This free event is an orientation to the California's startup ecosystem and collaboration between NorCal and SoCal.
We have assembled an exciting panel of California startup leaders who will give you the low-down on entrepreneurial activities in their ecosystem! We'll be dishing inside scoop on how the California's startup ecosystem works, including investors, movers and shakers, incubators, hot issues, and more.
This session is intended to help attendees understand the different players in the California's tech ecosystem.
About the Instructors

Partner & Chief Operating Officer,
We Tha Plug

Partner, Plug and Play San Diego and Director, NV5 Inc.
Expertise growing startups and delivering communications strategy and community relations programs with a focus on eGovernment and Smart Cities. Spanning work with Fortune 500 global corporations to national firms, tech startups and government agencies.

Executive Director,
Startup San Diego
I am a serial problem solver with a passion for continuous learning. I enjoy working with dynamic organizations with a strong mission where I can build, streamline, and optimize operational systems and infrastructure to achieve internal strategic objectives and facilitate unparalleled impact.
For the last eight years I have been working at the intersection of tech, corporate, education, non-profit, and public sectors focused on building and scaling entrepreneurship, talent development, and sustainability programming. That sounds like a mouthful, but essentially I’ve been focused on operations and strategy for a 501(c)(6) organization focused on economic development impact.
My unofficial title is the "Minister of Culture.” I have a deep passion for building and developing teams and ensuring that the work experience serves to facilitate both professional and programmatic growth.
I have worked alongside LA Based tech company and support institutions like Snap Inc., Riot Games, Boingo Wireless, Grid110, and Techstars, to name a few, to launch several pilot programs and partnerships to connect underserved and diverse community college youth and entrepreneurs to the tech sector. I also have deep experience working with and managing contracts for community colleges, and Federal/State institutions such as the Small Business Administration (SBA), Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) and the California Governor’s Office of Business Affairs (GOBIZ).