photo of a statue of ben franklin holding a modern iPad - PTW 2016 Philly tech week

BrainDo Culture

Event Picks For Philly Tech Week 2016

Tim Reardon | Social Strategy

Innovators, get ready. Philly Tech Week returns to the city on Thursday, April 28 through Friday, May 2nd. Organized by Technical.ly Philly, this week-long event brings together bright individuals located throughout the area and features panel discussions, happy hours, networking and more.

Here are some highlights to keep on your radar:

2nd Annual Start Up Crawl
All the buzz about Philly Tech Week starts off with the 2nd Annual Startup Crawl on Thursday, April 28. From 5 to 10 p.m., local startups around the city will open its doors for an evening of conversations, idea building and free beer.

Philly Tech Week Kick Off
On Friday, April 29, Dilworth Plaza will be the host of the official kickoff of Philly Tech Week. From 5 to 11 p.m., guests can interact with giant arcade games, enjoy eats from Rosa Blanca Café, listen to live music and much more. Get there early!

Tech Leader Panel Discussion
Get the 411 on the roles and responsibilities of tech leaders in our communities on Monday, May 2 as Mayor Jim Kenney will host a panel discussion at the Free Library of Philadelphia (1901 Vine St.). Speakers for the evening (alongside May Kenney) include: Dr. Keith Leaphart, Bryan Mercer, Stephen Tang and Courtney Wilburn.

DIY Philly Lovebot Workshop
Do you remember HitchBot, the hitchhiking robot who was sadly destroyed in Philadelphia? Well, now is your chance to recreate the machine as the Hacktory hosts a DIY Philly Lovebot Workshop on Tuesday, May 3. Things get started at 7 p.m.

The Social + Mobile Equation
If you use social media on the go, chances are you’re doing your daily dose of posting via mobile, and chances are companies are targeting you along the way. On Tuesday, May 3, Judith Lee of Communication Works Now will host The Social + Mobile Equation, a discussion about how companies are banking in on mobile marketing through various platforms and techniques. The conversation starts at noon and will take place at the Newtown Library.

Dev Conference
On Wednesday, May 4, the International House invites programmers, developers and project managers to come together for a full day of activities during Philly Tech Week’s Dev Conference. During the course of the day’s events, attendees will partake into numerous panel discussions and workshops, followed by a happy hour to cap things off. Thing start bright and early at 8:030 a.m. Register here.

#FailFest
You win some, you lose some. On Thursday, May 5, learn about why it’s good to experience failure as Technical.ly Philly’s Juliana Reyes leads a discussion panel at Seer Interactive featuring local business professionals located in the city. #FailFest starts at 6 p.m.

Philly Tech Week Signature Event
If you can only make it to one Tech Week event, make sure it’s this one. On Friday, May 6, mingle with likeminded tech individuals during Philly Tech Week’s Signature sendoff party at Urban Outfitters Headquarters. Throughout the evening guests will be able to participate in exhibits, chat with vendors and network with the community.

Techies Who Brunch
Are you still in need of another Tech Week Event? If so, start off your Saturday morning (May 7) with Techies Who Brunch at Cuba Libre. Folks will gather at 11 a.m. and converse about what’s hot in the tech world while eating an all-you-can-eat tapas brunch. Don’t forget to order a Bloody Mary!

For the full list of happenings, visit Philly Tech Week.