The first Silicon Beach Festival is bringing together the Los Angeles social media, startup, entertainment and tech communities Friday and Saturday in venues in Santa Monica and Venice.
Hosted by the digital entertainment networking company Digital LA, the festival will feature discussions and meet-ups to exchange ideas about how to develop the tech industry in Silicon Beach.
"We really want to build a sense of camaraderie within these communities," said Silicon Beach Festival Media Director Efren Toscano, also the founder and Chief Executive Officer of the tech news organization "TechZulu."
Festival activities include panels, keynote speeches and workshops, as well as social networking events such as cocktail parties and surfing lessons.
At Toscano in the Viceroy Hotel on Thursday night, Toscano shared his thoughts on how the festival will cement Silicon Beach's place as a new hotspot for the startup, entertainment and tech communities.
Festival Producer Jason Crilly, who works as the Chief Executive Officer of the tech company "PageWoo," said the festival is one of the key steps to putting Silicon Beach on the map as a vibrant hub for the technology business, joining the ranks of already established hotspots Silicon Valley and New York.
"It's our own version of Silicon Valley, but on the beach. What could be better?" Crilly said. "For the residents of Silicon Beach, technology is not only changing the world, it's now happening right next door."
