The LA Tech Week schedule is officially out, and Los Angeles is about to become one big playground for founders, investors, builders, creators, and everyone pushing tech forward. Schedule

From October 12–18, expect a packed week of conversations, ideas, unexpected connections, and some very good parties.

Clear the calendar. Charge the phone. See you around LA.

THURSDAY, SEPT 17

​Join an evening with the people building some of today's most recognized consumer brands. Hear firsthand how leaders from FINAL BOSS SOUR and PAIR OF THIEVES, and more are thinking about brand, creativity, culture, product, and growth in today's fast-changing market.

Whether you're a founder, creator, marketer, investor, or simply obsessed with great brands, BRAND POPUP is where you'll find real conversations, practical insights, and meaningful connections with the people shaping what's next. REGISTER

LA Tech Week doesn’t end when the panels do.

Join us for AFTERHOUR, a tech social gathering in Santa Monica bringing together founders, investors, operators, builders, and the people shaping LA’s tech community. No panels. No pitches. Just good people, better conversations, drinks, and a chance to connect outside the conference room.

Plenty of FOOD all night!

📍 Santa Monica, CA
📅 October 13, 2026 (TUESDAY)
⏰ 5:00–9:00 PM

Come for an hour. Stay for the AFTERHOUR. JOIN US

If you’ve been paying attention lately, you’ve probably noticed that Los Angeles is obsessed with coffee shops.

Blank Street, a coffee chain from Brooklyn, is the newest addition to the city. It’s known for its colorful matcha drinks as much as its coffee. After gaining fans in New York and London, the brand has opened in Studio City and plans to expand. With its eye-catching drinks, simple stores, and fun flavors, Blank Street seems like a natural fit for Los Angeles.

But the trend goes beyond just one coffee chain.

All over Los Angeles, coffee is turning into both an affordable treat and a way for people to show their style. Menus now feature espresso alongside strawberry matcha, banana cream lattes, Vietnamese coffee, Yemeni qishr, and drinks topped with thick, flavored cream. Cafés in neighborhoods like Koreatown, Silver Lake, and Westwood are taking inspiration from places like Seoul, Tokyo, Melbourne, Mexico City, and the Middle East.

What’s behind this trend? Younger customers are looking for more than just caffeine. They want drinks they can customize, something new, and something that looks good in photos. Matcha, with its bright green color and healthy image, is a perfect match. Couplet, a café started at UCLA, even shaped its menu with feedback from TikTok and Instagram followers. Los Angeles Times

The city’s culture also plays a role. In Los Angeles, everyday habits often become part of a lifestyle. Cafés are now more than just places to get coffee; they’re workspaces, meeting spots, fashion backdrops, and neighborhood hangouts. Even the coffee you carry can show your style and hint at where you live.

Blank Street gets this new way of thinking. Its sweet and easy-to-enjoy matcha drinks attract more than just coffee fans and make buying a drink feel special. Still, as the chain grows, it brings up an old question: Can big chains grow alongside the independent cafés that made L.A.’s coffee scene so creative?

For now, there’s room for both. Los Angeles isn’t just having a coffee boom; it’s changing what a coffee shop, and even coffee itself, can mean.

Essential information for founders, creators, and tech professionals.

We highlight roles from founders, brands, and operators in our network who are actively hiring. If you’re looking to join a high-growth team, this is where you start.

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Hiring? Email us ([email protected]) to feature your open roles and connect with our community.

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About LA Related

LA Related is a newsletter by Schmoozd, which hosts offline networking events for professionals in the Los Angeles area. Schmoozd was founded in 2009 and now has over 30K+ subscribers.

Each week, we drop a curated list of LA's most happenings into your inbox. From exclusive pop-ups to killer events, we keep you ahead of the curve.