[SGVLUG] Innovate Pasadena

[Richard Gaskin]

One of my to-do items from last night's meeting was to provide info here 
about the local Innovate Pasadena group, so here's some background info 
with relevant links:


Here's their mission statement from their web site:

    The vision of INNOVATE PASADENA is to create a vibrant ecosystem
    of technology and design innovation in the greater Pasadena area
    that supports sustainable economic growth.


The group's main web site is here:
http://www.innovatepasadena.org/


They also have a discussion group in LinkedIn:
http://www.linkedin.com/groups/Innovate-Pasadena-Public-4764238


In October they helped organize the Pasadena Innovation Summit, which 
brought such notable speakers as IdeaLab founder Bill Gross, Virgin 
Galactic CEO George Whitesides, and many more:
http://innovationsummitpasadena.com


Innovate Pasadena is closely affiliated with and helps support 
TechSparks, another local org that "aims to spark innovative new ideas 
by providing a social forum for entrepreneurial minds" - they host 
periodic gatherings to bring innovators and investors together:
http://techsparks.net/


In addition to seminars, panel discussions, and other events, Innovate 
Pasadena holds a weekly meeting every Friday morning from 8:15AM to 
9:15AM at a local coffee house:
http://www.meetup.com/Innovate-Pasadena-Friday-Morning-Coffee/

They have different speakers every week, ranging from investors, to IP 
attorneys, to serial entrepreneurs, and more.

Their Friday morning meetings are free, but RSVP through their Meetup 
page is strongly recommended as they frequently book full a few days in 
advance.

I've been to at least a dozen of the Friday morning meetings, and will 
be going again now and then whenever they have speakers relevant to my 
business.  If any of you want to go drop me a note and it would be great 
to meet up there.


While not directly affiliated with the City of Pasadena, Mayor Bogaard 
and others in our local leadership are very supportive of their 
activities to promote Pasadena as a tech hub.

Given the group's focus and their members, I believe that over the long 
term getting to know the people who participate in Innovate Pasadena can 
only be a good thing for an org like SGVLUG.


Also -

Not directly affiliated with Innovate Pasadena but well worth knowing 
about if you haven't been already:


On the second Saturday of each month the CalTech Entreprenurs Forum 
hosts panel discussions on a wide range of topics of interest to 
technology entrepreneurs and enthusiasts:
http://www.entforum.caltech.edu/

These events include an hour of networking before the panel with 
refreshments provided (usually with good coffee from Jones), and more 
networking again after the panel.

These events cost $40 if paid in advance, or $50 at the door.

I've been to many of these and found them all very worthwhile - lots of 
good ideas presented, and have made new friends there.

FWIW, Deezmaker's Joan Horvath is a member of the Forum's Executive 
Committee (and also frequently attends Innovate Pasadena events).

The next one I'll be going to is on April 12: "Personalized Education 
150,000 Students at a Time: Opportunities in Online Learning"

The panel on March 8 may be of special interest to Katz and some of the 
other LUG members: "Cybersecurity, Encryption, and Entrepreneurial 
Opportunities in the Business of Data Security"



I hope to see some of you at events for either the Enterprise Forum or 
Innovate Pasadena.  I've very much enjoyed the people I've met through 
them, and the ideas circulating there have been very helpful in shaping 
my business.

-- 
  Richard Gaskin
  Fourth World Systems
  ____________________________________________________________________
  Ambassador at FourthWorld.com                http://www.FourthWorld.com