I have to admit when I first walked through the doors of the Los Angeles Convention Center to attend Blog World I asked myself why I was wasting my time. Yet “another networking event”. Haven’t I learned by now that it’s better to be disciplined, focused in my office, at the computer, than “on the go” in a daze at a conference. It almost felt like I was there merely out of habit having gone to numerous amounts of conferences over the years being a business owner.
Today marks another great day for the LA startup community as one of the city’s prominent mentoring programs, Launchpad LA, received VC funding – for each startup. Every startup selected and entering into the program will be awarded $50,000 in VC funding, mentoring, and free office space in Santa Monica area within walking distance of the Third Street Promenade.
Only a few weeks ago, Google executives announced that Google+ Pages for brands and companies were on the way. Anticipation of Google opening up the doors to businesses on Google+ has been a long awaited feature-add to their fast growing, and widely used platform. Well, by the end of today – according to Louis Grey – that wait will finally be over.
Thinking about applying to or ever wondered what its like taking part of an accelerator or incubation program? Well now is your chance to find out thanks to upStart.LA. The Santa Monica based startup accelerator, is inviting Los Angeles tech entrepreneurs for an evening of discussion highlighted by a panel of startup founders that have received funding from leading accelerators and incubators on Thursday, Nov. 10th from 7pm to 9pm at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium (SMCA). The event will feature a panel of some of SoCal’s brightest entrepreneurs who have received funding from TechStars, Y Combinator, 500 Startups, and Idealab and will be moderated by upStart.LA’s Co-Founder, Dan Dato.
Many thanks to everyone who participated in last night’s Spotlight: LA Tech at UCLA’s Anderson School of Management. In addition to the 330+ students, entrepreneurs and investors in attendance, the event also achieved over 45,000 views on the TechZulu live stream. If you missed it, or simply want to relive the moment, check out the rebroadcast above.
Exciting times in the Southern California tech community. K5Launch announced a new accelerator program that provides promising technology startups with a three-month intensive accelerator program for entrepreneurs in Southern California. K5 aims to create a network of support and mentorship along with access to capital where people can build on creative ideas with the help of successful business people, and connect with investors to get their concepts off the ground.
‘Facebook me,’ ‘tweet it,’ ‘Shazam that;’ in the world of tech, your name is not just a service or brand, it is your verb. The stakes have been raised. The goal is not only to create a brand but rather the hope of becoming everyday jargon referring to the action in which you provide. In the world of social, sharing, and online apps, becoming a verb may be the difference between life and death of a company.
Can you feel it folks? Cause I can. Excited to announce MuckerLab, a new startup accelerator and member of the TechStars Network, launched today in L.A. It’s a three-month program providing its selected startups with $21,000 in seed funding, plus the typical incubator benefits like shared office space, legal assistance, infrastructure and hosting, and mentorship from a network of advisors.
After months of submissions and the amazing help from our judges, the Spotlight is shinning down on awesome companies that were born right out of Southern California. For those who still might be wondering what Spotlight: LA Tech is all about, It’s a screening room for new technology homegrown in our region. It’s a gallery of great entrepreneurship. It’s a toast to those who build and innovate. It’s a gathering of friends and tech enthusiasts of all stripes.
CapLinked, the online platform for private investment funded by members of the “PayPal Mafia”—announced that it is launching a worldwide pitch competition for entrepreneurs to present their business ideas to a panel of all-star judges from Idealab, Rincon, Rapidfire, and Actarus. Company founders and aspiring entrepreneurs of all-stripes are welcome to submit their plans for a chance at fame and glory, as well as international exposure for their company.
