Not too long ago, LA tech seemed restricted to a small collection of beach communities huddled in close proximity to Los Angeles International Airport. Things have changed since then. With startups popping up in seemingly the most random places in LA, one city in Southern California has established itself as a real player in the tech game: Irvine.
Though a somewhat unlikely place for tech companies to startup, the city has surprised everyone by continuously churning out big-time startups. Here are Irvine-based tech startups you need to know.
Top Companies in Irvine, CA
- Viant
- iHerb
- Better.com
- Cloudvirga
- Acorns
- Blizzard Entertainment
- Weedmaps
- Crowdstrike
- Alteryx
Companies in Irvine to Know
Industry: Big Data
Self-service data analytics company Alteryx might have crossed over from Irvine-based startup to Irvine-based tech giant with its recent IPO. The business is making waves with its proprietary, repeatable data analysis workflow.
Industry: Fintech
What they do: Acorns operates a personal finance app that automates micro-investing using spare change from everyday purchases. The software rounds up routine transactions to the nearest dollar and invests the difference into diversified index fund portfolios. Built-in features like Money Manager extend this automation by directing savings allocations and supporting routine tax filing.
Industry: IoT and IT
What they do: Lantronix develops edge computing hardware and software that process data across distributed industrial networks. The company pairs IoT gateways and embedded modules with its central Percepxion platform to coordinate remote devices. Lantronix’s out-of-band management systems maintain continuous network access and operational control across critical infrastructure.
Industry: E-Commerce
What they do: iHerb operates an e-commerce platform specializing in dietary supplements, personal care goods and wellness products. The company manages climate-controlled fulfillment centers to store and package inventory while preserving temperature-sensitive items. Its cross-border logistics network handles direct-to-consumer shipments, local payment processing and order tracking for international buyers worldwide.
Industry: VC Firm
What they do: Cie is a venture studio and innovation accelerator based in Irvine that partners with corporate leaders and entrepreneurs to launch new ventures and reimagine existing businesses. The company develops its own startups while also serving as an innovation lab for global brands, combining hands-on venture building with interactive digital development to turn ideas into commercial platforms.
Industry: Gaming
What they do: Blizzard Entertainment is a video game developer and a subsidiary of Activision Blizzard. The company develops and maintains major gaming franchises including World of Warcraft, Diablo, StarCraft, Overwatch and Hearthstone. Blizzard's portfolio spans multiple genres and platforms, from massively multiplayer online role-playing games to competitive shooters and digital card games, serving millions of players worldwide through its Battle.net platform.
Industry: Software
What they do: Kantata, formally Mavenlink, operates a cloud platform that unifies project management and resource tracking for professional services firms. The software coordinates staff scheduling, project timelines and operational budgets within a single operational hub. Mid-sized agencies rely on Kantata’s tools to streamline client service delivery and optimize workforce utilization.
Industry: Real Estate and Fintech
What they do: Better aimes to streamline the home-buying process by automating key steps and eliminating inefficiencies. The company provides homebuyers with instant loan estimates, personalized homeowner’s insurance quotes and access to a network of real estate agents to guide them through the purchase process. Headquartered in New York City, Better maintains its West Coast hub in Irvine.
Industry: Cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence
What they do: CrowdStrike is a cybersecurity company providing cloud-delivered endpoint protection and threat intelligence services through its Falcon platform. The platform detects and prevents cyberattacks across endpoints, identities, cloud infrastructure and SaaS applications, helping organizations stop breaches before they occur. With operations spanning multiple locations including California, CrowdStrike serves enterprises seeking comprehensive threat detection and response capabilities.
Industry: Gaming
What they do: Bonfire Studios designs multiplayer video games built around team-based competition and social connection. Led by industry veteran Rob Pardo, the independent developer crafts titles like Arkheron to foster online player communities. Bonfire Studios focuses its game design on collaborative mechanics and long-term player engagement.
Industry: Martech
What they do: Viant Technology operates an AI-powered demand-side platform (DSP) that enables marketers to plan, execute and measure digital advertising campaigns across omnichannel environments. The platform leverages first-party data and machine learning to help agencies and advertisers reach target audiences on the open web without third-party cookies.
Industry: Market Research
What they do: MFour Data Research operates a large opt-in, first-party consumer panel in the U.S., tracking billions of behavioral signals across location, apps, web, receipts and AI conversations. The company uses validated survey responses and behavioral data to deliver consumer insights for brands and market research firms. MFour addresses data fraud and commoditization in research through its end-to-end insights platform powered by AI-driven analysis.
