The (somewhat contentious) phrase “Silicon Beach” has surfaced to describe the few miles between Santa Monica and Venice that have emerged as the heart of Southern California’s burgeoning tech scene. The affluence of the entertainment industry and idyllic weather continue to draw startups and venture capital firms to the region.
Although Silicon Valley and Seattle still outrank SoCal as tech hubs, Los Angeles lays claim to some heavy hitters — Hulu, Snapchat, and Tinder to name a few.
“People tend to be very outgoing and realize that you need to meet other people to get your start-up going,” Kevin Winston, founder of Digital LA, said in a New York Times feature on Silicon Beach. “In other cities, you go out because you have to. Here, you go out because you want to.”
On Tuesday, September 2, Winston is bringing those insights to Seattle. WeWork South Lake Union is hosting Digital LA — Silicon Beach and Seattle Tech, a discussion of the two startup scenes. In addition to Winston, attendees will hear from Sidevision co-founder and Warner Bros. Media Camp accelerator grad Justin Wu and Justin Grado, head of Fuisz Media West Coast Sales. The panel discussion begins at 5:00pm. Guests can register for $10 here.
That’s just one of our selections from the GeekWire Calendar — our curated list of the top tech events in the Pacific Northwest.
Keep reading for more highlights and check out the calendar for more.
Bellevue Tech Hive
On Monday, Sept. 1, Bellevue City Hall is opening its doors for a 3-day hackathon. Participants will take their ideas from inception to prototype and then present to a panel of judges. The theme of this startup event is Global Good. Bellevue Tech Hive hopes to encourage startups that will benefit the global and local community through innovation. Entrepreneurs can apply here.
When & Where: Sept. 1 6:00 p.m. – Sept. 3 9:00 p.m. Bellevue City Hall, Bellevue.
Dapper As _ _ _ _. The YPOS End of Summer Party
Summer is coming to a close, but at least the Young Professionals of Seattle are sending it off with style. The networking group wants you to “breakout your pocket square, your finest saddle shoes, and most dapper attitude” for this end of summer bash. The event organizers expect hundreds of young professionals to turn out for the Hendrix Gin and cigar tasting lounges, DJ, and surprise vendors. Tickets are available for $20 here.
When & Where: Sept. 6, 5:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. Union Square Courtyard, Seattle.
TAG Family Day
The Technology Alliance Group in partnership with Boxx Berry Farm are hosting a Super Hero-themed day of family-friendly activities. BBQ, snacks, and fresh strawberry shortcake will be served on the farm. Kids can enjoy hands-on displays like Bricks and Beyond’s Lego robotics, train rides, and tours of the technology that makes the farm run. Contributions go toward scholarships in technology programs at several universities and colleges in the Pacific Northwest. Get your tickets for $40 here.
When & Where: Sept. 7, 11:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Boxx Berry Farm, Ferndale.
Startup on Tap: The Craft of Entrepreneurship
Join Chandran Sankaran, founder and CEO of Zyme Solutions, for this discussion on entrepreneurship as a craft. Sankaran will explore whether business sense can be learned and give advice on minimizing risk through the journey. The discussion will be followed by a networking session for members of the startup community. Tickets are available for $8.50 here.
When & Where: Sept. 9, 5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Blue C Sushi, Bellevue.
Contact GeekWire’s Monica Nickelsburg at monica@geekwire.com. Listings for this feature are picked from the GeekWire Calendar, where you can submit free listings for technology-related events in the Pacific Northwest.
