Serving while Serving: Growing LA's Tech Community through Pickleball

Building a sense of community is the key to achieving success. I sponsor Elana Gold's tournaments because she does an amazing job of bringing people together in a natural and community-driven way. These events help folks connect over mutual interests, share insights, and offer assistance absent any pressure. Elana's charisma and thoughtful community-building efforts have propelled the success of her vibrant event series.

The bunch that gets together typically comprises founders, asset managers, and experts in various fields who want to let loose, share some laughs, and de-stress by breaking a sweat.

While many emphasize the concept that your network defines your net worth, I believe the true magic of these events lies in the fact that some of the most profound insights often surface in informal settings.

You're more likely to provide a straightforward response to "What are your thoughts on this trend?" to someone you've developed a connection with while playing pickleball, as opposed to being at a dinner table with six others, all watching, and expecting you to deliver some brilliant insight. The essence of truth often emerges from these candid insights, which can provide more meaningful answers to questions than what might typically be achieved in a formal dinner setting.

With that in mind, dinner meetings remain essential networking platforms and a central focus of mine. That's why I'm supporting this event to ensure we maintain a high caliber of attendees.

I'm actively creating a community by hosting a dinner series where asset allocators and founders can gather, enjoy a meal, have a great time, and gain insights from peers who are on similar journeys.

I've learned that I have the most success when I pitch ideas in an informal setting, just like the pitch I recently made for the UCLA UNEX coursework I teach to a group of computing enthusiasts. There's something about a succinct 60-second pitch that seems to resonate more effectively than even a brilliant 60-minute presentation.

As a lifelong Los Angeleno, I'm also deeply fond of and committed to Los Angeles, and I'm dedicated to nurturing the tech community in the "Silicon Beach" region, which stretches from Santa Monica down to LA's South Bay.

Positioned at the intersection of technology and media, LA is swiftly solidifying its status as a thriving startup hub, characterized by a culture of collaboration rather than cutthroat competition.

The flexibility for individuals to live where they choose and work remotely has attracted many of my friends who've moved from San Francisco, Seattle, and Portland to LA. We're delighted to enjoy the benefits of this regional brain drain to the beach! Together, we're dedicated to forging a united front through collaboration to tackle the high cost of living, a challenge affecting every major city with a significant tech presence or year-round sunshine.

If you're an investor (whether a full-time angel investor, venture capitalist, or asset manager) or a founder (whether bootstrapped or venture-backed with up to $1 million in annual revenue), we host an invited dinner series in Westwood that I'd be thrilled to provide you with more details about.

I'm eager to connect with you on a personal level and discuss my dedication to fostering the growth of LA's tech ecosystem, where the most promising ideas have the chance to thrive in one of the best places to live.

Click: Investor or Founder or subscribe to our substack below.