Friday, December 27, 2019
Reflections on 2019: Greg Monterrosa, Startup Community Leader
Every year, at the end of the year, we share some reflections on the past year from our readers, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, sponsors, and others in the local technology community. Today, we share the thoughts of Greg Monterrosa,a startup community leader who is currently Startup Weekend organizer, facilitator, and mentor and was a former Founder of MyLLC.com and Hub101.
What was the biggest news for you/your company this year?
The continued growth of startup communities in Los Angeles. Spaces like LACI, Vector90, Toolbox, Grid110, and Hub101 are vital to the economy and the communities. I am excited for the big moves being made in Los Angeles. What’s happening in regions in our counties with startup and entrepreneurial activity, especially in the Conejo Valley (Calabasas to Thousand Oaks) is exciting. Many jobs have been created and companies have received funding through our efforts of supporting and bringing value to founders. I am now working towards the expansion of my startup community-building efforts in other parts of Los Angeles and Ventura County. This year was a year of impact for me.
What new technology area, startup, service, or app did you find most interesting or useful this year, and why?
Most useful has to be voice command devices for me this year. I find myself using these more and more regularly. They simply make my life more effective. Most interesting will have to be TikTok; it’s becoming a force to be reckoned with to reach an engaged audience in the marketing and influencer world.
What was the biggest lesson you learned this year?
That you can’t do it alone. It takes a community of supporters, connectors, mentors, and doers to make it happen.
What are you most looking forward to in the technology/startup world in 2020?
AI is exciting, I love seeing the energy groups like AI LA, and companies like Beyond Limits are bringing our city. Their platform mimics human thought processes and provides explainable reasoning to aid human-like decision-making. I’m a huge fan of hardware as well.
Greg Monterrosa is currently Startup Weekend organizer, facilitator, and mentor and was a former Founder of MyLLC.com and Hub101, and has been very active in supporting and advancing entrepreneurship, innovation, and economic development in the local area. You can find him at GregMonterrosa.com