agency
Leading entertainment and sports agency
Founder(s): Kevin S Huvane, Michael Ovitz, Richard Lovett
Location: Los Angeles, California, United States
Industries: Association, Brand Marketing, Communities, Sports
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Connect
Connect helps entrepreneurs with expert guidance, access to capital, and the business tools they need.
Founder(s): Irwin Jacobs
Location: La Jolla, California, United States
Industries: Association, Communities, Life Science, Non Profit
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ICANN
ICANN (pronounced eye-can) is the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers. It’s a non-profit corporation that was created in
Founder(s): Ram Mohan
Location: Playa Vista, California, United States
Industries: Association, Government, Internet, Internet of Things, Non Profit
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AK Worldwide
Alicia Keys has announced the creation of AK Worldwide, a company she says will handle her non-musical and philanthropic projects.
Founder(s):
Location: Los Angeles, California, United States
Industries: Association, Non Profit
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Hamilton Families
Hamilton Families is San Francisco’s leading service.
Founder(s): Kyriell Noon
Location: San Francisco, California, United States
Industries: Association, Health Care
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The Community Foundation
The Community Foundation serves the Counties of Riverside and San Bernardino in California.
Founder(s):
Location: Riverside, California, United States
Industries: Association, Consulting, Non Profit, Service Industry
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Meed
Meed is a platform where young professionals learn, network, and find opportunities to build a career.
Founder(s): Ravi Vadrevu, Viswa Mani Kiran Peddinti
Location: San Francisco, California, United States
Industries: Association, Communities, Education, Human Resources, Internet, Social Network
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Wikimedia Endowment
Wikimedia Endowment is a fund supporting Wikipedia.
Founder(s): Jimmy Wales
Location: San Francisco, California, United States
Industries: Association, Financial Services, Non Profit
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PuppySpot
PuppySpot is a service committed to helping responsible breeders place healthy puppies into happy homes.
Founder(s): Greg Liberman
Location: Culver City, California, United States
Industries: Association, Communities, Health Care, Pet, Real Estate, Retail
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SEMI
SEMI is the global industry association serving the manufacturing supply chain for the micro- and nano-electronics industries
Founder(s): Bill Hugle, Fred Kulicke, John Dannelly
Location: San Jose, California, United States
Industries: Association, Manufacturing
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Alignment Addiction Recovery Group
Alignment Addiction Recovery Group is here to help give the most accurate information to help addicts and their families heal and recover
Founder(s):
Location: Newbury Park, California, United States
Industries: Association, CRM, Health Care, Information Technology
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CX-Ray
Self-awareness for today’s brain-powered enterprises
Founder(s): David Szabo, Peter Hari, Zsombor Paróczi
Location: San Francisco, California, United States
Industries: Association, Human Resources, Non Profit, Performing Arts, Private Social Networking, Software
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Auction Napa Valley
Annual Napa Valley Vintners event, raising funds for Napa County charities.
Founder(s): Margrit Mondavi, Robert Mondavi
Location: Napa, California, United States
Industries: Association
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Armanino
CPA’s & Consultants Who Know How To Help You Scale.
Founder(s):
Location: San Ramon, California, United States
Industries: Accounting, Association, Communities, Consulting, Finance, Food and Beverage, Information Technology, Wine And Spirits
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UpMetrics
UpMetrics provides tools and services for operators and funders to analyze, interpret, and learn from data to make informed decisions.
Founder(s): Drew Payne, Mark Saltzburg
Location: San Francisco, California, United States
Industries: Association, Communities, Information Technology, Leisure, Non Profit, Robotics, Software
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California Arts Council
California Arts Council encourages public participation in arts by providing training, promoting awareness, and offering funding programs.
Founder(s):
Location: Sacramento, California, United States
Industries: Association, Education, Government, Training
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TSIA
TSIA is a research and advisory firm on a mission to help technology companies strategically leverage services to drive profitable growth.
Founder(s): JB Wood
Location: San Diego, California, United States
Industries: Association, Information Technology
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TerraPass
TerraPass is the brainchild of Dr. Karl Ulrich at the University of Pennsylvania.
Founder(s): Karan Girotra, Karl Ulrich, Tom Arnold
Location: San Francisco, California, United States
Industries: Association, Consulting, Education, Finance, Health Care, Natural Resources, Non Profit
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Milken Institute
Milken Institute is an independent economic think tank based in Santa Monica, California.
Founder(s): Michael Milken
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Association, Health Care, Publishing, Social
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ITSI-Gilbane
ITSI-Gilbane is a provider of global construction and environmental services to support the needs of U.S. Federal government clients.
Founder(s):
Location: Walnut Creek, California, United States
Industries: Association, Consulting, Government, Information Technology
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UC CEIN
UC CEIN focuses on the responsible use and safe implementation of nanotechnology in the environment.
Founder(s):
Location: Los Angeles, California, United States
Industries: Association, Education, Nanotechnology, Product Research
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CSAA Insurance Group
CSAA Insurance Group is an insurance company that offers automobile and other personal lines of insurance to AAA members.
Founder(s):
Location: Walnut Creek, California, United States
Industries: Association, Auto Insurance, Communities, Health Care, Insurance, Non Profit
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Institute for the Global Entrepreneur
Institute for the Global Entrepreneur delivers a unique blend of education, mentorship, and real-world entrepreneurial experience.
Founder(s):
Location: La Jolla, California, United States
Industries: Association, Education, Non Profit
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Latino Nonprofit Accelerator
LCF inspires philanthropy, invests in Latino communities, and leads transformative solutions for change.
Founder(s):
Location: San Francisco, California, United States
Industries: Association, Business Development, Financial Services, Non Profit
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AVP Inc.
AVP Inc. produces, markets and distributes volleyball events across the world, including the AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour.
Founder(s): Donald Sun
Location: Newport Beach, California, United States
Industries: Association, Communities, Event Management, Hospitality, Non Profit
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Crankstart Foundation
Crankstart Foundation is a private foundation that supports vulnerable individuals and organizations.
Founder(s): Michael Moritz
Location: Palo Alto, California, United States
Industries: Association, Charity, Financial Services, Non Profit
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Positive Coaching Alliance
Nonprofit focused on developing better athletes and better people.
Founder(s): Jim Thompson
Location: Mountain View, California, United States
Industries: Association, Fitness, Health Care, Sports
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ACT 1 Group
ActOne Group is a global enterprise that provides employment, workforce management, and procurement solutions to a wide range of industries.
Founder(s): Janice Bryant Howroyd
Location: Torrance, California, United States
Industries: Association, Communities, Human Resources, Small and Medium Businesses
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SAGE Publications
SAGE Publications is engaged in publishing books, journals, and electronic media.
Founder(s): Sara Miller McCune
Location: Thousand Oaks, California, United States
Industries: Association, Content, Mobile, Publishing
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PriceSmart
PriceSmart, Inc. (NASDAQ: PSMT) is the largest operator of membership warehouse clubs in Central America and the Caribbean
Founder(s): Sol Price
Location: San Diego, California, United States
Industries: Association, Automotive, Logistics, Retail, Transportation
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Anita Borg Institute for Women in Technology
Anita Borg Institute for Women in Technology is a social enterprise that aims to recruit, retain, and advance women in technology.
Founder(s): Brenda Wilkerson, Jacqueline Bouvier Copeland, Lucille Mayer
Location: Palo Alto, California, United States
Industries: Association, Communities, Education, Fashion, Information Technology, Internet, Leisure, Lifestyle, Women’s
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OC Weekly
OC Weekly provides readers in Orange County and Long Beach with award-winning news coverag.
Founder(s): Will Swaim
Location: Costa Mesa, California, United States
Industries: Association, Lifestyle, News, Publishing
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HSBC Venture Capital Coverage Group
Oversees relationships with the venture capital community and connects their portfolio companies to the right people at HSBC.
Founder(s):
Location: San Francisco, California, United States
Industries: Association, Banking, Financial Services, FinTech, Venture Capital
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UpLife
Amplify The Good
Founder(s): Richard Gordon
Location: Redondo Beach, California, United States
Industries: Association, Charity, E-Commerce, Education, Web Design, Web Development
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Circle of Moms
Circle of Moms is a parenting social network for mothers to share stories, problems, and tips of motherhood.
Founder(s):
Location: San Francisco, California, United States
Industries: Association, Communities, Events, Mobile, Parenting, SNS, Social Media
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Call of Duty Endowment
The Call of Duty Endowment helps service members transition to high quality civilian careers after their military service.
Founder(s): Bobby Kotick
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Association, Charity, Communities
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People Creating Success
People Creating Success provides social assistance to adults with developmental disabilities.
Founder(s):
Location: Newbury Park, California, United States
Industries: Assisted Living, Association, Non Profit, Personal Development, Social Assistance
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Core Foods
We are an Oakland-based not-for-profit company empowering people with nourishing food and honest resources.
Founder(s):
Location: Oakland, California, United States
Industries: Association, Food and Beverage, Non Profit
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The Omega Group
The Omega Group develops geographic information systems software solutions for law enforcement, public safety, and education agencies.
Founder(s): Milan Mueller
Location: San Diego, California, United States
Industries: Association, Information Technology, Software
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Boys & Girls Clubs of Oceanside
Boys & Girls Clubs of Oceanside is the largest and most effective youth development organization in North County.
Founder(s):
Location: Oceanside, California, United States
Industries: Association, Communities
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Singularity University Ventures
The Ventures division of Singularity University.
Founder(s): Monique Giggy, Peter Diamandis, Raymond Kurzweil
Location: Mountain View, California, United States
Industries: Association, Communities, Consulting, Crowdfunding, Financial Services
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RiboScience
Ribo Science shapes public policy, drive business solutions and grow Californias life sciences.
Founder(s): Klaus Klumpp
Location: Sacramento, California, United States
Industries: Association, Biotechnology, Information Technology, Non Profit
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The Brin Wojcicki Foundation
The Brin Wojcicki Foundation was founded by Sergey Brin & Anne Wojcicki. (formerly The Brin Foundation)
Founder(s): Anne Wojcicki, Sergey Brin
Location: Palo Alto, California, United States
Industries: Association, Communities, Non Profit
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The Chopra Foundation
The mission of the Chopra Foundation is to advance the cause of mind/body spiritual healing, education, and research.
Founder(s): Deepak Chopra
Location: La Jolla, California, United States
Industries: Association, Education, Health Care
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SFMOMA
SFMOMA is the museum on the West Coast devoted to modern and contemporary art.
Founder(s):
Location: San Francisco, California, United States
Industries: Art, Association, Education, Non Profit, Photography
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Girls in Tech
Girls in Tech (GIT) is a non-profit focused on the engagement, education and empowerment of girls and women passionate about technology.
Founder(s): Adriana Gascoigne
Location: San Francisco, California, United States
Industries: Association, EdTech, Education, Enterprise Software, Women’s
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Tesla Foundation
Tesla Foundation is a Science and Technology Think Tank specializing in “All Things Autonomous”.
Founder(s):
Location: Beverly Hills, California, United States
Industries: Association, Information Technology, Non Profit
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Behind The Voice Actors
BTVA is a voice acting community site.
Founder(s):
Location: Orange, California, United States
Industries: Association, Communities, Social Media
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Lagunitas Brewing Company
Brewers of fine ales, mystery, and romance.
Founder(s): Tony Magee
Location: Petaluma, California, United States
Industries: Association, Brewing, Communities, Craft Beer, Food and Beverage, Non Profit
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TechLA
Paid internships at startups in LA.
Founder(s):
Location: Santa Clara, California, United States
Industries: Association
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Golden
The most fun way to volunteer and easiest way to organize civic engagement in every sector.
Founder(s): Sam Fankuchen
Location: Venice, California, United States
Industries: Association
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Technologies.org
Technologies.org is a collaborative research tool maintained and supported by team of market analysts.
Founder(s):
Location: San Francisco, California, United States
Industries: Association
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The Boardlist
The Boardlist facilitates the placement of qualified women leaders on the boards of private and public-tech companies.
Founder(s): Sukhinder Singh
Location: San Francisco, California, United States
Industries: Association, Information Technology, Marketplace, Women’s
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OpenJS Foundation
OpenJS Foundation specializes in the development of open-source infrastructure projects.
Founder(s):
Location: San Francisco, California, United States
Industries: Association, Developer Platform, Developer Tools, Non Profit, Software, Web Development
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Landmark Worldwide
Landmark Worldwide Programs are designed with the view of inculcating a sense of happiness and fulfillment among individuals & communities.
Founder(s):
Location: San Francisco, California, United States
Industries: Association, Education
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State of California
State of California is an online platform that features several sections and provides information related to the State of California.
Founder(s):
Location: Sacramento, California, United States
Industries: Association, Government, Information Services, Online Portals
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CMX
CMX is advancing the community industry and helping community professionals thrive.
Founder(s): David Spinks
Location: San Francisco, California, United States
Industries: Association, Communities, Information Technology, Internet, Non Profit, Professional Services, Service Industry
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OATH
OATH is a company consisting of a variety of technology developers focused on authentication development.
Founder(s):
Location: San Jose, California, United States
Industries: Association, Software
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MEF
The MEF is a nonprofit international industry consortium, dedicated to worldwide adoption of Carrier Ethernet networks and services.
Founder(s):
Location: Los Angeles, California, United States
Industries: Association, Telecommunications
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Seiler & Company, LLP
Seiler & Company, LLP is a company providing tax, advisory and accounting services.
Founder(s): Mark Berryman
Location: Redwood City, California, United States
Industries: Accounting, Association, Consulting, Financial Services, Non Profit, Professional Services
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XQ Institute
XQ: The Super School Project is a national movement to reimagine high school.
Founder(s):
Location: Palo Alto, California, United States
Industries: Association, Education, Non Profit
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Stanford Hospital & Clinics
Stanford Hospital & Clinics operates as a hospital that provides patient care services in the United States.
Founder(s): Mariann Byerwalter
Location: Stanford, California, United States
Industries: Association, Health Care, Hospital, Medical
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Candle Corporation
Candle is an independent global software and services company.
Founder(s): Aubrey Chernick
Location: El Segundo, California, United States
Industries: Association, Software
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Fit4mom
FIT4MOM is dedicated to the Strength In Motherhood™. By providing classes and support for moms in every stage of motherhood.
Founder(s): Lisa Druxman
Location: San Marcos, California, United States
Industries: Association, Fitness, Health Care, Lifestyle, Wellness
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Public Banking Institute
Public Banking Institute is providing Affordable and sustainable credit,
Founder(s): Ellen Brown
Location: Sonoma, California, United States
Industries: Association, Finance, Non Profit, Venture Capital
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WordPress Foundation
The WordPress Foundation is a charitable organization
Founder(s): Matt Mullenweg
Location: San Francisco, California, United States
Industries: Association, Charity, Non Profit, Open Source, Publishing
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Butlr
We are betaworks for non-profits and edu
Founder(s): Andre Gabriel
Location: San Francisco, California, United States
Industries: Association, EdTech, Education, Non Profit, Software
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Comic-Con International
Comic-Con International, a non-profit educational organization, creates awareness of and appreciation for comics and related art forms.
Founder(s):
Location: San Diego, California, United States
Industries: Association, Education, Non Profit, Social Media
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International Blockchain Real Estate Association
IBREA is nonprofit, member-focused trade organization dedicated to implementing Bitcoin and related blockchain technology
Founder(s): Ragnar Lifthrasir
Location: Orange, California, United States
Industries: Association, Blockchain, Construction, Real Estate
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Calibr
The California Institute for Biomedical Research (Calibr) is an independent, not for profit organization focused on translational research.
Founder(s):
Location: San Diego, California, United States
Industries: Association, Biotechnology, Education, Non Profit
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California Bank & Trust
California Bank & Trust has banks throughout California that specialize in commercial banking, business banking and small business banking.
Founder(s):
Location: San Diego, California, United States
Industries: Association, Financial Services
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Irrational Labs
We’re a nonprofit that applies behavioral economics findings to product, marketing, and organizational design problems.
Founder(s): Kristen Berman
Location: San Francisco, California, United States
Industries: Association, Non Profit, Product Design, Web Design
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Monterey Bay Aquarium
The Monterey Bay Aquarium is a non-profit public aquarium located in Monterey, California, United States.
Founder(s):
Location: Monterey, California, United States
Industries: Aquaculture, Architecture, Association, Government, Non Profit
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Footprint
Footprint is a software platform that provides tools to help the public with blockchains.
Founder(s): Chris McCoy
Location: Walnut Creek, California, United States
Industries: Association, Blockchain, Software
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