Headline: DOT-COM AGAIN? BEHIND THE SCENES OF LA’S “TWIISTUP” NETWORKING PHENOMENON
Writer: Gendy Alimurung
Link: Read the original story here
Published date: Oct 15, 2008

Excerpt: Macadaan’s Twiistups have the following skeleton: some showcase people, the attendees, the movers and shakers like Jordan, the bright-eyed, bushy-tailed start-up companies, the swanky venue, the libations, and then one special something — “the ‘twist’ in Twiistup” — to send it over the top. He brought in a guy to build robotic sculptures. One party featured Joseph Kosinski, director of TR2N. At another was Perez Hilton, who is rumored to make $40,000 a day on his gossip Web site. (BusinessWeek places Perez’s earnings at $110,000 a month. The $40K figure comes from what Blogads says it would cost to do a one-day advertising “takeover” of perezhilton.com.)

Read the original story here

If you’re up to something cool get TechZulu involved.  They’re doing amazing things for SoCal’s tech community.

Twiistup 4 featured 11 Internet start-ups, chosen by a panel of judges, to demonstrate their products and services. The Twiistup ‘fan favorite’ was ToolsToLife.com, a Web site and online community focused on self-improvement programs. Attendees voted for their favorite showoff at the event and Twiistup readers were able to text in their votes through Mozes.com.

“Twiistup is an amazing event that gives new tech companies an opportunity to gain exposure. It was an honor to be amongst great new tech companies and a highlight to be selected as fan favorite,” said Devlyn Steele, life coach and founder of ToolsToLife.com. “This accolade will motivate the team at ToolsToLife.com to use Web 2.0 technology to bring people together and support each other to create real change in their lives.”

Congratulations to Devlyn and the entire ToolsToLife team for winning Twiistup 4.

The generous prize package for ToolsToLife was provided by: IPEVO, (mt), FreshBooks and Growthink.

Also a huge thanks to Mozes for providing the SMS voting engine.

Of course, it was no easy feat to pull off such a grandiose event, and we have to thank a few people that we’re key in making this event happen.

Nicole Jordan, I like to refer to her as the ultimate LA “techolite”, because she is everywhere, knows everyone and is adored by thousands.  Nicole is really responsible for giving Twiistup the “turbo-power” to become bigger and better than ever.  Through her connections, PR know-how, and hours of consultation, Twiistup was taken to a whole new level.  Nicole currently works for the Rubicon Project, if you don’t know her yet, you should!

Jeremiah Abraham, recent USC graduate student and founder of bakitwhy.com, was also a key player in Twiistup 4’s success.   He acted as our showoff liaison.  He managed the process through receiving applications (no easy task with over 100 received) to ensuring that our 11 showoffs had everything they needed to be successful at the event.  Of course, his job stretched into other necessary activities such as shuttling around boxes, stuffing swag bags and handling the front door – he’s a superstar!

Lewis PR, led by Andy Oliver, his LA-based team is comprised of the ultimate professionals.  They definitely know the LA tech scene and media inside and out, and actually strive to make their clients’ lives as easy and stress-free as possible.  They kicked the media attention of Twiistup to a new high, and were instrumental in helping run the event.  They also seem to be at almost every tech event in LA, so keep an eye out for them, an if your company has any PR needs, I can’t recommend them highly enough!

SoCal Tech – The Undiscovered Country / Fast Company

Twiistup4 Connects Digital Influencers in Tech, Media, and Entertainment / bub.blicio.us

Hard out there for a chick: Girls in Tech starts L.A. chapter / Los Angeles Times

Etchstar LIVE at Twiistup4 / Etchstar Blog

Mahalo Daily

Twiistup, Social Media Camp & LASummerMash  Wrap-Up

E8 2008! Twiistup, Steve Wiebe Attempt at Donkey Kong WR

Strutta Visits LA to Promote White Label Service, Bootup Lays Down Strategy & Enthusiasm / techvibes

Photos from Schwaggin Wagon

Changing the World is Fan Favorite at Twiistup 4 As ToolsToLife.com Wins / Yahoo!