The 5 Coolest Tech Firms in Irvine, CA

A zoomed up picture of a microchip, symbolic of the many technology companies in Irvine

Our List of the 5 Coolest Tech Firms in Irvine

Orange County has always been synonymous with sunny, beach towns. However, today cities like Irvine have a lot more to offer. That is why, over the past years, more and more tech firms and start-ups have been gravitating to the area.

Today, Irvine is considered one of the leading cities in the tech scene. It is known for hosting the offices of huge tech firms as well as rising start-ups. All these cool tech companies come to Irvine to have access to the talents they need to grow. What better place to find these talents other than Irvine?

For years, UC Irvine and other institutions have been known to graduate a deeply educated workforce. That has been Irvine’s Master Plan since decades ago; to be a city of intellect, built around the university. Obviously, Irvine is going on the right track. Today, you will find the offices of some of best tech firms in the world here in Irvine. Here is our list of the 5 coolest tech firms in Irvine.

Google

Should we say more? Most probably, you have reached this article using Google search engine. As they say, Google knows everything. That is why, Google has dominated the search engine market, with about 92.5 percent. However, that did not stop Google from expanding their success to other services. Today, thousands of users around the globe enjoy Google mail services, productivity tools, enterprise products, mobile devices and much more.

This tech giant is not just famous for its revolutionary product launches and innovative approach. Google is also known for its extraordinary work environment and employee facilities. Google Irvine office is no different. Designed by San Francisco-based Rapt Studio, Google Irvine building catches Orange County’s beach culture. You will find beach cruisers in the lobby. There is even a lifeguard tower on the roof deck.

Workspace design might not be enough to get Google on top of our coolest tech firms in Irvine. However, Google commitment to expanding opportunities and building a diverse workforce is. That is why, Google has claimed the 6th spot in Glassdoor’s 13th annual “Employees’ Choice Awards, with a rating of 4.5, in the best places to work in the 2021 list.

Microsoft

Over the past decade, many people thought Microsoft has lost a bit of their shine. However, they have made a strong comeback. Today, Microsoft has become again one of the superstar firms not just in Irvine, but in the entire tech world.

By introducing Windows 95 back in the days, Microsoft has ushered the world into the golden age of PC usage. Computers were no longer just meant to be used at work. People bought PCs for their homes. That is when Microsoft became a dominant player in the tech scene.

The period from the mid-2000s up to 2014 was a dark phase for Microsoft. The company could not compete with Google in the search engine field. They also had a little success with smartphone operating systems or devices. Still, companies and regular users did not stop buying Windows computers. Fortunately, Microsoft decided to build on its strength to come back stronger than ever. They returned to their roots by introducing the game changing cloud computing technology, which is considered one of the most important technologies of the past decade. This and the cultural change landed Microsoft on our coolest tech firms in Irvine.

Syntiant

Unlike Google and Microsoft, Syntiant is headquartered in Irvine. Founded in 2017, this tech firm has quickly become a leader in the moving artificial intelligence and machine learning technology. Syntiant produces ultra-low-power semiconductors that facilitate speech interfaces on various battery-powered consumer devices.

In simpler words, Syntiant offers a breakthrough technology that enables small devices, such as earbuds, to offer voice interaction. This means, you can give your smart speakers, AR glasses and security devices command words to control them. No need for bulky batteries or control buttons, your tiny, battery-operated devices will execute your commands just by using your voice. How cool and brilliant is that?

Compared to traditional processing technologies, Syntiant devices typically deliver 100 times the performance. That is why Syntiant was named one of the top 100 AI companies. Syntiant’s exceptional work was also recognized by Octane, Southern California’s leading accelerator. In 2021, Syntiant received their High-Tech Award for “Best Technology Company Leadership Team”. The work of Syntiant is also backed by multiple of the world’s most well-known investors including Intel Capital, Applied Ventures, Robert Bosch Venture Capital, Microsoft’s M12, Amazon Alexa Fund and Atlantic Bridge Capital.

Cylance

Also based in Irvine, is Cylance Inc., a medium-sized software firm that develops antivirus programs. Unlike other cyber security firms, Cylance software works proactively. It prevents, rather than reactively detecting viruses and malware. To prevent cyber breaches and attacks, Cylance uses artificial intelligence, algorithmic science and machine learning technology. They are considered the first tech company to apply this advanced technology to cyber security. Clients of Cylance include companies in industries such as retail, finance, healthcare, government and education in Irvine and across the USA.

Cylance was founded only in 2012. Being a relatively young company did not stop Cylance from becoming a leader in the cyber security world. Their CylancePROTECT software is an award-winning next-generation antivirus product. It can stop what other antiviruses cannot even detect by using prediction and pre-response at the enterprise endpoint. That is how, CylancePROTECT can effectively prevent modern malware and advanced threat breaches, before they can cause any damages or harm. That is why Cylance’s Fortune 500 customer list includes hot shots such as 20 of the biggest energy, oil and gas companies, 34 of the best healthcare companies, 43 of the top banking and financial services companies and 46 of the top high-tech companies.

MobilityWare

Our list of coolest tech firms in Irvine could not end without mentioning this leading mobile gaming company. MobilityWare was founded in 1990 and headquartered in Irvine with the aim of bringing joy to others, one game at a time. They focus on creating fun and engaging experiences that everyone can enjoy.

MobilityWare awesome culture of innovation, collaboration, and fun makes this tech firm one of the coolest in Irvine. That is why, they have won “Orange County’s Best Places to Work”​ by both the OC Business Journal and OC Register for three years in a row.

Their popular mobile games have been rocking the app store since its inception. With classic games, such as Solitaire, MobilityWare have created some of the most iconic app store games ever. Their other famous titles include Blackjack, FreeCell, Jigsaw Puzzle and Spider Solitaire. That is why, they have over 300 million downloads across their award-winning app portfolio.

In our opinion these are the 5 coolest tech firms in Irvine. We would love to know how you see the tech scene here in Irvine. So, drop a message in the comments and tell us your opinion.

At My OC Bookkeeper, we understand the challenges that come along with the great business opportunities here in Irvine, and we work with all kinds of great Irvine businesses. That is why, we offer our help to all kinds of companies in Orange County. Whether you were just starting out or running a well-established company, we can help you grow your business with our bookkeeping and business advisory services. By choosing us, you can rest assured you will get a business partner that will help you achieve your dreams. We are not just an outside service provider. Our services will help your business thrive.

So, get in touch with us now and let’s do great things together.  

The 5 Best Businesses in Irvine

Palm trees and the ferris wheel at the Irvine Spectrum which is owned by one of the best businesses in Irvine

Our List of the Best Businesses in Irvine, CA

What are the best companies in Irvine, CA? That is not an easy question to answer. Irvine is the beating heart of Orange County business. (Sorry Newport Beach, you’re great too but there can only be one…) What used to be basically a sea of orange groves with a university in the middle – not to say there is anything wrong with that, old Irvine was a wonderful place – has turned into an incredibly dynamic and crucially important business hub.

So, determining the best businesses is not an easy feat. We like challenges though, so we think that we are up to the task.

This is not a scientific endeavor, so we don’t have a great deal of empirical data to discuss. Rather, we have sought out companies that are provocative, successful, and / or have had an impact on the community.

So, without further ado, the best businesses in Irvine.

Space X

First on our list is Space X. Why is it first? Because it is Space X, that’s why. I mean, they are trying to go to mars people, and they have an office in Irvine. (That basically means that the good people of Irvine will be part of the first Martian colony.)

Elon Musk’s company, whose home office is in nearby Hawthorne, by the way, opened its offices in Irvine back in 2016. The office’s apparent focus is satellite communications, which seems important to us. They’ve been here ever since, with many a job opening on Indeed to prove it.

What could be more exciting than having a developer of cutting-edge space technology in your backyard? Nothing, that is what. And that is why Space X is on our list.

Looking for a job at Space X? First of all, thank you for being incredible. Second, check out this blog post with tips on getting a job at Space X. (It’s not ours.) Third, please leave a note in the comments, we would love to chat.

Last point, be sure to check out the awesome video below to see a Space X spaceship landing vertically. Incredible. If you watch just one video in this post, that should be the one, trust us. It’s really cool.

Ingram Micro

Unlike Space X, Ingram Micro is headquartered in Irvine.(Space X just has offices there.) Formed all the way back in 1979 – in Southern California no less – Ingram Micro is a massive organization with ~ 35,000 employees, $49.1 billion in revenues, and over $15 billion in assets. They distribute IT products and services to over 250,000 customers both in the U.S. and around the globe, and are one of the biggest names in their industry.

According to our research they are regularly hiring all kinds of positions in Irvine, so if you are interested in information technology and are local you should keep them on your radar. That having been said, if you aren’t looking for a job in IT don’t fret, Ingram Micro is a publicly traded company (NYSE: ticker IM), so if you have a few dollars squirreled away you can literally join the ownership team. Sidenote, if you do become an owner, please tell them to reach out to us for their outsourced finance department needs.

Want to learn a little bit more about Ingram Micro? Take a look at their video introduction below.

The Hoag Health Network

Next on our list is the Hoag Health Network. This is truly a local company in every way because all of their operations are right here in Orange County. (Maybe you should think about doing that too Space X and Ingram Micro.) Not only that, but they work hard every day to keep all of us healthy, and we here at the My OC Bookkeeper blog are very grateful for that. Strictly speaking they are a non-profit but given the incredible work they do and the number of OC residents they employ we decided to include them anyway.

The incredible Hoag network treats roughly 30,000 inpatients and 350,000 outpatients annually. They opened way back in 1952 (when Orange County was actually filled with oranges), with Hoag Health Center Irvine opening in the early 80s, and Hoag Hospital Irvine opening in 2010. They are here to help us all with medical needs large and small, and we are certainly grateful for that. Thank you Hoag Health!

Interested in volunteering with the Hoag Network? Here’s a good place to start.

What to learn more about how Hoag has grown over the years? Take a look at the video below which has some really great historical footage from old Orange County.

Blizzard Entertainment

No list of the top businesses in Irvine would be complete without Blizzard Entertainment. Blizzard is one of the top video game companies in the world, having created such well known titles as the World of Warcraft, Diablo, StarCraft, and Overwatch – all of which have many iterations.

The company was founded back in 1991 by three UCLA grads, and its headquarters are right here in Irvine. Not only do they create incredible video games, but they also employ roughly 4,700 people. As if that wasn’t enough, they also sponsor the annual BlizzCon convention which draws gaming fans from across the county to our own Anaheim Convention Center – providing yet another boost to local business.

Thank you for the great games Blizzard, but please don’t make them so addictive. We need time to get some other things done.

Want to see an awesome video about Blizzard’s games? Take a look below.

The Irvine Company

What is the last company on our list? It should be obvious. It’s inconceivable not to include the company with Irvine in its name on the list of the best companies in Irvine, the queen bee of all companies in Irvine: The Irvine Company.

For those of you who don’t know. The Irvine Company is a real estate development company with offices in Irvine and Newport Beach that has played a major role in the development of not just Irvine, but large swaths of Orange County. They own The Market Place, the Irvine Spectrum Center, and Fashion Island, and have helped develop countless residential areas throughout the county.

It’s not just their great development projects that make them great though, it’s also both their commitment to protecting Orange County’s natural environment and their philanthropic endeavors. From an environmental standpoint, they’ve earmarked nearly 50,000 acres as preserved wildlife – known as the Irvine Ranch Open Space – which helps to preserve Irvine’s great balance between nature and development. From a philanthropic standpoint, they’ve gifted over $220 million to local schools and universities.

The Logo for the Irvine Company, on of the best businesses in Irvine.
The Irvine Company logo

So there you have it. The 5 best businesses in Irvine, (one of which is a nonprofit.) We hope you found this illuminating. Think we’re crazy? Let us know your opinions on the best businesses in Irvine in the comments. We love a good discussion. Want to check out another cool list about this great community? How about the 5 Best Parks in Irvine. Or, to zoom out to the OC in general, check out our list of the 5 best beaches in Orange County.

As we’ve discussed, Irvine has a vibrant and exciting business community filled with all kinds of great companies. At My OC Bookkeeper there’s nothing we enjoy more than collaborating with great Irvine businesses. We provide bookkeeping and business advisory services to companies in Irvine and all over Southern California. Have a question about accounting or business finance? Reach out to us and let’s chat. Take a look at our video below to learn a bit more about what we do.