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Arcadia Weekly Jan 07, 2020
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ByBrenda J. Trainor
MADIA Tech Launch is a nonprofit educational organization that promotes a productive, and often entertaining, local ecosystem of entrepreneurs, scientists, practitioners, experts, and plain ol’ geeks and nerds who share an interest in all things “techie.”
For over five years, MADIA has hostedmeetings, seminars, coffees and events that showcase the abundance of localtechnology companies that contribute significantly to our local economy. Theorganization also serves as a network for communicating and learning about newtechnologies and business opportunities in our region. The organization isready to leap into 2020 to see what the future holds.
MADIA — which stands for Monrovia, Arcadia,Duarte, Irwindale, and Azusa — has the support of municipal governments andchambers of commerce in the pursuit of common interests: like attracting newtechnology businesses, encouraging their growth and success, and promoting thesuccesses of those already established.
MADIA Tech Launch has highlighted anincredible range of local tech businesses that operate from the far reaches ofour planetary system to the depths of our oceans to the inner workings of ourbodies’ cells.
In just the last year, MADIA meetingshad businesses with people and technologies that facilitate robotic operationson Mars, use lasers to drive cars, synthesize DNA, teach kindergarteners andphysicians to grow stem cells, find new ways to detect disease, create themeans to securely record and analyze sensitive personal data, and learn to payfor it all digitally using blockchain technologies.
Some of the businesses who made presentations inthe last year are: MOTiVSpace Systems, CamenaBio Science, FinTech Connector,SiLC,PACE Diagnostics,Pathways to Stem CellScience, NextGateSolutions, and OakCrest Institute.
“Our meetings offer both education and a chanceto get to know people,” said Bruce Lathrop, MADIA Board president. “Ourmeetings are typically ‘dinner and a show’ featuring an interestingpresentation and an affordable meal, followed by social gathering at a localpub.” Sometimes the meetings take place on-site at the laboratories ormanufacturing operations of these cool tech operations.
The group has fun too! Monrovians mayremember the group of white-coated laboratory scientists —the MADIA geeks on parade — who gave away test tubes of candy duringthe Holiday Parade last December.
MADIA has no membership fees, but some meetings have a charge to cover the meal costs, and anyone can associate and communicate with the group by signing up on its MADIA Tech Launch Group LinkedIn page.
Looking forward to events in2020, MADIA will continue with regular monthly meetings, and in Marchwill host “MADIA: BioTech 2020,” a special series of presentationsfocusing on health science and research, one of the emerging technologybusiness strengths here in the heart of the San Gabriel Valley.
