News

IRVINE, Calif. – (September 21, 2023) – Five Southern California cities have signed on as partners in the second annual Sunstone Economic Development Challenge @ USC Price. The Challenge partners student teams from the University of Southern California Sol Price School of Public Policy to consult through the year and create new strategies to leverage […]

IRVINE, Calif. – (September 19, 2023) – The Irvine City Council unanimously approved a Letter of Intent at its Tuesday, Sept. 12, meeting to work with Sunstone Management, Inc. in creation of an Irvine Accelerator for early-stage, high-tech entrepreneurs. The proposal came from Irvine Mayor Farrah Khan after a year of discussions with the Irvine […]

NEW YORK – (September 11, 2023) – Sunstone Management, Inc., headquartered in Irvine, Calif., is opening an office in New York City. Sunstone is a diversified private capital management firm focusing on early-stage venture capital, and is partnered with Lair East Labs, a top accelerator in New York City. The office opening will take place […]

Two startup companies took home $10,000 each from the Sunstone Community Fund and a year of sponsored lab space at University Lab Partners (ULP) after winning the 3rd annual Orange County pitch competition, Pitch. Launch. Grow. (PLG) on August 23 at the University of California, Irvine, Beall Applied Innovation. Sunstone Management was a co-sponsor of […]

As seen in the CSU: The California State University school system is strengthening its systemwide network of support for budding founders, enabling faculty and staff to share info and resources and benefit California’s business economy.

Sunstone Management ranked as the 18th most active venture capital firm in the country in PitchBook’s Q2 2023 Global League Tables.

An opportunity for municipal governments to get some extra help developing strategies for economic development based on tech startups and high-tech jobs is available now.

The Long Beach Accelerator welcomes 9 startups to its summer cohort. The LBA is a member of Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson’s Launch Beach coalition.

Eric Romero, Sunstone Management’s Director of Economic Development, was appointed to the CALED Board of Directors.

Parallel entrepreneur and Sunstone Management founding partner John Shen tells his journey to entrepreneurial success in his business memoir, “Crossing the Swamp.”

Lair East Labs, a New York City-based startup accelerator and corporate partner of Sunstone Management, announces its summer 2023 cohort companies.

Founders, funders and friends gathered at Sunstone Management’s sold out Venture Dynamics Panel to discuss public-private partnerships at LA Tech Week.

California State Treasurer Fiona Ma visited American Lending Center and Sunstone Management’s headquarters in Irvine, CA, on Friday to talk about creating jobs through investment and state-backed small business loans.

VagAligna’s promising treatment for vaginal tears earned the team the $20,000 first prize at the 2023 UCI Stella Zhang New Venture Competition.

Ten UCI teams will pitch their startup concepts Thursday evening, May 25, in hopes of earning part of the $100,000 in prize money at stake in the Stella Zhang New Venture Competition.

A ceremony at Lair East Labs headquarters in Midtown Manhattan cemented the bi-coastal alliance between the accelerator and Sunstone Management.

Harry Saltzgaver, Managing Editor at Sunstone Management, wins first and second place at the California Journalism Awards.

Sunstone Management enriches student lives at the largest entrepreneurship competition on USC campus, held at USC Marshall’s Greif Center.

Sunstone Management announces 5-year commitment and $1 million grant to CSUs at Sunstone CSU Startup Launch Competition in San Jose.

USC Price student teams worked with local governments – Garden Grove, Long Beach, Irvine, and El Segundo – to develop new economic growth strategies.

Teams from 18 of the 23 California State University campuses will gather in a Sunstone-sponsored pitch competition at SJSU with a total of $200,000 in prize money at stake.

Announcing the 2023 winners of the Sunstone Innovation Challenge at CSULB. Sunstone Management sponsored the event via the Sunstone Community Fund.

City governments will work with USC students to create innovative plans to draw in startups and create local jobs.

Eight Long Beach Accelerator founders and their partners traveled to Santa Monica on Tuesday, April 4, to talk about their startup companies in front of a group of potential investors and supporters at a three-hour Demo Day.  The founders repeated the program the next day in an online version.   This is the fifth cohort of […]

Sold out Sunstone panel launched week of founder focused events featuring industry, local government

Sunstone Management and sister company American Lending Center land on prestigious list three years in a row.

Sunstone Management, a primary sponsor of the first-ever Irvine Tech Week, opened the five days of activities Wednesday, March 22, by hosting four founders of diverse early-stage startups in a panel talking about their triumphs and travails, especially in light of the recent Silicon Valley Bank collapse.  Before the panel, Sunstone founder John Shen and […]

  A new approach to economic development for local governments has been launched with a recently announced partnership between Sunstone Management and the USC Price School of Public Policy. Sunstone announced in early February a grant of $162,500 (delivered through the Sunstone Community Fund) to the Price School to establish the “Sunstone Economic Development Challenge […]

Students will compete in developing public-private partnerships to attract early-stage entrepreneurs, financial investment into communities.

Partnership to develop and grow local startups will continue through 2027.

Coalition of organizations kickstart project alongside new Mayor of Long Beach.

Commitment through Sunstone Management’s Donor Advised Fund will support diverse early-stage founders.

New addition to spearhead efforts providing startup founders with necessary resources to reach development goals.

40 startups representing ten University of California campuses to pitch at Sunstone-sponsored investor event.

Diverse set of founders representing all 23 CSUs pitch at entrepreneurial event.

Global group of founders to receive funding, mentorship support as part of Lair East Labs, a cutting edge New York-based accelerator program for AI, SaaS, FinTech, eCommerce platforms.

Sunstone Management, American Lending Center, Partake Collective, TrustCard, and Sunstone Trust Company hosted “The Five Founders” social event celebrating the innovative Southern California entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Long Beach Accelerator Center of Excellence Grant will assist the development of new tech accelerator network.

Funds will expand access to community-based accelerator programs for TiE members

Both companies rank on distinguished list for third consecutive year.

Funds will support entrepreneurship programs and activities at CSU campuses

Former Business Development Officer for the City of Long Beach Economic Development Department to spearhead relationship building with local municipalities for early-stage business ventures, reaffirm company’s commitment to public/private partnership investments.

Sunstone corporate partner, the Long Beach Accelerator, announces their fourth cohort!

Sunstone founding partner John Shen shares his thoughts on the American Dream, AANHPI, and making California home.

Sunstone goes nationwide in new partnership with New York-based accelerator Lair East Labs.

Innovation Leader and Sunstone Management founding partner John Shen joins President Biden at White House bill signing.

Finalists gathered at the University of California, Irvine to compete for $100,000 at the Stella Zhang New Venture Competition Grand Finale.

CEO John Keisler invited to speak at CALED conference in Long Beach on accelerating entrepreneurship, public-private partnerships

Twenty teams from six universities gathered at Cal State Long Beach for the inaugural Sunstone CSU Startup Launch.

Finance and Startup Development Veteran Joins Sunstone as Top Advisor, Partner

Sunstone Management presents top teams with startup seed funding and professional resources

Student entrepreneurs compete in the final pitch of the Sunstone Innovation Challenge at Cal State Long Beach’s Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

Sunstone ranks 222nd, ALC ranks 452nd

Former Long Beach Economic Development Director Set to Spearhead Significant VC, P3 Growth

LBA creates the largest accelerator funding opportunity to date in the US

Inc. 5000 recognizes Sunstone Management and sister company American Lending Center for successful growth strategies two years in a row.

LBA congratulates the inaugural cohort on its completion of the program and greets a new class.

Sunstone ranks 59th, ALC ranks 390th on list of 500 for 2021.

Sunstone Management awards two innovative startups seed funding and professional resources at California State University, Long Beach.

Companies on the 2021 Inc. 5000 Regionals: California list had an average growth rate of 535 percent.

Long Beach Accelerator announces new board members and the commencement of its first class of startups.

Andrea White-Kjoss brings over 20 years of business expertise and an extensive network of entrepreneurs to the Accelerator’s team.

Sunstone Management was not the first company founded by John Shen, a serial financial entrepreneur, but it could easily be the most efficient he has built in a short period of time.

Company expands initial market of research and defense to power Blue Economy including aquaculture and maritime transportation.

Sunstone recognized by Built in LA, additionally under “50 Best Small Companies to Work For in Los Angeles” and “50 Companies with the Best Benefits in Los Angeles.”

Sunstone recognized for supporting growth and job creation in US Economy.

Sunstone investment in Series A and B supports Syntiant’s continued growth.

Sunstone Management founding partner John Shen presents winning teams at CSULB Institute for Innovation & Entrepreneurship.

Proceeds will support American families who have adopted Chinese infants with disabilities.

American Lending Center and Sunstone Management implement long-term donation plan to distribute direly needed medical supplies to hospitals throughout China.

Sunstone leadership talks AI, big data, and startup investing

New Accelerator continues to promote region’s innovative ecosystem

Elite annual CSULB competition sponsored by international investment firm

Premier conference by bioscience and digital health trade association opens with exclusive new CEO/Investor Reception

Sponsorship Supports City of Long Beach’s Initiative to be America’s First Ping Pong Friendly City

Public-Private Partnership of Sunstone Management, City of Long Beach and CSULB attracts top entrepreneurs and investors to city’s first startup accelerator

Sunstone Management, City of Long Beach Economic Development Department and California State University Long Beach’s Institute for Innovation & Entrepreneurship partner to attract top entrepreneurs

Funding moves company closer to bringing affordable, accurate lab tests into consumer homes

Shares of the location and driving safety service app now trading on the ASX

Sunstone Management, City of Long Beach Economic Development Department and California State University Long Beach’s Institute for Innovation & Entrepreneurship partner to attract top entrepreneurs

New Round of Funding Brings Accessible Supersonic Travel Closer to Market

Sunstone investment in Series A and B supports Syntiant’s 2018 growth

Founding partner John Shen leads a panel on international economics and business at Duke University.

Sunstone Management, a Delaware limited liability company, is pleased to announce the launch of an online web portal on its website.