On June 20th, East Bay EDA hosted the second Meet the Innovators event at Diablo Valley College – San Ramon Campus. The event gathered an impressive array of attendees from various organizations across the Bay Area, including Contra Costa County Supervisor, Candace Andersen and other local elected officials from the cities of Lafayette, Hercules, and Dublin, as well as representatives from Chevron, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and a number of startups.
San Ramon, with its flourishing entrepreneurial environment, robust R&D capabilities, skilled workforce, and proximity to the rest of the Bay Area, served as an ideal location for the second Meet the Innovators event, which showcased pioneering organizations and celebrated the vibrant entrepreneurial community in the Tri-Valley region. The region has become a magnet for local startups and global companies alike, attracting a diverse range of organizations.
The Meet the Innovators event series aligns with East Bay EDA’s regional blueprint, East Bay Forward, which prioritizes comprehensive, equitable, and sustainable economic recovery post-pandemic. Supported by prominent sponsors such as Martinez Refining Company, the Workforce Development Board Contra Costa County, and Diablo Valley College, the event demonstrated the collective commitment to fostering innovation and economic growth in the area.
Attendees had the chance to hear from esteemed business leaders and past recipients of the East Bay Innovation Awards, an annual awards showcase that has recognized more than 180 East Bay companies in the last ten years. These distinguished speakers shared invaluable insights into the latest cutting-edge technologies and advancements within their respective industries. Attendees heard from panelists including: Tim Haile, Executive Director, Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA), Brian Turner, CEO, Buildings IOT, Jake Winters, Head of Impact, Monarch Tractor and Alysson Do, Vice President, Operations & Admin, Neural Propulsion Systems, Inc.
East Bay EDA is also proud to highlight innovative community impact organizations as part of its Meet the Innovators event series, including Be A Mentor, Scientific Adventures for Girls, CoBiz Richmond, and more.
Alysson Do of Neural Propulsion Systems, Inc. shared the company’s inspiring journey, from its humble beginnings in San Ramon to becoming a driving force in the industry. Alysson emphasized their commitment to establishing their headquarters in the East Bay, attracting top-tier talent, and creating a prosperous future within the region.
Jake Winters, representing Monarch Tractor, spoke about their innovative approach to sustainable and profitable farming. Monarch Tractor’s groundbreaking self-driving Electric Tractor has the potential to revolutionize food production by providing farmers with connected data for optimizing crop maintenance. Jake highlighted the advantages of being located in the East Bay, including access to talent, commercial resources, and a vibrant agricultural community.
Thank you to all who joined us! We hope you will join us on July 19th for Meet the Innovators Richmond! Register here.