New Orleans welcomed Collision, the fastest growing technology conference in America, for the first time ever earlier this week. Attendees include CEOs of both the world’s fastest growing startups and the world’s largest companies, alongside leading investors and media.
The over 10,000 attendees descended on the city from all over the world from a wide range of industries.
Corporate Insight Strategy, a company I connected with yesterday at a women in technology discussion, provides strategic planning services to scaling companies. Under the name Merger Match, they provide non-financial due diligence services to companies proposing merger or acquisition. Their mission is to help good companies make the leap to fantastic.
Alese Stroud, founder of the company, said her favorite thing about Collision is the variety of ideas being presented. “There are so many world changers here. The problems they choose to solve and their approach to market is informative. Collision is such a global marketplace. I have met entrepreneurs from Canada, Finland, Mexico and Croatia, in addition to many states of the US.”
The California-based startup 420BusinessClub is a networking platform reserved for professionals in the cannabis industry. Founder Simone Cimiluca-Radzins shared insights into the platform yesterday alongside other ALPHA startups at Collision.
“With the daily expansion of the cannabis industry as talk increases and more and more states legalize it, the need to network and connect increases too,” said Cimiluca-Radzins. “420BusinessClub provides the solution by establishing a networking platform that is reserved for professionals involved in the cannabis industry who want to meet fellow professionals, promote themselves, and grow in the industry.”
In addition to the speakers, pitches and daytime networking opportunities, Collision hosts attendees at various bars throughout the city for their infamous Night Summit events.
Last night featured a New Orleans-inspired party hosted by Greater New Orleans, Inc. the regional economic development agency with other partners highlighting technology organizations in the Big Easy.
For those looking to get out of the downtown area, Propeller: A Force For Social Innovation is hosting their annual celebration of social entrepreneurs and pop-up restaurants. Propeller Pop will take place from 7:00 to 10:00 pm tonight with an investor hour kicking off at 6:00 pm.