Los Angeles is a key center for tech and entrepreneurship, driven by its major universities. Caltech produced a âfounding fatherâ of artificial intelligence and USC's Viterbi School collaborates with industry and has produced companies like Riot Games.
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University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
UCLA is a major source of tech talent in LA, granting approximately 2,000 engineering degrees from Bachelorâs of Science to Ph.D.s annually. The university fosters innovation through:
- Startup UCLA: An on-campus accelerator program that provides mentorship, funding, and resources to student entrepreneurs.
- Anderson School of Management: Offers entrepreneurship programs and hosts startup competitions.
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University of Southern California (USC)
USC is another key player in developing LA's tech workforce offering numerous programs and resources for aspiring entrepreneurs, including the Viterbi Startup Garage, USC Stevens Center for Innovation, and the Lloyd Greif Center for Entrepreneurial Studies, which provides over 68 entrepreneurship courses taught by 27 professors and practitioners.The university fosters innovation through:
- USC Marshall School of Business: Runs programs focused on entrepreneurship and innovation.
- USC Viterbi School of Engineering: Collaborates with industry partners on cutting-edge research and technology development.
- USC Stevens Center for Innovation: Helps commercialize USC research and supports faculty startups.
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California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
Caltech is a significant contributor to the tech talent pool in Los Angeles, producing around 600 graduates annually across various STEM fields, with a large portion likely in engineering disciplines. Additionally, Caltech alumni have founded 238 startup companies between 1995 and 2016, with 35% still active as of 2016, demonstrating the institution's strong support for entrepreneurship and innovation in the region. The university fosters innovation through:
- Caltech Entrepreneurs Club: This student-run organization aims to develop Caltech's startup ecosystem through educational speaker series, networking events, and collaboration with administration to establish a founder-friendly environment.
- Caltech Innovation Center: Provides startups with space to test, develop, grow, and commercialize deep technology ideas collaboratively.
Companies Founded by Caltech Alumni: Intel by Gordon Moore, Quora by Adam DâAngelo, and John McCarthy one of the âfounding fathersâ of Artificial Intelligence
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Pepperdine University
Pepperdine University contributes to Los Angeles' tech talent pool through its strong entrepreneurship programs and MBA offerings that emphasize innovation and startup development. 33% of its MBA students are actively working on startups during their studies and 85% are aspiring to start businesses
- Pepperdine Graziadio Business School: Offers entrepreneurship programs and hosts startup competitions.
Companies Founded by Pepperdine Alumni: Eventbrite by Julia Hartz
These universities are crucial in developing LA's tech talent pool, offering programs that bridge the gap between academia and industry. Their initiatives in entrepreneurship and partnerships with local startups are helping to create a robust tech ecosystem in Los Angeles.
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