Amer Ather’s Post

If you’re in Calgary or Winnipeg and want to dive into the burgeoning tech scene, just ask yourself, “What are you doing this Thursday?” Tech Thursday brings together hundreds of attendees every week — from start-ups to senior founders — for panel discussions, professional development, and networking. After two years of fostering tech communities under Neo Financial, Tech Thursday has spun out into a company all its own. Coming out of the pandemic, Tech Thursday began as a response to the Winnipeg tech community’s need for in-person connections. Now, it's a weekly fixture, thanks to Philippe Burns and Paul Card. What started with 10 participants in Winnipeg has grown to over 100 weekly attendees and about 125 in Calgary. “We’ve heard from founders and investors that we really were supporting the ecosystem. It was a realization that, ‘Oh, there’s something valuable here. We could really make something out of this,’” says Burns, co-founder of Tech Thursday. Neo Financial remains a title sponsor, alongside other partners including SkipTheDishes, Manitoba Technology Accelerator, and Calgary Economic Development. The secret to Tech Thursday’s success? A focus on community development, not just recruitment or sales pitches. It’s about learning, sharing ideas, and connecting, says Burns. Read the full story from Jennifer Friesen here ⬇ https://lnkd.in/g9XpYUpq #CalgaryTech #WinnipegTech #Innovation #Networking

Some things just catch fire, don't they? This looks set to rocket this year... The much emulated, Silicon Yorkshire (free to join) is on track to host what is likely to be the region's largest tech social this February. At over 4000 members in 12 months, the growth has taken us a little by surprise. Silicon Yorkshire goes way beyond being just another tech community website. Our relationship building platform aims to go further in connecting Yorkshire's tech and digital ecosystem with each other and the wider business community. Built with collaboration in mind, we showcase great networking opportunities across the Yorkshire region and give members the opportunity to connect with entrepreneurs, suppliers, new customers, technology professionals, VCs, advisors and more... 🙋🏼♂️ If you're not already signed up, then get involved to access great connections, events, workshops, conferences and collaborative gatherings. 👩🏼🔧 If you're an aspiring entrepreneur or startup founder, you'll find countless resources and advice in Silicon Yorkshire's community. 🌎 From Bridlington to Barnsley, Leeds to Leyburn and Sheffield to Selby - we believe that Yorkshire has immense potential to become a thriving tech hub - not just in our larger cities, but across less populated communities too. 🤷♀️ What is Silicon Yorkshire?  Silicon Yorkshire is a joined-up, multi-contributor, effort to support tech firms, tech employers and the wider tech and digital community in going further, faster and bigger 🤔 What is it for? Connecting the dots between the disparate tech communities, events and festivals across the North, filling in the gaps and bringing in great contacts from around the world, whilst promoting our regional tech know-how and talent back out to major and emerging tech hubs across the planet. 👬 Who is it for? Representation across socio-demographic boundaries, and under-served communities, is important. Talent, enthusiasm and attitude matter. If you're the wider technology and digital community then we invite you to sign up. Jump in. Get involved. We’re just getting started. 3 things before this long post draws to a moderately overdue end... ✅ Sponsorship is OPEN! DM with commercial enquiries and questions. ✅ If you’re already in #siliconyorkshire - or you've attended any of our events - please give us a cheeky like and a share on your socials 🤗 ✅ We're in Leeds next... sign up here: https://lnkd.in/e-BVdXeM #siliconyorkshire #tech #digital #community

What is better than just listening to someone else talk during TECH WEEK by a16z...? Being part of the actual conversation. Join Us for User-Generated Conversations at San Francisco Tech Week! 😎 We are thrilled to invite you to a series of User-Generated Conversations (UGCs) during San Francisco Tech Week on 𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟭𝟬𝘁𝗵 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝟭𝟮 𝗣𝗠 𝘁𝗼 𝟰 𝗣𝗠. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗨𝗚𝗖𝘀? User-Generated Conversations are dynamic, participant-led discussions where attendees propose and explore the topics that matter most to them. Inspired by the renowned format of the Lobby Conference held twice annually in Kona, Hawaii, these sessions put you at the center of the dialogue. 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗲? ✅ Shape the Conversation: Bring your ideas and questions to the forefront. This is your chance to influence discussions that impact the tech industry. ✅ Connect with Peers: Engage with a diverse group of innovators, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and thought leaders. ✅ Gain Fresh Perspectives: Delve into new concepts and viewpoints that can inspire your work and broaden your understanding of the tech landscape. This event is part of #TechWeek - a week of events hosted by VCs and startups to bring together the tech ecosystem. Learn more at tech-week.com. Don’t miss this opportunity to engage, learn, and connect. We look forward to seeing you there! David Hornik Eric Carlborg Buddy Arnheim Lobby Capital #techweek #a16z https://lnkd.in/gTND8kTQ?

📢 Tech Leaders 📢 You might have heard there's a new prospectus for the South West tech industry - but why, and what is it for? 👇 We caught up with Dan Pritchard, Founder of Tech South West, to chat all things Look South West at the brand-new Firepool Innovation Centre in Taunton - covering: ➡ Who it's for ➡ Why it matters ➡ Collaboration (this is key - the prospectus could not have happened without its fantastic partners including Future Space - Bristol, Tech South West, Microsoft, Barclays Eagle Labs, and Neighbourly 👏 ) ➡ The stats ➡ The challenges ➡ Why we're a unique ecosystem ➡ What happens now? All of this and more is being covered today at the #TechLeadersSummit, where together we're developing a plan for the future of tech. Get involved - download the Look South West Prospectus now: https://lnkd.in/eCwNsPgn #innovation #futureoftech #techbusiness #tech #bristol #southwest #DeepTech #CreativeTech #TalentDevelopment #UKTech #FutureEconomy

While the UK financial crisis (recession) continues, BREXIT continues to kill the true profitability, political instability is loosing Prime Minister after Prime Minister, early yet long due elections looming - there is a positive ray of hope in the midst of all the chaos around us. Sharing the message of hope, joy and energy of meeting amazing entrepreneurs across healthTech, finTech, cultureTech, and Digital Transformation Tech at 2024 London Tech Week. Salute to true warriors of our time, the entrepreneurs trying to survive, thrive, and excel. Looking forward to accelerating turnaround, purpose driven profitability, and sustainable growth together. #ESG #DEI #PurposeDriven #NAKReflects #london #economy #growth #hope #turnaround #entrepreneurship #recession

Midwest's Rising Tech Scene: A Hub of Innovation 🌟 Unveiling the Heart of Tech in the Midwest: A fusion of community and innovation. 🌐 - Community-Fueled Tech Evolution: The Midwest's unique community spirit is a fertile ground for tech ideas and collaborative projects. 🤝  - Thriving Tech Meetups: Immerse yourself in the dynamic world of tech gatherings, where networking and idea exchange spark innovation. 💡  - Nurturing Future Innovators: Local mentorship in the Midwest is shaping the next wave of tech pioneers. 👩💻  - Talent Discovery Hotspots: These gatherings are more than social events; they're the breeding grounds for uncovering tech talent and sought-after skills. 🔍 Dive into how the Midwest is shaping a vibrant future for tech innovation. www.instinctiveit.com #MidwestTech #InnovationHub #CommunityCollaboration #TechFuture 🚀🤝

In nature, an ecosystem is an interconnected network of organisms that shape and support each other. In tech and business, the same is true — individuals and organizations are influenced by their environment, and in turn they contribute to it. Find out how 1Philadelphia, Ballard Spahr LLP, Morgan Lewis, Next powered by Shulman Rogers, Rittenhouse Communications Group and TEDCO actively help their local tech communities thrive, grow and become more inclusive in this sponsored roundup article. https://lnkd.in/gfXJA8Zh #TechnicallyPartner24

📣 Join us at IT Arena 2024 in Lviv – The Must-Attend Event for the Tech Sector! IT Arena is more than just an event; it’s where 5,000+ participants come together to innovate, collaborate, and engage in live communication that shapes the future of tech. Whether you’re a Ukrainian tech professional or an international stakeholder, here’s why you need to make IT Arena a priority: 🔹 Talk to Your Peers: Engage in meaningful discussions and exchange ideas with top industry leaders and innovators. 🔹 Co-Create Together: Collaborate with like-minded professionals to build solutions that push the industry forward. 🔹 Live Communication: Nothing replaces the power of face-to-face connections, fostering stronger relationships and real collaboration. With over a decade of history, IT Arena has become the most professionally organized event in Ukraine’s tech sector—a must-attend for staying at the cutting edge of technology and innovation. And a special shout-out to the amazing Lviv IT Cluster team, whose relentless effort since 2014 has made this event possible and continuously impactful. For international stakeholders, this is your opportunity to: 🔹 Create partnerships with leading Ukrainian companies. 🔹 Learn from your Ukrainian counterparts, gaining insights into their innovation and resilience. 🔹 Experience Ukraine firsthand—witness the strength of a country that continues to innovate and thrive despite the challenges of war. 🌐 Check out the event details and why this needs to be on your agenda: https://itarena.ua And see you in Lviv in a couple of days! Let’s build the future of tech together! #ITArena2024 #TechInnovation #Networking #UkraineTech #LvivTech #LvivITCluster

The UK and European tech sector has seen an increase in women in the workforce since BCSWomen was founded a few decades ago. There have been women in computing from the beginning - working on LEO and at Bletchley Park Trust in 1930s and 1940s. We know that with women like Dame Stephanie Shirley, Dame Wendy Hall, and Professor Sue Black OBE, Hannah Dee and so many others we have role models. And thanks to events like the Lovelace Symposium, I know there is talent pipeline. When Dame Stephanie founded her software business (1959), there was little opportunity for women to run any type of business. The commercial banking offers have improved considerably! But transactional banking isn’t the only financial option founders need. There is still some suggestions that, ‘women don’t want to be in tech - if they did, they would be’. If all things were equal, that might be interesting to evaluate. However, part of the reason that there aren’t so many women founders is (not a lack of desire or grit but) inequality of access to business funding. In Ireland, 75% of VC (venture capital) funding goes to all-men teams. The funders seem to be inadvertently selecting out women - or at least tolerating founders who don’t include women in their teams. Hearing repeated Silicon Valley stories of female founders invited to pitch in hot tubs or in casinos bars, I’m not surprised. For women founders in tech to achieve parity, it is time there was a challenge for VCs to find places where women founders can pitch with equity. And this stuff matters to the economy because the statistics for women on boards suggest businesses are more successful with a diverse board. The same is true in tech problem solving - diversity of backgrounds can hone products and services to be better for all. There is an opportunity to find out more in Dublin this May. At the Dublin Tech Summit 2024, the TechFoundHer team will be presenting more about: - why we need more women tech founders for our economy, society and the world. - why transparency of gendered data in business is needed to support positive change for everyone. Explore the latest in tech and business together with tickets to the summit on 29-30 May 2024 at the RDS in Dublin. https://lnkd.in/eK7EMe_Z #DubTechSummit  #TechFoundHer #vcfunding #vc #techentrepreneur #womanownedbusiness #womeninstem