The Portal Named Preferred Creative Partner by K5 Ventures After Two Years of Powering Startup Storytelling
- The Portal
- Jul 17
- 2 min read
Orange County, CA — [July 17, 2026] — The Portal, the Southern California-based creative video production studio known for helping founders tell sharper, more compelling stories, today announced it has been named a Preferred Creative Partner by K5 Ventures, the early-stage venture capital firm and startup accelerator based in Orange County.
The designation follows two years of firsthand observation by K5 Ventures Managing Partner Ray Chan, who has watched The Portal consistently help startups translate complex products and bold visions into short video that lands — often at a fraction of traditional production costs, thanks to a pipeline built with talented film students from Chapman University's Dodge College of Film and Media Arts.
“Over the last two years, I've watched founder after founder walk into The Portal with a product that's hard to explain and walk out with a video that makes it obvious,” said Ray Chan, Managing Partner at K5 Ventures. “That's a rare combination: craft, speed, and real value for early-stage companies that don't have large marketing budgets. Naming The Portal our preferred creative partner is us pointing our founders toward something that works.”
The Portal has built its reputation on a bold, disruptive approach to brand storytelling — pairing founders with sharp, curated short-form video (from 15-second UGC-style cuts to full brand films) and a talent pipeline of emerging filmmakers from one of the country's top film programs. The studio's past work includes a widely cited case study with Ampaire, the hybrid-electric aviation company, demonstrating how The Portal translates deep technical innovation into video audiences actually watch.
“The Portal’s creative partnership with K5 is more than a partnership -- it’s a true collaboration,” said Reese Paddock, CEO at The Portal. “It shows partners and founders what they should expect from creative partners in Southern California.”
About the partnership: As part of the designation, founders in K5 Ventures' portfolio will receive preferred pricing on The Portal's video production services, along with priority scheduling and direct introductions from the K5 team.
About K5 Ventures
K5 Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm and accelerator based in Southern California, investing in AI-native and AI-human symbiosis companies. Learn more at k5ventures.com.
About The Portal
The Portal is a Southern California creative video production studio that helps startups and brands tell their story through powerful, affordable video — from curated short-form UGC content to full brand and product films. Built on a talent pipeline of Chapman University film students, The Portal delivers agency-caliber creative at startup-friendly pricing. Learn more at theportal.io.
Media Contact:
Adrian Self