By David Klug
Director, City of Pasadena Economic Development
Pasadena continued in 2025 to strengthen and evolve its reputation as a hub for technology and innovation. The City’s Economic Development Division supported a wave of new business activity, including both high-growth startups and business expansions.
Among the standout developments, Virtualitics, a Pasadena-based AI and data visualization company, launched a new generative AI toolkit aimed at defense and logistics applications.
Deep 6 AI, specializing in clinical trial acceleration through big data, also expanded its operations, reinforcing Pasadena’s strength in health technology. Motiv Space Systems, a robotics firm supporting NASA missions, cut the ribbon at its new, expanded facility in east Pasadena to accommodate new research and business contracts.
Pasadena’s tech ecosystem was further energized by the City’s “Build It in Pasadena” advertising campaign, which positions the city as a destination for serious science and tech discoveries. The campaign has reached over one million impressions to date and highlighted Pasadena’s unique mix of research institutions, talent, and quality of life. In October, in partnership with Innovate Pasadena, the City hosted a series of events as part of LA Tech Week, titled LA Tech Week in Pasadena, gathering hundreds of entrepreneurs and scientists from Pasadena, the southern California region, and as far as Luxembourg.
Pasadena tech companies like Casa Nova Studio emerged as key contributors in the Eaton Fire recovery. Located in Pasadena’s Idealab, Casa Nova is redefining post-disaster housing with its tech-integrated Cozy Cottage™ units — compact, rapidly deployable homes equipped with smart systems for energy, water, and maintenance monitoring. Casa Nova became the first to receive in-person planning approval in the LA County burn area, demonstrating how innovation and design can accelerate recovery and resilience.
Beyond tech, the city also saw exciting new business activity across sectors. Wedbush Securities, a major investment and brokerage firm, relocated its headquarters from Downtown Los Angeles to Pasadena’s South Lake Avenue district. Meanwhile, beloved Taiwanese restaurant Din Tai Fung announced plans to relocate its company headquarters to Old Pasadena.
Overall, Pasadena is home to world-class medical and education institutions, a highly skilled talent pool and offers a quality of life second to none.
Note: This article was originally published in the Winter 2026 issue of the West Pasadena Residents’ Association’s The News newsletter.