LOS ANGELES, CA – The Los Angeles Internet sector is more positive about its outlook in 2009 than it was in 2008, according to a poll conducted for next week’s Twiistup 5 event (www.twiistup.com).
Fifty-seven percent of the Southern California start-ups surveyed said the health of the Internet industry in Los Angeles in 2009 will be better than 2008. A significant proportion of respondents, 71%, also said that LA is a better place to build a startup in the Web 2.0 and / or digital media space over the San Francisco / San Jose Bay area.
The major reason for people’s confidence in the LA Internet industry was primarily due to the convergence of media, entertainment and technology, enabling LA companies to better penetrate consumer markets (78%). The other top two reasons centered on increased opportunities to grow a business faster in LA / less barriers to entry / ‘politics’ (49%) and also better talent / easier to hire (25%). Other comments included easier and better access to venture capital funding and a thriving and positive, supportive peer network community.
An overwhelming 84% of respondents said that they were optimistic about their own career and / or their company’s growth in 2009. Half of those questioned come from companies that are profitable, a quarter from companies that are not profitable. The remainder described their organizations as “almost profitable.”
Lastly, nearly 50% of respondents are currently hiring, 43% of which are looking for full time help, 51% need to fill part time or consulting positions and almost half have internship slots open.
“The survey results are very encouraging for the state of the Los Angeles Web 2.0 industry, considering the general economic climate,” said Mike Macadaan, Twiistup founder. “The Internet industry is thriving in Los Angeles, driven by the crossover of entertainment and technology, very talented and creative people and good access to VC funding. Twiistup 5 is about 90% booked right now and we’re looking forward to a very successful, positive and productive event.”
“CyberCoders is seeing a surge of hiring. Currently, we have 3,000 jobs open on our Web site,” said Nitu Gulati-Pauly, director of recruiting for CyberCoders. “Even though the media has reported a lot of doom and gloom, we are seeing companies taking advantage of the current climate by adding top level talent to their staff. Some of the best known names in technology, like MySpace and Google, were built in a tougher economic climate. So, keep your eyes on the SoCal technology market, you never know what might emerge in 2009.”
Twiistup 5 will be held in a private hangar at the Santa Monica Airport in Santa Monica, Calif., at 7:00pm on February 12, 2009. Tickets are on sale now at www.twiistup.com/getin. Sponsors include CyberCoders, Tsavo, Chi.mp, Fit Planet, Whrrl, Intelligentsia Software, Heavybag Media, Marketwire, RockYou, Mail Room Fund, (mt) Media Temple, the Rubicon Project, Scour, Siemer & Assoc., Sun Startup Essentials, Yoono, Zannel and OVGuide.com. A limited amount of passes are available for media and bloggers. Media who would like to be considered should email twiistup@lewispr.com.
About Twiistup
Twiistup is the premier LA technology and media event, attracting the creative elite from all business verticals and horizontals in the area. Thousands of technologists from across the U.S. have turned out for Twiistup events, including: entrepreneurs, investors, media-planners, business development executives and content creators from the web, gaming, film, TV, live-events, music, print and mobile industries. Twiistup has been featured in media including LA Weekly and LA Times, among many others. For more info please visit www.twiistup.com.
Media contacts: Victoria Yarnish / Andy Oliver LEWIS PR for Twiistup Email Contact 310 407 5186 Steph Macadaan Twiistup Email Contact 925 408 7412 (via marketwire)
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