Upfront Summit has evolved from LA's premier tech conference into arguably the nation's best, period. This year's gathering at the tech-forward Intuit Dome showcased LA's resilience and innovation when it mattered most. The lineup? Simply stellar: tech visionaries like Dara Khosrowshahi (Uber), Aravind Srinivas (Perplexity), and David Baszucki (Roblox) alongside Chelsea Clinton, Olympian Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Rick Caruso, Gavin Newsom, Prince Harry, and Serena Williams (to name a few) — proving that LA truly sits at the intersection of tech, culture, and influence.
Bonfire was thrilled once again to play a small part in the week's festivities by hosting the Day 1 afterparty. Each year, we aim to make this event better than the last, creating the perfect atmosphere for summit conversations to evolve into something more personal. The interactions had the easy flow of old friends catching up—more reunion than business function, exactly the vibe we aim for.
Leaning into the LA street culture that the summit embraced, we brought in Pezer, the LA-based street artist, who created live art throughout the evening. Street tacos, churros, and graffiti transformed a networking event into a night to remember.
A massive thank you to our partners - Gunderson, Stifel Venture Banking, Aduro Advisers, AWS, and Countsy. Their dedication to founders and the venture community goes beyond just this event, and we're grateful for their partnership in making nights like these happen. And of course, thank you to our friends at Upfront Ventures for creating such a remarkable summit year after year.
Beyond the night's festivities, we're proud to share that the LA Tech Community Cares fund has now raised $1.2M and counting. Thank you to everyone who contributed—you're helping make a real impact.
In a year marked by both challenge and opportunity for Los Angeles, gatherings like these remind us why this city is so special. The conversations, connections, and creative collisions that happen when we come together aren't just good for business—they're what drive innovation and progress.
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