1752vc - TCA Venture Group

1752vc (formerly Pegasus Accelerator)

1752vc (formerly Pegasus Accelerator) focuses on connecting startups with what matter most when scaling their venture – people. Our network is not just about funding – we believe that having the right mentors can be just as important as securing financial backing. That’s why we have carefully cultivated a community of more than 500 experienced investors who are eager to support, mentor, and advise promising new ventures. Our mentor and angel investor network has the knowledge and expertise to guide startups through every step of the process, from marketing their product to scaling up their operations to connecting them with potential clients.

More than just a source of funding—we are a comprehensive platform designed to accelerate success for startups, investors, and emerging venture leaders. Our mission is to empower ambitious founders and aspiring investors by providing access to the tools, knowledge, and community they need to thrive in a competitive market.

Through various innovative programs, we help startups scale effectively, and support venture fellows in building their careers. Our accelerator selects the most promising startups from thousands of applicants annually, offering hands-on mentorship, operational guidance, and access to a robust network of 850+ investors and industry leaders. Visit our website to see all our current and exciting programs!

Executive Board

Lucas J. Pols- Managing Partner
Griffin Hermes, Principal
Christopher Yang, Venture Partner
Taissa Maleh, Venture Partner
Min-Yi Shih, PhD, Technologist in Residence
Ben Kahan, Digital Marketing Director
Scott Alderton, Executive Committee

Lucas J. Pols, Managing Partner

Christopher Yang, Venture Partner

Taissa Maleh, Venture Partner

Min-Yi Shih, PhD, Technologist in Residence

Ben Kahan, Digital Marketing Director

Scott Alderton, Executive Committee

Lucas is Managing Partner of Amplite Capital, Founder & CEO of Spark xyz, and on the executive committee of Tech Coast Angels Los Angeles. In his previous career at ADP he successfully helped roll out multiple technology driven national pilots, while additionally winning District Manager of the Year and Sales Executive of the year. More recently he helped launch the Quake Capital Accelerator here in Los Angeles successfully building out their program and advising the startups on business development, leadership, and fundraising. He received his Master’s in Entrepreneurship from the University of Southern California. While at USC, Lucas was the case protagonist of Professor Noam Wasserman’s case study, which focused on his venture, Spark xyz, and hybrid entrepreneurship. Lucas also currently writes for Forbes and does speaking engagements around Los Angeles.

Member Since 2019

Linked In: linkedin.com/in/lucasjpols

Griffin is a sales and go-to-market leader, founder, and investor. He is currently a Principal at Pegasus Angel Accelerator. Previously, he built and scaled new territories at CDW, a Fortune 200 technology provider, before joining EdTech startup NutKase as the first sales and go-to-market hire, driving revenue from $750k to over $6.5M in 20 months. This sparked his passion for early-stage ventures, leading him to roles at two accelerators, most recently as Head of Business Development at Expert Dojo, where he met with over 2000 founders and developed new revenue channels. During this time, he also founded AnthroMachina, a firm specializing in sales and business development automation. Griffin holds a bachelor’s degree in advertising and consumerism from Miami University and mentors at Techstars and Plug and Play.

Year Joined TCA: 2024
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-alderton-81216/

Taissa Maleh is an early-stage startup investor with a rich background in finance and entrepreneurship. She built a successful Wall Street career in Alternative Investments and Portfolio Management for global institutions like Safra Group and ICAP. Passionate about technology and science, she founded Bluefin Foods, a VC-backed cultivated seafood startup. As Portfolio Growth Manager at Expert Dojo, she led investment deals and guided startups to secure further financing. Taissa holds an Executive MBA from UCLA Anderson and a Finance degree from Columbia University. She is an angel investor, TCA Venture Group member, and mentor at Women Founders Foundation.

Year Joined TCA: 2024
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tmaleh

Ben is a storyteller and problem-solver with a background in filmmaking and a Master’s in Entrepreneurship and Innovation from USC. Through his YouTube channel, Four Speed Films, with over 80,000 subscribers, Ben creates compelling brand narratives and emotional connections, collaborating with companies to share their stories. He also assists businesses in growing their social media presence organically, focusing on authentic audience engagement and strategic content development to build passionate communities.

Year Joined TCA: 2024
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-alderton-81216/

Scott Alderton is a Founding Partner of Stubbs Alderton & Markiles, LLP, the Managing Partner, and a member of the Firm’s executive committee. He is also Co-Chair of the Firm’s Venture Capital and Emerging Growth practice group and serves as Chairman and Board Member at the Preccelerator, the Firm’s accelerator for early-stage ventures. Scott advises clients across several industries, including software, technology, digital media, interactive entertainment and video games, cybersecurity, and life sciences. His practice focuses on advising early-stage to middle-market technology and emerging growth companies in all aspects of capital formation, venture capital and finance, corporate and securities laws, mergers and acquisitions, high technology, intellectual property, licensing, interactive entertainment and video games, the internet, digital media, manufacturing and distribution of goods in commerce, and commercial contracts.

Year Joined TCA: 2024
LinkedIn Bio: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-alderton-81216/

Christopher Yang’s experience in software engineering and project management spans more than a decade. Currently, he serves as vice president of engineering at Corporate Travel Management (ASX:CTD), an ASX Top 200 company. In this capacity, Chris leads of a large group of engineers, architects, quality assurance analysts, and program managers in designing and launching leading-edge and cost-effective travel solutions in North America. Previously, he held leadership and management roles at DIRECTV and Ticketmaster. In addition to his career, Chris is an executive board member at the TCA-LA. As the co-chair of the events committee, he is responsible for planning and organizing events to increase TCA’s exposure to potential new members and start-ups. Chris is also a lead mentor at USC’s Viterbi School of Engineering Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship, where he guides academic innovators to create high-impact ventures. In addition, Chris is a part-time instructor in the Department of Engineering and Technology at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). Here, he develops and delivers post-baccalaureate curricula, spearheading UCLA Extension’s first agile project management certificate. Finally, Chris is a member of the Forbes Technology Council, where he frequently contributes to Forbes.com on topics related to technology, business strategy, project management, and entrepreneurship. Chris holds an MBA, an MS in industrial and systems engineering, and an MS in computer science from USC.

Member Since 2019

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/christophertyang

Min-Yi is a dynamic technologist, an accomplished business executive, an investor, and a business advisor. Dr. Shih has a background in Physics and earned his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Pennsylvania State University, he also attained his EMBA from the University of California, Los Angeles, Anderson. Dr. Shih has a wealth of experience in executive roles such as CTO and COO across various industries including R&D, defense, medical, and communication equipment. He is currently an angel investor and an advisor to multiple startups and academic programs. He is committed to helping startups and small businesses achieve their growth potential by raising funds, fostering innovation, and scaling operations. Dr. Shih has a successful track record in obtaining non-dilutive government funding (e.g., SBIR). He is very active in various technical professional organizations and is a member of the Phi Tau Phi Scholastic Honor Society. He possesses 17 U.S. patents and numerous awards. Dr. Shih is a recognized industry leader and a valuable asset to the organization he is associated with.

Member since 2022

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/min-yi-shih-86506a3