EXPERT
DOJO

Expert Dojo is one of the most active early-stage startup accelerators in the United States, founded by Brian Mac Mahon in 2014. Operating from a rooftop space atop Santa Monica Place with panoramic ocean views, Expert Dojo has invested in over 260 startups since inception — deploying initial checks of $100,000 with follow-on investment potential of up to $1 million for high-performing companies. Total funding facilitated through the program exceeds $200 million.

The accelerator hosts what is described as the biggest startup-to-investor pitch event in the USA — the quarterly Investor Festival — drawing over 100 investors to evaluate and connect with emerging companies across technology sectors. Expert Dojo events span both coasts, with marquee events in Los Angeles and New York City, reflecting the program's national reach and Noctem Group's bi-coastal capabilities.

Noctem Group provided event production services for Expert Dojo's marquee events across both cities, managing staging, AV, hospitality, and on-site logistics. In LA, the iconic Santa Monica rooftop with ocean and Promenade views set the backdrop for the flagship Investor Festival. In NYC, Expert Dojo's investor events tapped into the East Coast capital network, bringing the same high-energy pitch format to Manhattan's VC and angel community.

Mac Mahon built Expert Dojo around the premise that the 96% failure rate among early-stage startups was not acceptable — and that with the right mentorship, investor access, and operational support, those odds could be dramatically improved. Notably, 41% of Expert Dojo's investments are in female-founded or female-led ventures, reflecting a commitment to reshaping who gets funded in the startup ecosystem. The partnership with Noctem reflects a shared commitment to producing events that deliver measurable outcomes — not just networking, but real capital deployment and founder-investor connections.