Swiss American Chamber of Commerce Southern California

What Swiss American Chamber of Commerce Southern California does

The Swiss-American Chamber of Commerce Southern California (SACCSoCal) is a California-based non-profit chamber of commerce founded in 2001 and operating across Orange County, Los Angeles, and San Diego. It functions as a growth enablement and business hub connecting Swiss, American, and Swiss-connected companies in the U.S. market, with a primary value proposition of curating introductions, providing market-entry guidance, and hosting high-end signature events.

SACCSoCal's commercial surface is built on two membership tiers — a Catalyst Individual Membership at $99/year and a four-tier Corporate Membership starting at $350/year (with global visibility via the Swiss AmCham Global Yearbook) — combined with a portfolio of signature events: the annual Avantgarde Award Gala (220+ attendees, The Jonathan Club, Downtown LA), the inaugural Swiss San Diego Golf Classic (co-located with the BIO International Convention), the OC European Business Mixer, OC Investment Luncheons, and cross-chamber events with GABA, FACC, and BABC. Revenue is rounded out by tiered event sponsorships (Avantgarde Award Partner at $7,700-$7,900 down to Silver at $3,300; Golf Gold at $4,500), philanthropy donations, and Gala ticket sales ($199-$229).

The organization does not develop proprietary technology; its stack is commodity — a Wix website built by UXD Lab, Stripe payment processing, Eventzilla and Eventbrite for ticketing, and Google Forms for award submissions. Operations are led by an Executive Committee (Chairman & CEO Mat Hausherr, Vice-chair & General Counsel Veronica Besmer, Avantgarde Award Program lead Hannes Scheidegger, Treasurer Paolo Gregorini) supported by a Board covering medical technology, philanthropy, member experience, strategic partnerships, and marketing. Strategic priorities in 2026 include the 5th edition of the Avantgarde Award, the launch of the Stewardship Award themed on Robotics/Automation/Industry 4.0, and a $50,000 two-year commitment to fund a Helvetas Tanzania pedestrian bridge.

Name

Swiss American Chamber of Commerce Southern California

Legal name

Swiss-American Chamber of Commerce Southern California

Website

https://saccla.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SACCSoCal is a Southern California non-profit chamber of commerce that connects Swiss, American, and Swiss-connected companies through tiered memberships, signature events including the Avantgarde Award Gala and Golf Classic, and curated cross-chamber networking across Orange County, Los Angeles, and San Diego.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Chamber of Commerce and Business Networking Services

NAICS

Business Associations (81391), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYTHAHACAA

Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies)

Travel & Hospitality/MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions)/Professional Conference Organizers (PCOs) & Meeting Planners

SECONDARYTHAHAIAI

Corporate Hospitality, VIP Hosting & Client Entertainment (Internal-led)

Travel & Hospitality/MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions)/Corporate Event Management & Internal Meetings

SECONDARYTHAHAKAF

Gala, Fundraiser & Nonprofit Event Catering

Travel & Hospitality/MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions)/Catering & Banqueting Services for Events

Keywords

• Chamber of commerce services
• International business networking
• Corporate membership programs
• Trade association events
• Transatlantic business development

Headquarters

HQ city

Irvine

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Membership Dues: Catalyst Individual Membership at $99/year provides Southern California Swiss-American network access, member-only events, newsletter, and community platform access. Revenue is recurring on an annual subscription basis.
2. Corporate Membership Dues: Corporate Memberships are tiered based on company size, starting at $350/year. Includes dual-market benefits, Swiss AmCham Global Yearbook listing, global member visibility, access to other US and Swiss chapter events, and full local SACCSoCal member benefits. Revenue is recurring annual.
3. Avantgarde Award Gala Ticket Sales: Annual black-tie gala at The Jonathan Club, Los Angeles (November 7, 2026). Early Bird tickets from $199 (Members) / $229 (Non-Members). Revenue is one-time per event cycle.
4. Event Sponsorships and Partnership Packages: Sponsorship tiers for the Avantgarde Award Gala: Avantgarde Award Partner at $7,700-$7,900, Stewardship Award Partner at $6,500-$6,600, Gold Partner at $4,900, Silver Partner (15 available) at $3,300. Golf tournament sponsorships: Gold Sponsor $4,500, Silver Sponsor $3,000, Cart Sponsor, Hole Sponsor $1,000, Foursome $550, Individual $175.
5. Philanthropy and Donation Revenue: Donation platform for philanthropy initiatives including the Swiss San Diego Golf Classic benefiting Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation and Rady Children's Health. Donation options include one-time and monthly giving at $10, $50, $100, $200 levels.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

SACCSoCal is a non-profit chamber of commerce that facilitates Swiss-American business through tiered membership programs (Catalyst Individual Membership at $99/year and Corporate Memberships from $350/year), curated networking events, advisory and market entry guidance, and signature events including the Avantgarde Award Gala (220+ guests) and Swiss San Diego Golf Classic. It connects entrepreneurs, executives, and innovators across the Swiss-American economic corridor with strategic introductions, regulatory navigation, and cultural localization support. The chamber also operates philanthropy initiatives supporting pediatric cancer research (PCRF, Rady Children's Health) and the Helvetas Tanzania bridge project.

Product overview

The Swiss American Chamber of Commerce Southern California is a growth enablement and business hub that offers a portfolio of membership services and events rather than a unified software product. The core offerings include Catalyst Individual Membership ($99/year) for local networking access, Corporate Membership (starting at $350/year) for international companies seeking dual-market visibility, and signature events including the Avantgarde Award Gala, Swiss San Diego Golf Classic, OC European Business Mixer, and Investment Luncheons. The Avantgarde Award program recognizes Swiss-American innovation excellence through two categories: the Avantgarde Award for overall business impact and the Stewardship Award for robotics and Industry 4.0 innovations. The organization connects Swiss and American businesses through curated networking, strategic guidance, and philanthropy initiatives supporting pediatric cancer research and international development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• 220+ guests at the 2025 Avantgarde Gala, spanning Swiss and American business leaders, investors, and diplomats.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• Vontobel SFA AGmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 30 June 2026Vontobel SFA (largest SEC-registered investment adviser headquartered in Switzerland) held the grand opening of its Los Angeles office on June 30, 2026, as a SACCSoCal-hosted event at 10100 Santa Monica Blvd. Dr. Pascal Köppel (CIO) also led the OC Investment Luncheon on portfolio diversification.
• HomeLab (Presented Sponsor, Swiss San Diego Golf Classic)majorGTM or Marketing Partner · 26 June 2026HomeLab Deep Bio Accelerator, operated by LabFellows, is the presenting sponsor of the inaugural Swiss San Diego Golf Classic 2026. HomeLab's global, remote-first programming has created a $2.4B portfolio over 5 years in Longevity, BioAI, and Quantum fields.
• Helvetas USAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSACCSoCal partners with Helvetas USA on the 'Building Bridges with Helvetas' initiative, committing to fully fund a pedestrian bridge in Tanzania. The $50,000 goal is to be reached within two years through pooled community resources. The 'Before' story is being documented on-site for Gala 2026, with the 'After' reveal at Gala 2027.
• Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation (PCRF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSACCSoCal partners with PCRF to fund innovative pediatric cancer research, leveraging Switzerland's global leadership in life sciences and healthcare. All proceeds from the Swiss San Diego Golf Classic benefit PCRF and Rady Children's Health.
• Rady Children's HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-beneficiary with PCRF of SACCSoCal's philanthropy golf tournament. Supports children's health in the San Diego community where the chamber operates.
• German-American Business Association (GABA)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerJoint cross-chamber networking events. The OC European Business Mixer (July 16, 2026) brings together SACCSoCal, GABA, French-American Chamber of Commerce, and British-American Business Council at HanaHaus, Newport Beach.
• French-American Chamber of Commerce (FACC)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerJoint cross-chamber networking at OC European Business Mixer, expanding reach into the broader European-American business community in Southern California.
• British-American Business Council (BABC)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerJoint cross-chamber networking at OC European Business Mixer, connecting SACCSoCal members with the British-American business network in Orange County.
• HanaHaus (SAP)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerHanaHaus, created by SAP as an innovation center and coworking environment in Newport Beach, serves as venue partner for the OC European Business Mixer. SAP envisioned HanaHaus as a place where ideas and capital connect, fostering creativity and collaboration.
• Planet InnovationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPlanet Innovation (Irvine, CA) served as venue host for the SACCSoCal Opportunity MeetUp MedTech on April 14, 2026, aligning with the chamber's medtech and life sciences focus in Southern California.
• Tangram InteriorsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTangram Interiors (Newport Beach) hosted the SACCSoCal Annual Meeting on May 13, 2026, described as one of Newport Beach's most design-forward spaces.
• UXD LabminorOthersUXD Lab, a Swiss-American experience design studio, is credited as the creator of SACCSoCal's website (noted as 'Made by UXD Lab'). Helena Suter from UXD Lab serves on the SACCSoCal Board of Directors as Head of Marketing and Communication.
• BIO International Convention (San Diego)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerSACCSoCal's Swiss San Diego Golf Classic is strategically co-located with BIO International Convention 2026 (June 22-25, San Diego), one of the world's most significant gatherings of life-science leaders. The golf tournament is positioned as the day-after event that extends the convention's networking into a social/philanthropy format.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Swissnex (Swiss Consulate Innovation Network): A Swiss government-backed network connecting Swiss innovation hubs to global ecosystems, with locations including San Francisco. Comparable as an ecosystem enabler for Swiss-American business, science, and innovation linkages — not a direct membership competitor but a complementary institution.
• Switzerland Global Enterprise (S-GE): Switzerland's official trade and investment promotion agency, supporting Swiss companies expanding internationally. Comparable as an ecosystem enabler for Swiss companies entering the U.S. — overlapping in mission (Swiss market entry support) rather than direct competition.

Regional players

• Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce: The largest and oldest business association in the Los Angeles region, providing networking, advocacy, and member services to a broad cross-section of LA businesses. Comparable as a regional chamber of commerce with membership and event programming, though broader in scope than SACCSoCal's Swiss-American corridor focus.
• Greater Irvine Chamber of Commerce: The principal chamber of commerce serving Irvine and Orange County, offering networking, advocacy, and member events to local businesses. Comparable as a regional chamber providing member services and signature events, and a potential partnership counterpart for SACCSoCal's Orange County programming.

Direct peers

• German-American Business Association of California (GABA): A California-based nonprofit association connecting German and American business professionals through events, membership, and networking. Direct peer in the European-American business association category in Southern California, and an active SACCSoCal cross-chamber partner at joint mixers.
• French-American Chamber of Commerce (FACC) California: A nonprofit regional European-American chamber of commerce active in California, organizing networking events, member services, and cross-chamber mixers alongside SACCSoCal. Most directly comparable as a peer European-American business association operating in the same Southern California geography and collaborating with SACCSoCal at the OC European Business Mixer.
• British-American Business Council (BABC) Southern California: A nonprofit organization promoting transatlantic British-American trade and business relations with regional chapters including Southern California. Closely comparable as a peer European-American business association in the same geographic market, partnering with SACCSoCal on joint networking events.
• Swiss-American Chamber of Commerce New York: A regional chapter of the Swiss-American Chamber of Commerce network serving the Northeastern U.S. Direct peer in the same Swiss-AmCham chapter system, competing for the same Swiss corporate memberships and serving overlapping transatlantic business needs.

Broad incumbents

• AmCham Switzerland: The American Chamber of Commerce in Switzerland — the mirror counterpart to Swiss-American chambers, supporting U.S. companies operating in Switzerland. Highly comparable in mission and operating model (nonprofit, membership-based, events, advocacy) but on the opposite side of the corridor.
• Swiss-American Chamber of Commerce (Headquarters, Zurich): The flagship Swiss-American Chamber of Commerce headquartered in Zurich, founded in 1913; serves as the global membership platform that SACCSoCal's corporate memberships route through. Directly comparable as a nonprofit membership organization supporting the same Swiss-American business corridor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/saccla

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Swiss American Chamber of Commerce Southern California