SVJEN hosted its very first networking party event this past July. As an organization aiming to support the local entrepreneur and professional communities, SVJEN has been hosting various seminars and events in the past. This, however, was the first event focusing purely on networking and providing a social forum for SVJEN members and local business organizations. Drawing a large audience from both Japanese and local Asian business communities, the party ended in great success, with enthusiastic calls for a repeat event in the near future. Morgan Lewis and JETRO were the main event sponsors, and Access Technology was a supporting sponsor for the event. The highlights of the evening were jazz ensemble, an a cappella group and song performances by Silicon Valley entrepreneurs, a showcase of the immense and diverse talents of this community. At final count, 250 participants from all corners of the Bay Area had contributed to the resounding success of the event.

SVJEN’s first networking party was held at the Historic Del Monte Building in downtown Sunnyvale. The party drew a large crowd of 250 participants.

Held on a beautiful Bay Area summer evening, the party was set in a relaxed setting, yet provided a forum for active and productive networking.

The caliber of diversity represented at the party reflected the strength of Silicon Valley’s strong ties to Asia. Many representatives from SVJEN’s alliance organizations, such as TIE and AAMA were seen among the crowd.

The highlight events were the live band and singing performances by local Japanese and Asian entrepreneurs. Shown here is Ken Okada, President & COO of Improvista (fourth from right) and his fellow band members. Traditional jazz and bossa nova numbers were played to the audience’s delight.

The main emcee of the evening was expertly handled by Phil Keys, a reporter with Nikkei Electronics’ Silicon Valley bureau. Phil displayed his unique combination of journalistic excellence with his experience as a DJ for live performances by the Asian artists.

The networking forum was unparalleled in its depth and diversity. “This is the first party where I was able to meet so many people from different backgrounds,” “I did not realize the breadth of young Japanese professionals in the area” are comments representative of the positive feedback received from event participants.

Chorus group “Voices of the Valley” is comprised of engineers with Hong Kong-connected backgrounds. Angela Lai (fourth from left) delivered a spectacular solo performance. Angela is also known as the co-founder, with SVJEN’s President Hitoshi Hokamura, of Generic Media, another Silicon Valley start-up.

B-Bridge International is a local bio start-up, founded by Hiro Masumoto (shown here on the right). Hiro and Emi Ito wowed the audience with their professional quality performance.

The evening ended with the entire audience participating in a “Hey Jude” chorus. Following the lyrics shown on the big screen and with lead vocals provided by the evening’s performers, all participants had the chance to “feel like a pro.” Impromptu singers lent their enthusiastic voice at the microphone, contributing to the festive grand finale. The evening may have felt too short for many of the participants – quite a few were seen lingering on long into the evening, enjoying the lively conversation and energy-filled atmosphere.

Written by Tomomi Ashino
Translated by Aki Shoji, Kay Ayaki-Zeren