INNOVATE PASADENA Launches, Strives to Unify Local Tech Efforts

What began as an informal idea eight months ago with tech and business leaders talking about what the private sector could do to bolster the local economy has gelled into a group called INNOVATE PASADENA that launched Thursday night at the reborn Twin Palms restaurant in Old Pasadena.

“As a serial tech entrepreneur and resident to Pasadena, I couldn’t be more excited to help breathe new economic life into our city that has a rich tech and design legacy,” said Andy Wilson, CEO of Rexter and Co-Chair of INNOVATE PASADENA. “I know Pasadena has the infrastructure to become the leading innovation community, we created INNOVATE PASADENA to get organized and activated.”

The board is made up of local leaders from Art Center College of Design, Caltech, City of Pasadena, The Design Accelerator, Idealab, Materia, Pasadena Angels, Rexter, and other companies and co-chaired by IP founders Andy Wilson and Mike Giardello. The group will promote local opportunities, share resources and foster connections between local institutions, businesses and investors. Those interested should visit innovatepasadena.org to get involved.

“As a Caltech spin-off, Materia has made Pasadena its home and has benefitted from its ongoing relationship with Caltech and local support from the city of Pasadena,” said Mike Giardello, CEO of Materia and Co-Chair of IP. “INNOVATE PASADENA will provide the additional structure and support needed to accelerate innovation within and between the world-class institutions in our own backyard. We want the world to know Pasadena is the place for innovation across a number of commercially important sectors, from IT to design and from material science to life science.”

For an extended list of data points and infographic about Pasadena and its institutions, visit innovatepasadena.org.