Interactive Resources - iR’s Post

Did you know that the Florida Chamber of Commerce's 2030 Blueprint set an aspirational goal to become the #3 State for Tech Talent in the nation? And while Tampa, Orlando, Miami and the Florida High Tech Corridor are already making amazing progress, there is certainly a role to play for Southwest Florida. Corporate attraction efforts are yielding more tech jobs, Florida Gulf Coast University and Florida SouthWestern State College are ramping up programs to increase tech talent supply, Microsoft expanded their TechSpark program here (https://lnkd.in/dpRreKhs), the Tech Alliance of SWFL is actively holding meetup events, and so much more! Our strength will come from unifying the tech sector across SWFL. This includes employers, technologists, founders, educators, non-profit organizations, and others who believe that supporting tech innovation, increasing high quality tech jobs, and developing a strong supply of tech talent matters to the future of SWFL. In just a short time, SWFL Tech's Board has accomplished a great deal. For example:  📌 Revised Board role descriptions so that every Board member feels accountable for advancing the collective work of the region over time in a manner that leverages their unique strengths.  📌 Confirmed the initial 2024 Board of Directors and identified gaps that will need filled to effectively execute stated commitments.  📌 Developed on-boarding documentation to make it easier for others to engage with our organization.  📌 Developed initial 2024 priorities to be discussed with key stakeholder groups.  📌 Began planning for the 2024 Annual Meeting which will be part of a larger event (date to be announced soon). All of our Board members are developing goals for their defined positions to help inform our work as an organization and in partnership with others. In addition the positions highlighted below, we have also created new Board positions to synthesize subject matter expertise for #community, #startups, #workforcedevelopment, #k12education, #highereducation, #upskilling and #reskilling. Interested in sharing your perspective to inform our work? Please connect with any one of our amazing Board members so that we can learn more about you and your efforts to build a strong tech and innovation ecosystem in SWFL. We are all #SWFLtech and we certainly are #bettertogether. Katie Jones-Yeutter, Rachel Tease Ludwig, James Taylor, Paul A. Sohl, William Waas, SIM Tampa Bay, Lauren Slawsky Prager, Wendi Fowler, Warren Baucom, John Schlager, Colleen Jorgensen, Edward Fritz, MSM, Debbie Peterson, MBA, Michael Honorio, Wes S., Aysegul Timur, Kristen Vanselow, Michael Boose, Mark Rieger, Lee County Economic Development Office

Here we are in 2024, a year of promise, excitement, potential and tech. A year in whichI plan for #OrlandoTech to take a huge step forward, having learned some lessons and experienced some crucial successes in 2023. It won't happen, of course, without #community support, whether it's financial through our Patreon or just reading the news and sharing with your followers. Right now, our plan at OTN does not include the low-hanging fruit of "best #tech stories of 2023" though we might do that on a more deliberate, industry-specific basis. Perhaps "What Orlando's xxx industry learned in 2023 and how it informs 2024." Maybe I should write that one down. I do, however, foresee the occasional "What Black Orlando Tech sees as the most important tech story of 2024" or something like that. It's an effort to spin the spotlight around and, rather than focus on what I'm doing and thinking and covering, we put the focus on the community. So, as I sit here in 2024, hanging out with family for a few days before heading back home, with nothing but the whole year in front of me, it's a mixed bag of feelings. Anticipation. Eagerness. Enthusiasm. Let's all put our Orlando Tech hats on to see just how much we can do to push our ecosystem forward, together in 2024.

🚀 Less than 4 weeks left until Tech Week Grand Rapids! 💥 Whether you're an industry professional, a tech enthusiast, or simply curious to explore the latest trends, here are my top 5 picks for this week: 1️⃣ Keynote Address: Malcolm Gladwell 2️⃣ Drinks on the Deck: Networking Mixer & Founders Panel. Join us at Michigan Software Labs with 300 other friends for a thoughtful panel discussion, free appetizers and drinks. 3️⃣ Tech Trends Reshaping Business : Stay on top of the latest emerging tech trends, where tech leaders will dive into emerging technologies. Sessions on generative AI, Cyber, & AI in the workplace. 4️⃣ Innovation at Scale: A playbook for building high-growth ventures with City Innovations Founder and CEO Joshua Barker, MBA. 5️⃣ Demo Day:100 aspiring entrepreneurs come together to compete in 1 Demo Day. All vying to be among the 10 to receive $20,000 to launch their dream. Mark your calendars, spread the word, and don't forget to register for your favorite event at www.techweekgr.com. See you there! 👋 The Right Place, Inc., Devon Bleibtrey, Gregory Hatcher, Brian McKeiver, Joshua Barker, MBA, Mark Johnson,

What is Black Tech Saturdays in Detroit? Johnnie Turnage: Detroit Could Be America’s Premier Black Tech Ecosystem, But… My name is Johnnie Turnage. Less than a year ago, I founded Black Tech Saturdays with my wife Alexa, and the results have been out of this world! We grew from five people in a coffee shop to over 6,000 Detroiters, Michiganders, and visitors from all over the world. We’ve supported founders as they worked to gain traction, revenue, and capital faster than ever. We’ve also supported over a hundred people in their quest to get jobs, and we’ve witnessed more of our community find pathways into the tech industry, as entrepreneurs, as talent, and as true contributors. It’s rare to see your efforts create so much impact in such a short time, especially when there are huge gaps in resources, but where there is true community, there is an opportunity to make a big impact. Detroit is the city of innovation. It’s the original Silicon Valley; there is no place more innovative, creative, and resilient than Detroit. We make a way out of no way, and because of that very spirit, we have watched our tech ecosystem come alive in ways that has never been experienced by Black tech founders and professionals. Because of the traction, momentum, and excitement around Black Tech Saturdays, we were invited to the world’s largest tech conference, South by Southwest (SXSW). SXSW began in Austin, Texas, as a small group and has grown to be a two-week event often seeing north of 350,000 attendees. #tech #ecosystem #detiptv #newyorkiptv https://lnkd.in/g59xTzTK

🌟 Wales Tech Week 2023 may have drawn to a close, but the inspiration it ignited continues. We're eager to hear about the sessions, or key takeaways that resonated with you during the event. Did you discover a solution to your business' challenges, connect with like-minded professionals, or uncover insights that have the potential to shape the future? Share your Wales Tech Week highlights with us! 💬 Did a particular session leave you with newfound knowledge or spark innovative ideas? Was there a speaker whose insights deeply impacted you? Perhaps you had an engaging discussion with an exhibitor that opened up new possibilities? Keep the conversation going, share your thoughts, and let's continue to build a vibrant tech community that thrives. 🙌 #WalesTechWeek #TechInnovation #InspiredByTech

The transition from spring to summer brings a deluge of CONs, such as Stealthcon, PivotCon, and the upcoming DefCon. Most of these CONs have a decidedly Western-leaning, and you don't often don't see a representation of those from other parts of the world, so when I recently saw Shanghai's GeekCon with sponsorship by many Chinese Tech companies, I was admittedly curious. What I found most impressive was the presentation under the Honor Roll section: https://lnkd.in/gDh_i_rd If you are in a red team/purple team role, it might be worth spending some time here. BTW: if there are other notable CONs in other parts of the world, feel free to add them to the comments section

Hey Detroit Design and VC community! Don't miss this event! 🎉Black Tech Saturdays in Detroit! 🚀 We're thrilled to launch Black Tech Saturdays, a dynamic initiative aimed at nurturing a culture of innovation and imagination to bolster the growth of Black tech in Detroit. Our mission centers on generating community wealth through knowledge sharing, fostering a strong sense of community, and celebrating Black Joy. At the heart of Black tech success is diversity. We're dedicated to championing diversity and inclusivity, striving to create an ecosystem where high-growth companies thrive, quality job opportunities abound, and everyone in the community benefits. Guided by the principles of Equitech, we believe in the transformative power of diverse teams, leadership, and perspectives to amplify tech company growth. By uniting entrepreneurs, innovators, and technologists from varied backgrounds, we're cultivating a vibrant ecosystem that propels Black tech forward. Building a flourishing tech community demands intention, purpose, and imagination. We're committed to offering learning and networking opportunities, alongside spaces to celebrate Black Joy. Our events aim to connect individuals from diverse walks of life to share knowledge, exchange ideas, and forge meaningful connections. 🌟 Join Black Tech Saturdays in Detroit and become part of a movement driving positive change and laying the foundations for a brighter future in Black tech. Together, we can unlock the potential of innovation and imagination to foster a more equitable, just, and prosperous society for all. #BlackTechSaturdays #DetroitTech #Innovation #DiversityInTech #CommunityWealth #BlackJoy #Equitech

Happy Tech Week to my fellow developers! 🎉 I'm excited to join you all during Atlanta Tech Week and share insights on "How Data-Driven Innovation Powers Scalable Product Development: Research, Branding, and Presentation Strategies." Catch my session this Thursday at the Indigo Hotel Downtown. Let's drive innovation together! #AtlantaTechWeek #DataDrivenInnovation #ProductDevelopment #TechTalks #Networking #RenderATL

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🗓️ May's tech events are on the calendar! NIX is preparing to engage with the tech community at next month's leading gatherings. We're excited to discuss the latest insights and learn from industry leaders. 😉 Are you attending these events? Let's sync our calendars and explore new possibilities together. #NIX #SoftwareDevelopment #TechPartner