AI & Entrepreneurship at The Ticket 500
Schedule
Thu Apr 30 2026 at 06:00 pm to 08:30 pm
UTC-07:00Location
2807 Villa Way | Newport Beach, CA
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Be in the Room Where It StartsSomething is happening in Orange County — and this is the night it kicks off.
The Ticket 500 and Orange County AI are joining forces to launch a new kind of event series at one of Newport Beach's most extraordinary private spaces. A series built around the people shaping the future of AI, entrepreneurship, and business in OC — and the conversations that matter most right now.
April 30th is night one. The room will be intimate. The drinks will be flowing. And the people in the room are the ones you'll want to know.
The Evening
We start with Adam Stinson breaking down what you actually need to know about AI right now — a sharp, practical primer that cuts through the noise and gets the whole room on the same page.
Then Don DiCostanzo — serial entrepreneur with multiple successful exits and founder of The Ticket 500 — and Stephan Fitzpatrick — founder of Orange County AI — sit down for a candid, no-holds-barred conversation about what AI means for building companies, the lessons that only come from doing it, and where this ecosystem is headed. Moderated by Emily Rogers. No slides. No pitch decks. Just signal.
Drinks available. Come for the conversation. Stay for the room.
Schedule
6:00 PM — Open Networking
6:30 PM — What You Need to Know About AI — Adam Stinson
7:00 PM — Panel: AI & Entrepreneurship — Don DiCostanzo & Stephan Fitzpatrick, moderated by Emily Rogers
7:20 PM — Audience Q&A
7:30 PM — Open Networking
8:30 PM — Close
What We'll Get Into
A practical look at today's AI landscape — what works, what's hype, and where the real opportunities are
How AI is rewriting the playbook for building and scaling companies
Hard-won lessons from building, scaling, and exiting businesses
The role of community, mentorship, and hands-on learning in the AI era
What Orange County's startup and business ecosystem needs to thrive
Practical advice for founders and operators navigating the AI landscape
Who This Is For
Founders. Investors. Operators. Business leaders. The kind of people who build things — and the kind of people who back them. Whether you're deep in AI, just getting started, or simply want to be in the room where it's happening, this is your night.
This is night one. Don't be the person who hears about it after.
About The Ticket 500
Founded by serial entrepreneur Don DiCostanzo, The Ticket 500 is a new accelerator and incubator in Newport Beach designed to be a launchpad for the next wave of innovative companies.
About Orange County AI
Orange County AI is the largest AI community in Orange County — connecting founders, operators, and technologists through events, education, and hands-on collaboration.
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Where is it happening?
2807 Villa Way, 2807 Villa Way, Newport Beach, United StatesEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
Tickets
USD 0.00
Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.
