Darren Eng

Executive Director
LAVA

Darren has been a leader in LA's venture scene since the dot-com era where, among other roles, he helped lead the largest professional association for dot-com venture-backed startups. After two decades of executive and entrepreneurial leadership, Darren now leads the Los Angeles Venture Association (LAVA), manages CozDev and advises emerging funds and unique startups on capital raises.

As executive director of LAVA, Darren has rebranded and re-animated the organization back to its roots as an investor-focused organization via new events, communities and advisory boards of VCs, family offices, fund managers, angel investors and others. As cofounder and managing partner in CozDev, LLC he weds the social impact goals of the federal Opportunity Zone initiative with a capital gains investment platform for low-risk, tax-free, high-returns which ultimately combines ownership of both real property and green/clean industry tenants.

Prior to LAVA and CozDev Darren was CEO, Chairman and investor in Greenbelt Resources Corporation. It was one of many executive roles in the environmental sector including leading teams of scientists and engineers at AECOM, the world’s premier infrastructure firm.

Darren graduated from Yale with a degree in environmental biology, is a member of the California Club, and a two time Santa Monica YMCA Coach of the Year.