Startup Cafe: Venture Accelerator at UCLA Anderson
Venture Accelerator at UCLA Anderson
Agenda
8:45 - 9:30 am • Coffee and Socialize
9:30- 10:30 am • Talk and Presentation
December 17th, 2025
About: Trish Halamandaris (’92)
Executive Director, Venture Accelerator at UCLA Anderson
Trish Halamandaris returned to UCLA Anderson in 2017 as the Executive Director of the Venture Accelerator at UCLA Anderson to initiate and build the accelerator platform, programs, and strategic partnerships. The Accelerator operates year-round operating two curated programs for early-stage startups to translate their entrepreneurial visions into innovative solutions.
Trish led the Draper Family Foundation sponsorship of UCLA’s Showcase demo day which is the largest across the campus. The program is running at an 80% success rate having supported over 400 companies to date with 10 exits, $380M in venture funding, and over 1,600 jobs created by the startups. Trish is an award-winning chief marketing officer where she launched several #1 products at Disney, Electronic Arts (The Sims and SimCity Franchise), and Procter & Gamble. Prior to returning to UCLA Anderson, she was head of cloud marketing for Amazon’s games, and previously was CMO for XPRIZE, where she developed several corporate partnerships that stimulated innovation and investment.
Her deep experience in product management and compelling go to market strategies in several verticals differentiated Trish in her vision, ability to quickly garner market share, and lead her teams to top positions in product categories. Trish earned a BS in finance and accounting from the Haas School of Business at the University of California Berkeley, and her MBA in marketing and finance from UCLA Anderson.
🔗 LINKEDIN
About: Chaya Rusk, Program Director @ KINN
Phonetics: (CHĀY-uh)
Chaya is a systems thinker with more than a decade of expertise in operations centered on people, process, and efficiency.Chaya's experience spans startups to a Fortune 5 healthcare organization, and a global innovation consultancy in between.
Whether driving conscious business practices or reimagining the future of healthcare, Chaya brings a human-centered perspective to complex operational challenges, guided by the conviction that the most effective systems are designed with people at their core.
ABOUT The KINN
The KINN is a membership network, accelerator, and collaborative workspace for conscious entrepreneurs, based in Venice, CA. Running tailored inner development and business accelerator programs for startups, providing executive coaching, accountability, and access to a top-tier LA-based community of entrepreneurs, creatives, intrapreneurs, and investors. If you're interested in learning more about KINN Membership, please visit http://thekinn.co/apply
About Startup Coil
Networking for innovators to connect with like-minded individuals, startups, and entrepreneurs. startupcoil.com
About Nerds of LA
Join Nerds of LA—where LA’s most innovative minds collide! We’re building the ultimate network by connecting with other powerhouse groups in the area, expanding our reach across the city. If you’re ready to link up with founders, VCs, AI visionaries, and innovators shaping the future, this is the group you’ve been looking for.
Pick your platform and join the conversation with LA’s tech community. 🤝 🦾
Highlights from previous special guests
Building Businesses from the Heart with Lavinia Errico, Co-Founder of Equinox
How to Scale Consciously with Ryan Blair
Founder Mental Health Pledge with Brad Baum
Art Show with Denise Di Novi
Operating Incubators with Reuben Vollmer
Malibu Love Affair with Brigitte Londo
Live Through Love with Ruben Rojas
Finding Stillness with Henry Mitchell
Smarter with Science! with Science Stanley and Zen Zachary
The Science of Charisma: The 7 Secrets of Public Speaking with Richard Greene
Unveiling the Human Experience with Paul Vincent
Note: By attending this event, I hereby give my permission to the Horizon House LLC, their Releases, and to the photographer, my free and unlimited consent and permission to publish/broadcast, republish/rebroadcast or exhibit in the furtherance of their work, with or without identification of me by name, any photographs, videos or audios of myself, that have been obtained from my participation in KINN or Horizon Studio activities. I furthermore waive any and all claims for any compensation by reason thereof or for damages for reasons thereof.
Water Provided by Alive Water
Sourced from Opal Springs, a pristine volcanic aquifer in Oregon, this water is naturally alkaline, mineral-rich, and bottled in sacred glass to preserve its purity. Experience it the way nature intended.
Sign up at https://alivewaters.com/KINN and use code KINN for 25% off.