Stepping into the limelight earlier this month, Glendale Tech Week (GTW) showcased some of the city's leading tech innovators, creating a buzz about its growing tech community. Highlights included the Women in Tech Panel, the first-ever Chess Tournament, and the noteworthy Demo Day Pitchfest, with BrandLens emerging as the triumphant victor, as mentioned on Glendale Government website.
Hosted from September 12-14, GTW witnessed more than 2,000 attendees hailing from the local and regional tech industry. This vibrant event was a collaborative effort by the Glendale Economic Development team, local tech leaders, investors, and education partners. The aim was to spark new connections, share ideas, and celebrate Glendale's burgeoning tech landscape, as noted by Deputy Director of Economic Development Soua Vang.
Lauded as a significant achievement of Glendale's tech initiative, GTW is now in its 8th year. The growth of this annual event reflects its importance in fostering community building and inspiring the next generation of tech innovators. Glendale is now home to over 1,500 tech firms employing more than 20,000 individuals. This dynamic tech ecosystem includes three unicorns - ServiceTitan, Age of Learning, and Legal Zoom - as well as two tech accelerators, Hero House and the Children's Hospital Los Angeles KidX Digital Health Accelerator.
Topping the week's events was Hero House's sponsored and hosted Demo Day Pitchfest, which put early-stage startups in the spotlight. Participants presented their innovative ideas to a rapturous panel of judges and potential investors. In a thrilling turn of events, BrandLens clinched the winning title at the Pitchfest competition. BrandLens, a cutting-edge B2B SaaS platform, empowers businesses to crowdsource authentic, engaging, and fun branded video stories directly from their community, customers, and loyal fans. The startup is now poised to benefit from a prize package valued at a staggering $139,500.
GTW drew to a close with a celebratory Closing Party & Tech Awards, where BrandLens' victory was officially announced, winning this prestigious title in the fiercely contested competition. The ceremony also featured a commendation from the Mayor to Disney for its 100th Anniversary celebration and ongoing investment in the city of Glendale. Furthermore, a video presentation proudly exhibited some of Glendale's leading tech firms, capturing the essence of the city's thriving tech ecosystem.
