LA Tech Week returns October 12–18, 2026, with a packed calendar of founder meetups, panels, and parties. Looking to connect with the venture community? These five events hosted or co-hosted by a16z, Greycroft, Wonder Ventures, and Mucker Capital are worth a spot on your shortlist. All times are Pacific.

1. The Official a16z Tech Week Kickoff
Monday, October 12 · 6 PM · Santa Monica

Start the week with a16z Speedrun, HSBC, and Fenwick. Our pick for broad networking, the official kickoff is an opportunity to make introductions early and keep those conversations going throughout the week. Event details →

2. The Penmar Social: Tinder × Wonder Ventures
Monday, October 12 · 4–6 PM · Venice

Wonder Ventures and Tinder bring LA founders, operators, and investors together for a casual afternoon at The Penmar. Go for local connections and conversations with people building and investing across the city. Event details →

3. Adobe & Greycroft: Who Owns Creativity Now?
Tuesday, October 13 · 4 PM · Santa Monica

Greycroft co-founder and managing partner Dana Settle joins Adobe’s David Popowitz for a discussion about building and funding the next generation of creative companies. A strong choice for anyone working at the intersection of AI, media, and creator tools—with drinks and conversation alongside the panel. Event details →

4. AI Startup Disruption in Media & Entertainment
Monday, October 12 · 2–4 PM · Santa Monica

Hosted by Mucker Capital, this founder-focused panel tackles AI content ownership, likeness and consent, falling production costs, and selling into Hollywood. Go for practical perspectives from founders and operators navigating the business of AI in entertainment. Space is limited, with preference given to early-stage founders. Event details →

5. Full Sphere: Going Global with a16z’s Brian Roberts
Tuesday, October 13 · 4 PM · Marina del Rey

Thinking beyond the U.S. market? This event from a16z and Sphere puts international expansion on the agenda with a16z’s Brian Roberts. It’s worth considering for founders exploring what comes next as their businesses grow across borders. Event details →

Plan ahead: Greycroft and Full Sphere overlap, so choose based on your interests. Check each event’s registration requirements and latest details before heading out. Explore the full LA Tech Week calendar →

​Ready to turn data and AI into real business impact? Join DAMA Days 2026 on Friday, October 9, at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles for a full day of expert insights, practical sessions, and connections with fellow data professionals. Explore data strategy, governance, enterprise AI, and the human side of transformation, with lunch and an evening social included. Bring your questions and leave with ideas you can put to work.

FREE Tix: Register at https://damala.org/dama-days/register and enter the code SCHMZD at checkout.

Events worth going …

2027 is just around the corner. Here are the major events worth planning for now, especially if you’ll need to book flights and hotels before prices start climbing.

OpenAI Dots and Meta Muse both promise to bring order to the chaos, but they approach the job like very different assistants.

Dots is the meticulous planner. It sorts my tasks, spots patterns in my schedule, and probably labels every deadline by color, priority, and emotional urgency. If my life were a spreadsheet, Dots would be the one adding formulas and quietly fixing the formatting.

Muse is the improviser. It feels more like the assistant who walks into a disaster, takes one look around, and says, “Okay, here’s what we’re doing.” It may be better at brainstorming, adapting, and helping me turn a vague idea into something usable before I lose interest.

I tested them with the same challenge: manage my chaotic to-do list without making me “circle back.”

Dots gave me structure. It broke the list into steps, organized my priorities, and made the whole mess look almost manageable. The downside? Its careful approach made me feel like I had accidentally scheduled a performance review with my own calendar.

Muse gave me momentum. It helped me reframe the list, find shortcuts, and start with the tasks I was most likely to avoid. The downside? Its flexibility occasionally felt like permission to keep improvising instead of actually finishing anything.

So which bot would I hire?

For long-term organization, Dots wins. It is the better choice for someone who needs systems, reminders, and a gentle digital shove toward consistency.

For creative problem-solving, Muse takes the lead. It is more useful when the problem is messy, the instructions are vague, and the solution requires a little imagination.

But for managing my particular brand of chaos, I would hire both, if they could agree on who gets access to my calendar.

Dots would build the plan. Muse would rescue me when I ignored it. Together, they might turn my procrastination into something almost productive.

I’m still picking whichever one can finish my to-do list without asking me to “circle back.” My procrastination doesn’t need a cofounder.

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28 Wishes sells ice cream in Los Angeles. Below 70°F, sales fall about 20%. The weather is out of their hands. Rent isn't.

So the owners started putting about $20 a day into Kalshi weather markets, taking the cold side. The days that keep customers away now pay something back.

This is hedging. Big companies have done it for decades, buying protection against bad weather, fuel spikes and rising rates. It used to take a broker, a trading desk, and an order size no corner shop could meet.

Kalshi opens it up. Contracts on weather, fuel prices, inflation, tariffs and regulation, starting at a few dollars. Take a position on the outcome that would hurt you. If it hits, the payout softens it. If it doesn't, the contract expires and the good month was the point.

See how other owners are doing it at Kalshi.com/hedging

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