About Data Con LA
Our Story
Data Con LA started in 2013 as "Big Data Camp LA" — a grassroots gathering of data enthusiasts in Los Angeles who wanted to learn from each other. What began as a single-day meetup has grown into Southern California's longest-running community-organized data conference.
Along the way we've been Big Data Day LA (2015-2017) and finally Data Con LA (2018-present), but the core idea has never changed: bring together people who work with data — or want to — and make it easy and affordable to learn.
We went virtual during the pandemic, came back in person in 2022, and we've been growing ever since. Bigger conferences come through LA from time to time, but we're the ones who are always here.
Mission
Data Con LA advances public understanding of data science, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data engineering through accessible, affordable educational programming. We believe data-driven thinking matters in every field, and that learning about it shouldn't require a big budget or a specific background.
What We Do
- Annual Conference
- A full-day event covering data science, AI/ML, data engineering, business analytics, and data careers. Sessions are designed for everyone from high school students to seasoned industry experts. Multiple tracks, panels, keynotes, and networking — all for a fraction of what comparable conferences charge.
- Free Online Content
- We record conference sessions and publish them on our YouTube channel so anyone can learn, whether or not they can attend in person.
- Community
- Year-round engagement through our mailing list, social media, and partnerships with universities and industry organizations across Southern California.
How We Operate
Data Con LA is entirely volunteer-run. No one on our team — organizers, board members, or speakers — receives compensation. Every dollar goes toward putting on the conference, supporting our educational programs, and covering our operational costs.
Our speakers donate their time and expertise. We don't pay honoraria. People present at Data Con LA because they believe in sharing knowledge with the community.
We keep ticket prices low on purpose and go out of our way to welcome students and newcomers to the data field — through dedicated programming, steep student and group discounts, early-bird pricing, and university partnerships.
Our Roots in LA
We're proud to be part of the Southern California data community. Over the years we've partnered with institutions across the region — from USC and CSULB to community colleges and local and national tech companies. We've received commendations from the cities of Los Angeles and Long Beach for our contributions to nurturing the local data community.
Southern California has one of the most diverse and dynamic tech scenes in the country, and Data Con LA reflects that — our attendees and speakers come from every corner of the industry, academia, and government.
