This spring the ON ITS AXIS team had the opportunity to tour a new, ground-breaking innovation center in Orange County. Fast forward to early September and the space we toured was fully revealed as SAP’s Innovation Center, a magical spot where multi-disciplinary teams explore emerging technologies and develop solutions to industry problems. Adding to the excitement, a creative workspace, HanaHaus Newport Beach, was also unveiled as a public space “…offering the changemakers of Southern California – entrepreneurs, creatives, students, thinkers, freelancers, and investors – a new kind of coworking experience.”
At this beautiful waterfront location at Lido Isle, Newport Beach, SAP teams are working on topics such as ambient voice technology, data labeling, AI-driven development, explainable AI, and data anonymization. The official launch occurred on September 6th and was memorialized with a grand opening event of which ON ITS AXIS participated.
SAP welcomed more than 150 SAP customers, leaders, and business partners of the Orange County innovation ecosystem. The leaders participating in the ribbon-cutting ceremony included SAP Co-Founder and Chairman, Hasso Plattner, SAP Chief Operating Officer and Executive Board member, Christian Klein, and SAP Chief Innovation Officer, Max Wessel. Additionally, Newport Beach Mayor, Diane Dixon, and CEO of the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce, Steven Rosansky, took to the stage to formally welcome SAP to the business community.
“How do you keep the entrepreneurial spirit up? In a nice environment, the people also will do beautiful things.”
– Hasso Plattner, Chairman and Co-Founder of SAP
During the event, our Founder Shelley Iocona had the opportunity to join colleagues on stage and participate in a panel entitled ‘Build Things That Matter In Orange County.” The panel focused on how members of the local business community think about – and contribute to – innovation in Orange County with the philosophy that great ideas spring from anywhere, and more often when people come together and collaborate, great ideas are brought to life in a tangible, meaningful way.
Shelley expressed her deep gratitude to SAP for bringing business and innovation to Newport Beach. She further shared that as a firm providing innovation services, HanaHaus inspires ON ITS AXIS clients, partners and her team on a regular basis. Nearly a month later, people in the community are still talking about what a great event SAP’s grand opening was and how Orange County is making itself known as a wonderful place to do business and collaborate together to build things that matter!