Tech leaders and investors gather at Startup Grind

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By CGTN’s Mark Niu

Tech leaders and investors converged in Silicon Valley for this year’s Startup Grind Global Conference to show off the latest in innovation and share advice on how to get startups up and running in a global tech economy.

Startups showcased what they believed was the next big thing, from the world's smallest security GPS tracker to "all green" 3D printed houses.

Nataliya Stelmakh, the CEO and Founder of Polaris. /CGTN Photo‍

On stage, they faced off in pitch competitions, vying for the attention of investors.

Tech industry superstars also helped fill seats, like Waze founder Noam Bardin, who shed light on his company's new Carpool feature, designed to create low-cost rides and reduce traffic.

Waze, a community-based traffic and navigation app. /CGTN Photo

Amid the hustle and bustle of Startup Grind, China’s startup ecosystem was also finding its way into discussions, with one key question: can one afford not to be in China?