Pre-LA Tech Week fireside chat: Mike Jones (Science) and Dan Negari (.XYZ)
- Date
- 2025-10-10
- Location
- Santa Monica, CA, USA
- Host
- L.A. Tech Events
About this event
If you care about where technology, media, branding, and internet identity are heading next, this is the kind of conversation worth showing up for in person. Ahead of LA Tech Week, this fireside chat brings together Mike Jones of Science and Dan Negari of .XYZ for an evening built around sharp ideas, candid perspective, and the kind of networking that happens best when the room is full of curious, ambitious people. Set in Santa Monica on Thursday, October 9 at 5:30 PM PDT, this event is designed to feel both substantive and social. You will hear directly from two leaders with distinctive vantage points on company-building and the evolving tech landscape, then have the chance to connect with others in the community who are also paying attention to what comes next. About the Event This is an in-person pre-LA Tech Week fireside chat featuring Mike Jones and Dan Negari. The format is intentionally straightforward: a focused onstage conversation followed by the kind of open, high-signal mingling that makes a local tech gathering actually useful. Rather than a packed schedule with too many moving pieces, the event centers on one strong live discussion. That makes it a good fit if you want depth over noise: a chance to listen to a thoughtful exchange, hear how experienced operators think, and then continue the conversation informally with people around you. Because it takes place just before LA Tech Week, the timing matters. It offers an early opportunity to get into the rhythm of the week, reconnect with familiar faces, and meet new ones before calendars get crowded. Expect a room shaped by overlapping interests across tech, startups, internet culture, community, and networking. Whether you are deeply plugged into LA's ecosystem or just starting to build your place in it, the event is positioned as an accessible entry point into the broader energy of the week. What to Expect The evening starts at 5:30 PM PDT in Santa Monica and is built around a live fireside chat format. That means a conversational session rather than formal presentations: less scripted, more nuanced, and better suited to honest discussion. You can expect the flow of the event to include: Arrival and check-in with time to settle in and meet other attendees A fireside conversation featuring Mike Jones and Dan Negari Community networking before and after the discussion An in-person atmosphere designed for real interaction, not passive attendance The conversation itself will likely be most valuable for people interested in how technology companies are built, how brands and platforms create relevance, and how founders and operators make decisions in changing markets. With two distinct perspectives on stage, the event should offer a useful contrast in how experienced people think about growth, timing, strategy, and staying adaptive. Beyond the session, expect the social side of the evening to matter. Pre-LA Tech Week events often work best as places to start conversations that continue throughout the week, and this one is well-positioned for exactly that. If you approach it with a little intention, you can leave not just with ideas, but with a stronger sense of who is building what around you. Why Attend A good fireside chat does more than deliver opinions; it gives you access to how experienced people frame problems. That is especially valuable if you are a founder, operator, investor, creative technologist, or simply someone trying to sharpen your read on where the industry is moving. This event offers a compact way to get several kinds of value in one evening. You get perspective from the stage, context from the room, and momentum from being in person with people who are actively participating in the LA tech community. A few reasons this event stands out: Relevant timing: it is a smart way to kick off your LA Tech Week connections early Strong format: one focused conversation is easier to engage with than a fragmented lineup High-context networking: you will be meeting people around a shared topic, not in a random crowd Local energy: Santa Monica is a natural setting for a tech community event with real in-person turnout If you are selective about events, this is appealing precisely because it is specific. It is not trying to be everything at once. It is a conversation-led gathering for people who want a better signal-to-noise ratio, both on stage and in the room. Practical Details The event is in person in Santa Monica, USA, on Thursday, October 9 at 5:30 PM PDT. Because the value here is as much about the room as the conversation itself, arriving on time is worth it; you will have a better chance to settle in, catch the full discussion, and make the most of early networking. This is best approached as an evening event rather than a quick stop. Give yourself enough space in your schedule to stay through the conversation and talk with people before heading out. The informal exchanges before and after the fireside chat may end up being just as useful as the onstage portion. A few simple ways to prepare: Come ready to introduce yourself clearly and say what you are working on Bring context, not a hard pitch if your goal is to meet people naturally Plan for conversation with attendees across startups, tech, community, and adjacent spaces Use it as a launch point for the rest of your LA Tech Week plans If you want an event that feels timely, well-placed, and genuinely connected to the local tech community, this is a strong way to start the week early.
Who should attend
This is for you if you want more than a generic meetup and would rather spend your time around thoughtful people, relevant conversation, and real community momentum before LA Tech Week fully begins. - **You are a founder, startup operator, or builder** who wants to hear how experienced leaders think about technology, growth, and positioning in a changing market. - **You work in tech, media, branding, or internet infrastructure** and are interested in the intersection of company-building, identity, and how digital platforms create influence. - **You are part of the LA startup ecosystem** and want an early-week gathering where you can reconnect with peers, meet new collaborators, and get oriented before larger events take over the calendar. - **You are an investor, advisor, or community connector** looking for a concentrated room of engaged people rather than a broad, low-context crowd. - **You are new to LA Tech Week or expanding your network** and want an accessible event where the format makes it easier to start conversations naturally. - **You prefer intimate, conversation-driven events** over panels with too many speakers or networking nights with no real focal point.