What's In A Name? Nothing and Everything Actually
by Rohit Shukla, larta CEO
The fervent attempts to develop regional identity around the world were inspired by the place and the business culture known as Silicon Valley. More often, they are nothing more than "Silicon Envy." The madness for us in Southern California, however, is mandatory.
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The Struggle for Siliconia, Part 1 of 3
Despite the fact that it has the largest concentration of activity and has generated more jobs than any other high tech region in the US, a combination of factors--dispersed geography and lingering perceptions of frivolity added to the earlier talk of the "death" of aerospace and the dominating presence of the entertainment industry--perpetuates Southern California's unique struggle with being taken seriously as a leading "siliconia."
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The Struggle for Siliconia, Part 2 of 3: The Sum of Its Parts, The Geographical Struggle
So, in attempting to establish itself as a high-tech center, Southern California has faced considerable difficulty, attributable in part to its geographical dispersion. Its unique map of scattered activity has caused a series of ripple effects, from the lack of coherent, consistent and available data from research institutions, to the relatively smaller amounts of investment money flowing in, from the effectiveness--and consistency--of government policy (in an area of multiple jurisdictions), to the essential sharing of resources.
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The Struggle for Siliconia, Part 3 of 3: Branding and Business, Chicken and The Egg
The general sentiment in the Southern California technology industry is that much of its potential has yet to be seen, despite its successes and growth. Although branding is still a major issue in getting the region on the radar of investors, media, and talent, there is a chicken and an egg issue that exists. Will the growth of business accelerate branding efforts, or will branding efforts accelerate business?
click here for the full article

Coming this fall from larta:
Southern California Technology Innovation Index 2002

larta will premiere its latest regional research report this fall, the Southern California Technology Innovation Index 2002, an update to the 2001 report which compared the growth and activity of the region's technology industry compared to other areas. An economic benchmark for the Southern California region, with hard data derived from various statistical indicators, such as numbers of companies and employees, educational resources, and investments, the new index will include both updated numbers and new sections on Santa Barbara and New York, as well as in-depth policy analysis.
Click here for more information on Southern California Technology Innovation Index 2001

Related Articles

Bashers are back: the electricity crisis has given critics of California a new opening to predict catastrophe
California-bashing, that great staple of the early 1990s, has returned. Emboldened by the state's embarrassing energy woes and the thundering crash of its dot-com economy, California's traditional detractors--Texas energy barons, Western economic-development officials and Eastern media moguls--are again predicting the state's imminent demise.
Click here for the full article from Joel Kotkin for The Los Angeles Times

State's economic strength has shifted to the Southland
Software executive Phil Ressler looked around recession-ravaged Southern California in the early '90s and used a four-letter word to describe his best career option: move.
Who could blame him? Better opportunities awaited elsewhere, and Ressler eventually made his way to Silicon Valley. These days, amid the malaise that has settled over the Bay Area, he's relocating again--to Southern California.
Click here for the full article from The Los Angeles Times

America's first third world city: Los Angeles (from October, 1992)
Remember the movie Blade Runner, set in a future LA, where expert practitioners of violence prowl the streets and everyone is in a rotten mood? On a balmy weekend late in August, 28 people were shot or stabbed to death and 24 were wounded. This was not the result of riots or a Hollywood screenplay.
Click here for the full article from Arizona Republic

larta in the news

Placing a call to middle earth
Using The Lord of the Rings to showcase its wide array of entertainment-based uses for its wireless handsets, a company in Finland will release games this summer based on the popular trilogy.
Click here for the full article from Wired Online

(These articles are from the Spanish-speaking news site La Opinion):

Ya no quedan ángeles (They are no longer angels)
El mercado de capital de riesgo se ha encogido; a diferencia de hace un año, las empresas que empiezan han de presentar sus proyectos a inversionistas especializados en la primera ronda de capitalización, también conocidos como ángeles.
Click here for the full article

Nacidas de la necesidad (Born out of need)
Bajo el paraguas de la tecnología, Las escuelas vocacionales están encontrando su sombra.
Click here for the full article

Position Open @ larta
Business development manager/account executive
larta is seeking a business development manager with sales and marketing experience. For more information, click here.

Meet, Mix and Mingle:

Highlight of Featured Events
This event bulletin is provided as a service by larta on behalf of various partner organizations and about events vetted and endorsed by larta.

July 31: Growth Capital Conference V
Meet over 50 executives from capital sources and dynamic growth trade companies. Featured panel discussions include mezzanine financing, mergers & acquisitions, trade financing and more. Registration and breakfast at 7:30 am, conference & deal display at 8:30-12:30 p.m. The Olympic Collection, West Los Angeles.
Click here for more information

August 6: WITI Happy Hour at The House of Blues
Please join the Los Angeles chapter of WITI for mixing and mingling with women in technology at the House of Blues. The Foundation Rooms are exclusive, "members-only" clubs at the House of Blues venue, offering relaxing bars, private rooms and intimate dining areas. Pieces from the largest collection of Outsider Art in the country and exquisite décor from around the world adorn the Foundation Rooms. This event is for WITI members only. Members are welcome to invite one guest. Not yet a WITI member? Join now and come to the Happy Hour for free!
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August 14: LAVA presents: Large Venture Capital Firms
Some of the largest venture capital funds in Southern California history have been created in just the past few years. Come hear the latest perspectives from these significant investors and how they plan to deploy their capital over the coming years. Speakers include Tom Clancy of Enterprise Partners; Jonathan Funk of Allegis Capital; William Quigley of Clearstone Venture Partners. 7-9:15am. Riviera Country Club, 1250 Capri Drive, Pacific Palisades.
Click here for more information

August 15: The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) Southern California chapter monthly meeting, featuring Moiz Beguwala, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Conexant Wireless
This dinner meeting and networking event will feature a speaking presentation by Moiz Beguwala, on "Wireless Technologies--1G, 2G, 2.5G, 3G - What does it all mean?" Join TiE members for an evening of Indian cuisine and networking with over 100 entrepreneurs and professionals from Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego County. 6-9pm, presentation begins at 7:30. Cerritos Sheraton. Pre-registration (Before Aug. 14): $30 for members, $40 for non-members. At the door: $35 for Members and $45 for non-members.
Click here for more information

August 23: The Big eSchmooze
In today's crazy technology climate, wouldn't it be nice to make important business connections while watching gliders take off over the Pacific? Isn't it great to meet potential business partners, customers and employees while watching a fabulous August sunset? If you haven't yet experienced the Big eSchmooze, the SDRTA's signature networking event, held only twice a year, now is your chance! The Big eSchmooze has become San Diego's most happening technology event, where 1,500 people are expected to come together in an extremely relaxed and creative setting and schmooze with potential investors, employers, service providers, start-ups and high-tech companies. 5:30-9pm, Torrey Pines Gliderport, 2800 Torrey Pines Scenic Drive, La Jolla. Free parking is available; valet parking will be available for a nominal fee. $25 pre-registered, $40 at the door.
Click here for more information

September 19-21: State Science and Technology Institute's (SSTI) Annual Conference: Creating Opportunity: Tools for Building Tech-Based Economies
With more than 20 sessions, this event will have something for everyone interested in tech-based economic development. This year, in addition to 12 great sessions on policies and practices for tech-based economic development, there are two new separate tracks of inter-related sessions on critical themes, Universities in Today's Tech-Based Economy and Resources for Building Tech-Based Economies. larta CEO Rohit Shukla will be a featured speaker at this high-profile event. September 19-21, Omni William Penn Hotel, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Price of admission varies.
click here for more information

October 18-19: FilmIT - Mark your calendars!
larta is proud to support the Film Information Technology Conference & Exposition (FilmIT), the premier, business-to-business event that examines the convergence of the Motion Picture and Technology Industries. FilmIT creates an unparalleled program for IT and film executives to explore the impact that cutting-edge technologies have on Hollywood through an extensive, senior level conference forum, keynote presentations, case studies, workshops, networking events, and vendor demonstrations.
Click here for more information

 

LA VOX is provided weekly as a free service to you by larta - the technology alliance for Southern California. LA VOX is made possible by the generous support of: Ernst and Young Akin Gump Technology Ventures Grubb and Ellis Mission Ventures State of California Technology Trade & Commerce Agency

Copyright © 2001 larta. All rights reserved. Please feel free to forward this newsletter to those who may be interested. Permission to quote any proprietary part of this material is granted given proper credit. Distribution is allowed provided that no modifications are made to the original content.