‘Connect Week’ Starts This Week in Pasadena

Pasadena City Hall dome (Photo – Colorado boulevard Newspaper).

Pasadena is gearing up for a high‑energy celebration of innovation as Connect Week kicks off Sunday, April 12, bringing five days of events spotlighting the city’s growing influence in deep tech, life sciences, climate innovation, and quantum computing.

By Rena Kurlander

The City of Pasadena Economic Development Division and Innovate Pasadena have teamed up to host the series, designed to showcase the people and institutions shaping the region’s future.

Running April 12–16, Connect Week will convene founders, investors, researchers, and students from across the region. The goal is simple: strengthen collaboration and highlight the breakthroughs emerging from Pasadena’s longstanding innovation ecosystem.

Pasadena’s reputation as a hub for solving complex global challenges, from medical technology to climate and quantum research, sets the stage for a week of discovery and connection. Organizers say the event is as much about community as it is about cutting‑edge ideas.

“We’re excited to bring together innovators from across Pasadena and the region during Connect Week,” said Economic Development Director David Klug. “These events highlight the collaboration and talent that make Pasadena a hub for meaningful innovation.”

Innovate Pasadena Chairman Mike Giardello echoed that sentiment, emphasizing the city’s unique blend of talent and institutions. “Connect Week is about strengthening connections across Pasadena’s innovation ecosystem. From students and startups to established companies and world-class research institutions, this week showcases the community that makes Pasadena a unique innovation hub.”

Event Highlights

• Monday, 4/13, 6:00 pm — Pasadena Innovation Showcase, featuring a student pitch competition with Pasadena City College, Caltech, and ArtCenter College of Design
• Tuesday, 4/14, 2:00 pm — Quantum Day Pasadena
• Tuesday, 4/14, 6:00 pm — The Climate Cost of AI
• Wednesday, 4/15, 3:00 pm — BioTech Crawl
• Thursday, 4/16, 6:00 pm — Pasadena Tech Happy Hour

A full schedule is available at Luma.com/InnovatePasadena.