Curvature was proud to once again sponsor TechTopia, the Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce’s annual technology and business summit. This event serves as a celebration of the high-tech community spanning from Goleta to Carpinteria, showcasing innovation and collaboration within the region. It continues to be a pivotal platform for connecting industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators.
This year’s summit attendees participate in a rotating tour of several cutting-edge facilities at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB). These included the AlloSphere, the California NanoSystems Institute, the UCSB Nanofabrication Facility, and the UCSB Quantum Foundry. Each stop on the tour provided insights into the groundbreaking research and technological advancements taking place in our backyard. These facilities provide ample learning opportunities for students and cater to a wide range of global businesses that wouldn’t otherwise have access to this cutting-edge technology.
Following the tour, guests were greeted with a wine and cheese social before attending two panels sponsored by the Chamber. 
Curvature’s General Manager of the Global Hardware Division, Sachi Thompson, and Manager of Technical Operations, Justin Hallstrom, participated in the first panel discussion, alongside PseudolithIC, to discuss their recent internship programs. The Chamber’s Workforce Development Pipeline program aims to place students amidst local tech companies to facilitate the next generation of industry leaders.
Sachi and Justin, alongside our interns Luca Edens and Caleb Lee, shared their recent experiences with the program, highlighting the valuable insight gained from young minds and how the placement opportunities provided by the Chamber provide learning opportunities for students. “My experience as a mentor has been phenomenal,” said Justin. “Both Caleb and Luca have significantly contributed to the team, from managing large server orders to testing optical transceivers, switches, and routers.
They’ve acquired valuable skills during their internship that will serve them well in any future IT role. This experience has also been enlightening for me, as they’ve introduced me to new tools and perspectives on how the younger IT generation approaches problem-solving.”
Local tech giants, Google, Appfolio, and Amazon, spoke on a separate panel to discuss the changing landscape of technology for Santa Barbara, the benefits of having USCB’s cutting-edge facilities, and the challenges of housing and cost of living for recruiting future employees.
The Chamber’s yearly event brings together entrepreneurs and businesses in the tech industry and fosters community engagement to encourage the next generation of tech minds. Curvature is always honored to be a part of this wonderful organization and event. Looking forward to the next one!
