The PennZone

IRVINE, Calif. - PennZone -- TCA Venture Group (TCA VG) today announced its 2025 annual investment report. During 2025, TCA invested $9.0 million across 43 companies, including 18 additions to its portfolio. This represents a significant year-over-year surge from the $6.8 million invested in 37 companies in 2024. The 2025 investments propel TCA VG's cumulative impact to $315 million invested across 594 companies since its inception in 1997.

TCA VG realized four exits in 2025, led by a standout 44x Multiple on Invested Capital (MOIC) return from ParentSquare among four exits. The year's successful exits reinforced TCA VG's solid performance record over its 29-year history: a 5.3x cumulative cash al MOIC across all outcomes and a 22% Internal Rate of Return (IRR).

TCA VG maintained a balanced investment strategy across a diverse mix of tech and non-tech industries in 2025:

• Life Sciences (31% of total funding) was the largest overarching sector, heavily driven by Medical Devices (28% of the Life Sciences sector).
• SAAS/Software/Data Analytics (37% of total funding) ranked as the largest single vertical.
• New Portfolio Companies: Twenty-four new companies were added to TCA VG's portfolio, receiving about half (49%) of the total dollar investment. Of the new companies added to the portfolio in 2025, the largest investment sectors were Life Sciences (38%) and SAAS/Software/Data Analytics (42%).
• AI Investments: Early-stage companies implementing AI contributed to 74% of TCA VG's investments in 2025, although AI was not tracked specifically as a separate industry.
• TCA VG continues to actively mentor, guide, and grow the 266 active companies that currently comprise 45% of its investment portfolio.

The year also marked the highly successful deployment of TCA's annual network funds, which injected $2.6 million of capital into deals to provide diversification for its members. This network funding directly complemented an additional $6.4 million in individual member investments.

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Research co-authored by TCA VG in 2025 explicitly demonstrated the value of TCA VG's hands-on mentorship. Portfolio companies that included TCA VG Board Members or Observers realized a 14 times higher MOIC than those without. Acknowledging this performance indicator, the network scaled its leadership presence, increasing its percentage of investments with active Board Representation to 66% of investment in 2025, up dramatically from 34% in 2024.

TCA VG Chair Emeritus John Harbison commented: "This finding reinforces that TCA VG members add tremendous value beyond the dollars we invest – helping the companies avoid pitfalls and accelerate their growth into successes. We are leaning into that and encouraging more of our CEOs to welcome our members as Board Members or Observers."

For entrepreneurs and early-stage company founders, the current funding environment is challenging due to weak IPO activity, low valuations, and VCs retreating to later-stage companies. To navigate this cycle successfully, entrepreneurs must remain well-prepared by prioritizing survival and strategic support over high valuations. This requires setting realistic pricing expectations to avoid future down rounds, raising as much capital as possible, and spending only on essential product or customer improvements. Founders should seek out experienced investors who provide valuable guidance and connections, and actively welcome board representation from early-stage venture capital groups to significantly improve long-term returns.

Early-stage investors and angels must prioritize financial sustainability, diversification, and collaborative expertise to build a resilient portfolio to navigate the current economic cycle successfully. This involves accelerating capital toward companies embracing realistic valuations while exercising caution with startups that remain dependent on uncertain future funding. Early-stage investors can also mitigate risks and improve returns by joining trusted investment groups and leveraging educational resources such as those from TCA VG, and Angel Capital Association courses and webinars. Finally, it's important to maintain long-term patience, as a few delayed successes can compensate for early portfolio failures.

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Additional Resources:

Link to TCA VG 2025 annual report: https://tcaventuregroup.com/annual-report-2025/

Link to ACA report, Mitigating the Decline in Angel Board Representation: https://angelcapitalassociation.org/blog/mitigating-the-decline-in-angel-board-representation/

Apply for TCA VG funding: https://tcaventuregroup.com/apply-for-funding-now/

Apply for TCA VG membership: https://tcaventuregroup.com/angels/#apply_section

About TCA Venture Group:
Founded as Tech Coast Angels in 1997, TCA Venture Group (TCA VG) has invested approximately $315 million in 594 companies, attracting an additional $3 billion in capital. Since 2019, TCA VG has invested $6-21 million in funding each year, with $9 million invested in 2025. The return on all outcomes since the organization's inception has been 5.3x with an IRR of 22%. TCA VG is a key seed and early-stage funding source, with about 300 accredited investors in five member networks: TCA-Los Angeles, TCA-Orange County, TCA-Inland Empire, Pasadena Angels, and 1752vc accelerator. TCA VG members, including founders and business leaders, deliver more than capital — providing early stage companies with counsel, mentorship, and access to extensive networks. www.tcaventuregroup.com.

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