In the quest to gain investor and community interest, one of the hallmarks of how Los Angeles area startups approach networking with the community is that they're more likely to demo and mix and mingle at a nightclub or hip hangout, rather than sit through a stuffy, formal daytime conference. READ MORE>>. MORE >>

StartEngine , the startup accelerator headed by Howard Marks, is launching its newest class of startups today in a private event in Santa Monica. crosscampus activision demoday accelerator demo startengineThe eight startups are pitching their investors to startups at CrossCampus in Santa Monica this afternoon. READ MORE>>. MORE >>

San Diego's EcoATM , the developer of kiosk-based buyback of consumer electronics, has scored one of the top prizes at the DEMO conference in Palm Springs. The firm was named a DEMOgod winner, one of the top seven firms to pitch at the launch event. ecoatm demo consumer electronics kiosk buyback conference launchREAD MORE>>. MORE >>

The second major startup launch event this month, DEMOfall 09, kicks off next week in San Diego, with four Southern California firms among the list of 56 companies slated to present at the conference. will all be presenting at the event next week sometime. The event follows TechCrunch50, which was earlier this week. MORE >>

DEMO , the technology company launch conference which has traditionally been held in Palm Springs or the San Diego area, is moving its conference to the San Francisco Bay Area, new executive producer Matt Marshall announced today. DEMO has been held outside of the Bay Area for its entire history. MORE >>