[SF]
[LA]
Creative IP in the Era of Gen AI
Los Angeles sits at the intersection of generative AI and the media & entertainment industry. As AI-generated content transforms how stories are told, who owns the rights, and how value is created, LA’s crop of hybrid tech-and-media studios and startups are leading the charge. This session brings the best and the brightest leaders in this space together to discuss:
- Emerging IP challenges around synthetic content that are unique to the entertainment industry, including copyright, licensing, and talent rights.
- New business models around franchising, UGC, and D2C media that is being accelerated by AI-driven content creation and distribution.
- Case studies from local startups and studios pioneering AI in entertainment.
This event is a part of #LATechWeek—a week of events hosted by VCs and startups to bring together the tech ecosystem. Learn more at www.tech-week.com.
[SF]
[LA]
AI & Taxes: New Era for Founders
Join us for an intimate evening bringing together a group of founders, firm partners, and senior finance leaders at the intersection of AI and financial operations. Over a great meal and lively conversation, we’ll dive into how AI is transforming the industry, and what practical steps forward-looking leaders can take to start integrating it into their organizations.
About your hosts
Dan Fuwa is a banker and advisor focused on early-stage software and middle-market businesses. His experience across banking and startups gives him a unique operator-banker perspective. At HSBC Innovation Banking, he helps enterprise software founders and CFOs navigate their banking needs, drawing on prior roles at Docyt, Ordiant, SVB, and BofA.
Echo Zhong is a tech-forward CPA providing accounting, tax and advisory services for founders and modern business owners. She brings a blended perspective from 15 years of industry and startup operator expertise. As co-founder at Zhong & Sanchez, she implements modern tech stack and builds AI-native tools to help founders and business owners navigate through their financial future.
[SF]
[LA]
Twilio Presents: AI Magic on the Streets
Keep your eyes open during Tech Week—you might just spot our traveling magician 🪄! Dressed in full magic attire, he’ll be roaming the streets of San Francisco and popping into Tech Week events, ready to amaze.
Stop him when you see him and experience jaw-dropping magic tricks powered entirely by AI—each one custom-built with code. 🎩✨
We’ll be capturing the best reactions along the way, so you might even catch yourself in the buzz on social media. Don’t miss this chance to see tech, magic, and a little bit of wonder collide!
This event is a part of #SFTechWeek—a week of events hosted by VCs and startups to bring together the tech ecosystem. Learn more at www.tech-week.com.
[SF]
[LA]
Cross-Border Ventures: Bridge to Silicon Valley
How do founders from India and other countries build trust and attract investment in Silicon Valley? And how can US VCs discover and support the best cross-border ventures early?
This panel brings together venture capitalists, ecosystem builders, and cross-border founders to discuss the path-to-SF bridge: scaling products internationally, fundraising across markets, and navigating culture and capital.
Panelists:
Lisa Yu, Partner at 99VC: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisayu/
Stefan Krautwald, Managing Partner at Latin Leap https://www.linkedin.com/in/stefankrautwald/
Ellen Damaso, Venture Partner at Plus Ultra Capital Partner https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellendamaso/
Moderator – Sudha Reddy, VC in Residence, Lvl Up Ventures.
Seats are limited.
Who should attend: Founders expanding to the US, US investors exploring investments cross border, and ecosystem leaders looking to strengthen global startup ties.
This event is a part of #SFTechWeek—a week of events hosted by VCs and startups to bring together the tech ecosystem. Learn more at www.tech-week.com.
[SF]
[LA]
The Human Side of AI and Storytelling
The Human Side of AI and Storytelling
What Tech Can Learn from Entertainment About Engaging and Retaining Audiences
In a world where AI is reshaping how we create and consume content, the human element is more critical than ever. This session explores what tech leaders can learn from entertainment about the power of storytelling to drive engagement and retention—whether in learning, marketing, or product design. We’ll look at where AI adds value, where human creativity is irreplaceable, and how to bridge creative and technical mindsets to build experiences that truly connect.
Speakers
Linda Simensky is a renowned leader in animation and storytelling. Most recently, she was Head of Animation and Scripted Content at Duolingo, where she expanded the company’s character-driven stories and helped grow its hit Duolingo Stories product. Before Duolingo, she served as Head of Children’s Content at PBS, Senior Vice President of Original Animation at Cartoon Network (overseeing The Powerpuff Girls), and helped launch Nickelodeon’s pioneering animation slate, including Rugrats, Doug, Rocko’s Modern Life, and Hey Arnold! She is currently working on a book about her adventures in animation while teaching at the University of Pennsylvania.
Jackie Canino is the Chief Content Office at Xapa, where she leads content strategy, curriculum development, and narrative design. With over 15 years of experience in television, gaming, and interactive media, she specializes in creating engaging learning experiences that blend storytelling with professional and personal development.
This event is a part of #SFTechWeek—a week of events hosted by VCs and startups to bring together the tech ecosystem. Learn more at www.tech-week.com.
"This session will be fully virtual. Please join us via this Zoom link: https://xapa.zoom.us/j/81102660698?pwd=hd0AVGGehyAWvO6B2FXx4LjUwwKrtJ.1&jst=2
We look forward to seeing you at Tech Week!"
[SF]
[LA]
Part Man? Part Machine? The Future of Manufacturing
[SF]
[LA]
B2B Growth Playbook: Buyer Journey
You’ve built an MVP, launched your website, and maybe landed your first few customers through personal outreach or a handful of experiments. Now what?
Join Tony Yang, Head of Growth at Mucker Capital, for a tactical session designed for early-stage B2B founders. In this talk, Tony will break down the Buyer Journey Framework—a powerful approach to delivering the right message to the right audience at the right time.
You’ll walk away with a clear understanding of how to map your messaging & content strategy, align your GTM efforts with the buyer’s perspective, and start building a growth engine that actually works.
Note:
This session is designed for B2B startup founders. Space is limited, and preference will be given to early-stage founders. Final location details will be shared upon approval.
Sponsored by JPMorgan and Michael Best.
By submitting this form, you agree to receive communications from Mucker and sponsors.
By registering for and attending this event, you consent to potentially being photographed or recorded during the session. These materials may be used by Mucker Capital and its partners for marketing and promotional purposes.
If you do not consent to being photographed or recorded, please withdraw your RSVP prior to the event.
This event is a part of #LATechWeek—a week of events hosted by VCs and startups to bring together the tech ecosystem. Learn more at www.tech-week.com.
[SF]
[LA]
Building AI workflow editor in React with Workflow Builder SDK
Join us to learn how to build Zapier-style interface in days, not months 🚀
Discover how to save 1,000+ hours of coding and design while creating rich, interactive workflow editors that can be customized for AI orchestration, customer success automations, digital employees, and other real-world workflow needs. Leverage our engineering and product design expertise—plus a robust ecosystem of plugins—to accelerate your work.
This event will feature:
• Demos of the Workflow Builder SDK in real-world use cases
• Overview of current diagramming technologies.
• Fireside chat with AI builders and early adopters
Led by: Łukasz Jazwa, CTO of Workflow Builder
This event is a part of #LATechWeek—a week of events hosted by VCs and startups to bring together the tech ecosystem. Learn more at www.tech-week.com.
[SF]
[LA]
TechFix: Cocktails & Creator Chats
[SF]
[LA]
Energy to Build: Navigating the U.S. as a Global Founder + Padel Free Play
[UPDATE: We’ll have immigration attorney Sophie Alcorn join us to answer all your questions about visas and green cards.]
👋 Moved to the U.S. to build or work in tech? This event is built for you.
You know how much energy gets drained on visas, housing, credit, healthcare, all the basics. That's the real opportunity gap.
Oyster is reshaping it with AI + community, so you can protect your most valuable resource: your focus & energy.
📅 ABOUT THE EVENT:
At Oyster, we believe the best hacks come from each other. That’s why our first event for #SFTechWeek is all about building energy together.
This night isn’t just Oyster → you. It’s people <> people: peers sharing hacks, stories, and energy while connecting on and off the padel court.
We’ll share insider tips, play some padel (all levels welcome), and connect with people who truly get the journey.
✅ ATTENDEE TAKEAWAYS:
• Learn what sets back global founders & hires in the U.S.
• Walk away with hacks to save time, energy, and resources.
• Experience Oyster’s community-first approach: the power of people helping each other.
• Play padel at Bay Padel — Silicon Valley’s “new hotspot for tech networking” (SF Standard & CBS). All levels welcome.
• Close the night with a relaxed brewery hang in Dogpatch.
Space is limited (30 spots). RSVP fast to save your spot!
This event is a part of #SFTechWeek—a week of events hosted by VCs and startups to bring together the tech ecosystem. Learn more at www.tech-week.com.
[SF]
[LA]
Founder Flow: Morning Yoga w/ Cake Equity
We’re excited to invite you to Founder Flow—a unique morning experience for #LATechWeek designed to rejuvenate your body, mind, and network, brought to you by Cake Equity and the incredible team at Cooley LLP.
🌅 Start Your Day with Sunrise Yoga:Kick off the morning with a serene yoga session led by our own Britt de Visser, Cake’s resident Yoga Instructor. Whether you're a seasoned yogi or a curious beginner, this session on Cooley’s stunning rooftop, with panoramic beach views, will leave you feeling energized and centered. We’ve got umbrellas for shade :)
☕ Coffee & Conversations (& Açaí Bowls):After yoga, stay for coffee, açaí bowls, and engaging conversations with fellow founders and investors. This is your chance to forge meaningful connections and share ideas with a vibrant community of entrepreneurs.
📅 Date: Wednesday, October 15th, 2025
🕘 Time: 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
📍 Location: The rooftop at Cooley LLP
🎟️ Registration: Spots are limited, so be sure to reserve yours today!
Whether you’re looking to relax, connect, or simply enjoy the morning in good company, Founder Flow is the perfect way to start your day. Don’t miss out on this refreshing and inspiring experience!
We can’t wait to see you there! 🌟
Cake is an easy-to-use equity management platform, built for scaling startups. Cake lets you set up your cap table quickly, keep your team motivated in real time, and offers straightforward pricing with hands-on support whenever you need it. Over 20,000 startups around the world trust Cake, along with the leading startup partners across VC, Accounting, HR, and Legal. Best of all, it’s free to get started—no credit card required.
Cooley LLP is a leading law firm that partners with entrepreneurs, startups, and investors to help them succeed in today's competitive marketplace. With a deep focus on technology and life sciences sectors, Cooley provides comprehensive legal services across all stages of growth, from formation to fundraising, scaling, and beyond. Known for its innovative approach and startup-friendly culture, Cooley has helped shape the success stories of many of the world's most transformative companies.
🔥 Space is limited. Please RSVP if wish to join us or wish to nominate someone else from your company to attend.
This event is a part of #LATechWeek - a week of events hosted by VCs and startups to bring together the tech ecosystem.
Santa Monica Striking, Luri Inc.
[SF]
[LA]
Self-Defense in Law and the Streets
Santa Monica
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Santa Monica Striking, Luri Inc.
[SF]
[LA]
Founders & Funders on the Coast with Qapita
Join us for an evening of curated networking over drinks and bites at Founders & Funders On The Coast, part of LA Tech Week. This invite-only gathering brings together startup founders, investors, and ecosystem leaders driving innovation and growth.
Whether you're looking to exchange ideas, explore partnerships, or expand your network, this is the room to be in. Expect a relaxed setting, sharp minds, and impactful conversations.
About the Hosts
Qapita (https://www.qapita.com) enables startups to streamline equity and ownership management across the lifecycle.
Event Details
📅 When: October 14, 2025
📍 Where: [TBD]
🗓️ Part of: #LATechWeek – a city-wide celebration of innovation hosted by startups and VCs.
This event is a part of #LATechWeek—a week of events hosted by VCs and startups to bring together the tech ecosystem. Learn more at www.tech-week.com.
[SF]
[LA]
Immigration for Founders and First Hires
Key immigration approaches every startup should be aware of when founders or early team members require immigration or visa support.
Join David Zaritzky Brown, Founder and Managing Partner of Brown Immigration Law, and Ryan Kelly, Partner at Brown Immigration Law, for a lunch and learn opportunity where they will walk through key visa classifications that new and growing startups commonly use to support their teams.
He will discuss visa and travel issues, maintaining immigration status during this period of increased immigration enforcement, and highlight green card options available to founders and early hires.
David will be taking questions from the audience at the end if attendees have any questions.
Also, enjoy some free lunch - it's on us!
📆 Agenda
11:30AM: CHECK-IN
12:00PM: PRESENTATION STARTS
12:40PM: Q/A
1:05 PM: 10 Minute 1-1 Opportunity
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More about Brown Immigration Law
Brown Immigration Law is one of the 30 largest business immigration firms serving the North American market, dedicated exclusively to employment-based immigration. We guide employers and foreign talent through every stage of the U.S. immigration process—from nonimmigrant visas to permanent residency—offering tailored, high-quality solutions at every step. Unlike larger or multi-practice firms, immigration is our core focus. We pride ourselves on delivering creative, responsive, and effective strategies for a wide range of clients, from fast-growing startups to established global companies.
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This event is a part of #SFTechWeek—a week of events hosted by VCs and startups to bring together the tech ecosystem. Learn more at www.tech-week.com.
[SF]
[LA]
Ugly Talk: Design Founder Takeover
Join us for an unfiltered panel discussion exploring what happens when designers take the lead and don’t wait for permission to build. Design Founder Takeover brings together a bold lineup of founders who started their careers in design and are now leveraging AI to build companies from the ground up.
This conversation will dive deep into the unique vantage point of design-led founders: how their design intuition shapes product thinking, what it means to prototype with AI as your cofounder, and how they navigate building, scaling, and fundraising as non-technical founders in a tech-dominated space.
Whether you're a designer dreaming of starting something or just curious about what it looks like when creativity meets code, this is the panel you don’t want to miss.
Who Should Attend: Designers, founders, builders, product thinkers, AI experimenters, and anyone curious about the evolving role of design in startup creation.
🎤 Who’s on the Panel
Izac Ross - Founder & CEO of Haven Headache & Migraine Center
Izac Ross is the founder and CEO of Haven Headache & Migraine Center, a virtual-first clinic reimagining how millions access expert headache care. Living with migraine since childhood, he brings a rare blend of patient perspective and healthcare innovation experience from Hinge Health, Alto Pharmacy, and Collective Health. At Haven, Izac is building AI-enabled tools and care models that help patients track progress, reduce disability, and find relief. A former product designer, he is endlessly curious about what people need to thrive. Outside of work, Izac enjoys hiking with his dog Parker, ceramics, live music, and biking.
Kris Woyzbun - Co-Founder & CEO of Gumption
Kris Woyzbun is a 2X tech founder and product design executive based in Palo Alto, California. Having held leadership roles at Google, SSENSE, EDITR, and IDEO, and with recognition from IDSA Awards and NVIDIA, Kris's work focuses on building companies and products in consumer technology. Currently building Gumption, an AI Home Design Companion.
Fifi Kara - Co-Founder & CEO of Aster
Fifi Kara is originally from London, now in San Francisco, Fifi has 10 years building consumer and B2B products across the UK, Europe, and US. Most recently at Meta, she led Design for Health & Fitness (AR/VR), was a Staff Designer for Messenger (150M MAUs), and pioneered Workrooms Web. As a two-time founder and early startup hire, she has focused on 0-1 building and scaling. She co-founded a YC-backed fintech in 2019 and joined Bulb as an early design hire, growing usage from 100K to 1.4M MAUs. Fifi is a LSE graduate, Fulbright Scholar and is self-taught in product design and front-end engineering.