I’ll be honest—I was nervous as hell walking into the Venice Startup and Tech Mixer last week. As someone still breaking into the front-end development world, I wasn’t sure if I belonged in a room full of seasoned developers and startup founders. But I knew I needed to push myself out of my comfort zone to make real progress in my career.
The Venue and Vibe
The event was held at a sleek co-working space right off Abbot Kinney, which immediately gave off those quintessential Venice vibes—creative, entrepreneurial, and surprisingly welcoming. About 80-90 people showed up, which felt like the perfect size—big enough to meet diverse people but small enough that it didn’t feel overwhelming or impersonal.
The crowd was more diverse than I expected in terms of experience level and backgrounds. Sure, there were plenty of seasoned engineers and startup veterans, but I also met boot camp grads, career changers, and people like me who were still figuring things out.
The People I Met
Sarah, Frontend Lead at a FinTech Startup: This conversation was probably the most valuable part of my night. When I mentioned I was focusing on React, she immediately lit up and started sharing her experience transitioning from jQuery-heavy projects to modern React applications. She gave me some incredibly practical advice about building a portfolio that shows progression and problem-solving skills, not just pretty interfaces. We connected on LinkedIn, and she even offered to review my portfolio once I have a few more solid projects.
Marcus, Freelance Full-Stack Developer: Marcus had a fascinating journey – he started as a graphic designer and gradually taught himself development over three years. What struck me about our conversation was how honest he was about the challenges of freelancing and the importance of understanding the business side of tech. He emphasized that learning to communicate technical concepts to non-technical clients is just as important as coding skills.
Jenny, UX Designer at a Local Agency: Even though she’s not a developer, talking with Jenny opened my eyes to how closely frontend development and UX design need to work together. She mentioned how frustrating it can be when developers don’t understand the reasoning behind design decisions, and how much she appreciates frontend devs who ask thoughtful questions about user experience. This conversation made me realize I should invest more time in understanding UX principles.
David, Recent Bootcamp Grad: Meeting David was reassuring because he was in almost the exact same position as me – looking for his first junior developer role and feeling that imposter syndrome pretty hard. We bonded over our shared anxiety about technical interviews and swapped resources for practice problems and portfolio feedback.
What I Learned
The biggest takeaway was that everyone, regardless of their current level, is constantly learning and adapting. Even the senior developers I talked to mentioned feeling overwhelmed by how fast the industry moves. That was oddly comforting – the feeling of “I need to learn everything” isn’t unique to beginners.
I also learned that soft skills matter way more than I initially thought. Every conversation I had eventually touched on communication, collaboration, or problem-solving in team environments. Technical skills might get you in the door, but your ability to work with others and explain your thinking is what helps you succeed long-term.
Another eye-opener was hearing about the variety of paths people took to get where they are. Not everyone followed the traditional computer science degree route. This reinforced that my non-traditional background isn’t a disadvantage – it’s just different, and different perspectives are actually valuable in tech.
How I Handled the Networking
I’m naturally pretty introverted, so I had to consciously push myself to initiate conversations. My strategy was to be genuinely curious about people’s work and ask specific questions rather than generic “what do you do?” openers. Questions like “What’s the most interesting technical challenge you’ve solved recently?” or “What technologies are you excited to learn next?” led to much more engaging conversations.
I also made sure to be honest about where I am in my journey. Instead of trying to oversell my skills, I was upfront about being early in my career and looking to learn. People responded really well to that authenticity, and many offered to help or share resources.
One thing I wish I’d done better was following up more systematically. I got caught up in conversations and didn’t always exchange contact information when I should have. I definitely learned to be more intentional about that for next time.
Challenges I Faced
The biggest challenge was managing my energy. As an introvert, three hours of constant socializing was exhausting. By the end of the night, I could feel my conversation skills declining and my social battery completely drained. Next time, I’ll probably give myself permission to take short breaks or step outside for a few minutes to recharge.
I also struggled with that nagging feeling that I didn’t have enough experience to contribute meaningfully to conversations. There were moments when technical discussions went over my head, and I felt like I was just nodding along. But I’m learning that it’s okay to say “I’m not familiar with that – can you explain it?” Most people were happy to share their knowledge.
What I Want from My Next Meetup
For my next tech meetup, I want to be more strategic about my goals. This first one was great for getting a feel for the community and building confidence, but now I want to focus on:
Building Deeper Connections: Instead of trying to meet as many people as possible, I want to have fewer but more substantive conversations. Quality over quantity.
Seeking Specific Feedback: I want to come prepared with specific questions about my portfolio, code samples, or career direction. The general networking was valuable, but I think I could get more actionable advice with targeted questions.
Offering Value, Not Just Seeking It: I realized I was mostly in “absorb information” mode, but I want to think about how I can contribute to conversations and help others, even as someone early in their career. Maybe sharing resources I’ve found helpful or offering to collaborate on side projects.
Following Up More Effectively: I want to establish a system for following up with connections within 48 hours while conversations are still fresh. This time, several great conversations just faded because I didn’t follow up promptly.
Final Thoughts
Despite my initial nerves, the Venice Startup and Tech Mixer exceeded my expectations. The tech community in LA feels more welcoming and collaborative than I anticipated. Everyone I met seemed genuinely interested in helping newcomers succeed, which says something positive about the culture here.
The experience reinforced that networking isn’t just about finding job opportunities – it’s about building relationships, learning from others’ experiences, and finding your place in the broader tech community. I’m already looking forward to the next event, and I feel more confident about putting myself out there and engaging with the local tech scene.