10 virtual tech and biz events to connect with Baltimore at home this summer

Events Roundup is a Technical.ly column where we highlight events happening in the Baltimore area each month. Have a submission for the next edition? Email us the details at baltimore@technical.ly.

It’s mid-July and there’s a heatwave coming. That can only mean it’s Artscape time in Baltimore — normally, at least.

The city’s massive free arts festival is among the big Baltimore events that are canceled to keep crowds from gathering and stop the spread of COVID-19. Adding to the summer bummer, that means the many local events bringing folks closer to Baltimore’s creative community that make up the weekend, like the annual Gamescape video game con, are also sidelined this year.

We’ll miss roaming the streets, running into friends and even the sweat. The organizers at Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts, however, are still offering a chance to connect and wistfully remember some scapes past with a social media campaign Using #ArtscapeatHome, the festival is featuring throwback photos, trivia and some games across social media channels. It’s running through July 19.

Oh, bike racks. #ArtscapeAtHome pic.twitter.com/6udXMNkMOk

— Artscape (@ArtscapeBmore) July 14, 2020

For those looking to connect with the community, opportunity remains, even if still in the virtual realm. At least it cuts down on travel time, and there’s even air conditioning.

And it gives us something to look forward to, even when summer is sidelined. Here’s a look at a few tech and entrepreneurship events that are coming up for the rest of this month:

Ag Innovation Challenge Webinar

At the American Farm Bureau Annual Convention in 2021, awards totaling $145,000 will be up for grabs to tech companies working in the agriculture space. With the July 31 deadline to apply coming up, F3Tech is offering a webinar to learn about the event. cofounders of Baltimore-born beekeeping-farmer connection startup HiveLend will talk about how they got into the event’s Final 4, and MidAtlantic Farm Credit’s Andrew Rose will share tips on applying from a judge’s perspective.

• Monday, July 20
• 1 to 1:30 p.m.
• RSVP

Baltimore Data Week

As Technical.ly’s Donte Kirby reported this week:

The Baltimore Neighborhood Indicators Alliance-Jacob France Institute at the University of Baltimore is celebrating its 20th anniversary, and has turned data day into data week. The week is geared toward promoting and educating communities about open data in their city and how it can be used to make actionable progress in their neighborhoods. Visit BNIA’s Data Day page to register for the free Zoom webinar events that include workshops, panels and a pitch competition.

• July 20 through 24
• Various times
• Register

Downtown Download Webinar

The Downtown Partnership of Baltimore hosts a webinar with legal experts who will discuss the changing landscape for business policies related to COVID-19 and racial equity. Panelists include Robin Silver from Miles & Stockbridge; Justin A. Williams from Rosenberg, Martin, Greenberg; and Ryan J. Potter from Gallagher, Evelius & Jones.

• Tuesday, July 21
• 9 a.m.
• RSVP

Managing Remote Employees in a Post-COVID World

AIA Baltimore hosts a webinar with Gregory Currey, an attorney with Wright, Constable & Skeen, LLP. As WFH continues on, it’s time to brush up on the conversations we all started having back in March. Currey will talk culture and collaboration, as well as adapting company policies to fit with distancing.

• Tuesday, July 21
• 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.
• RSVP

Black-Led Startups Pitch Competition

Entre is organizing this virtual pitch competition, featuring six judges presenting to a panel of judges that includes TEDCO’s Mac Conwell. Cash prizes up to $1,000 will be awarded.

• Wednesday, July 22
• 5:30 to 8 p.m.
• RSVP

PTW Virtual: Gaming as a Social Movement

As part of Technical.ly’s PTW Virtual series, join a virtual event collaboration with Nerd Street Gamers and Balti Virtual where the panelists are also the players of the game. They’ll discuss the impact of current events on the gaming industry, while battling it out with rocket-powered cars on a virtual soccer field. Panelists include John Fazio, CEO of Nerd Street Gamers, Will Gee, founder and CEO of Balti Virtual and moderator Donte Kirby.

• Thursday, July 23
• 1 to 2 p.m.
• Nerd Street Gamers Twitch channel

B’more Women in STEM vs. COVID-19: Round II

AWIS Baltimore presents a virtual panel featuring women powering COVID-19 research in Baltimore. Panelists include Dr. Kimia Ghobadi assistant professor at Johns Hopkins’ Center for Systems Science and Engineering; Divya Hosangadi, senior analyst at Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security; Dr. Tanjala Purnell, assistant professor at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine; and Dr. Pan Zheng, a professor at UMB’s Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland Baltimore.

• Thursday, July 23
• 4 to 5 p.m.
• RSVP

Rocket Pitch + Power Networking

CONNECTpreneur Investor Network, which presents networking events around the DMV throughout the year, presents a virtual programming including pitches from 10 founders and virtual networking.

• Thursday, July 30
• 11 a.m. to  1 p.m.
• RSVP

AccelerateBaltimore Info Session

ETC’s 13-week accelerator program for startups is returning in 2020 with a focus on civic tech. With applications set to close Aug. 1, get some info that could help put the finishing touches on an entry for your company to be selected among the five who will receive $50,000 and access to resources and mentorship.

• Thursday, July 30
• 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.
• RSVP

Potential of Edtech: Riding the 2020 Roller Coaster

Baltimore has deep roots in building educational technology, and with schools transitioning to distance learning that seems more relevant than ever. But in a pandemic, it’s been a year of ups and downs. Sylvan Learning and TU Incubator are organizing a panel of edtech leaders to discuss the wild ride of 2020.

• Thursday, July 30
• 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
• RSVP