No matter how promising an event looks, we fully understand that mingling with strangers isn’t always at the top of everyone’s to-do list.
Well, fear not. As the hosts of Super Meetup Philly, we have access to the ever-growing guest list, and there are a few friends we want you to meet.
We’re hopeful that the information below sparks some good conversation-starters for you, eliminating any of that uncomfortable small talk. Because at the end of the day, “Yes, it was a hot summer” and “No, we didn’t have any trouble finding parking” are just kinda awk. This is the Super Bowl of networking and we know you can do better.
Read on to get familiar with some companies that are very excited to meet you at the Uptown Beer Garden on Tuesday, Sept. 25.
RSVPWebLinc
First things first, you can thank this software company for the free beer you’ll be drinking all evening long.
That said, this happy hour sponsor isn’t just everyone’s favorite person at the party, it’s a longtime stalwart of the Philly tech scene, having been around since 1994 and an original member of N3rd Street.
Perhaps the most important thing to know about WebLinc is that, although it built its reputation as a website services provider, over the last year it has shifted its business model to feature its proprietary software platform, WorkArea. The new software allows ecommerce retailers to build and customize their websites. With the pivot to a product-first model also came a demand for roles at the company that previously didn’t exist.
“A lot of people think we only focus on hiring developers, but we also want to talk to visual designers in UX/UI, and people with interest in the tech world when it comes to sales and marketing,” said People Operations Manager Ryan Amaya. “There are lots of opportunities for client-facing roles.”
But don’t feel pressure to whip out your resume as soon as you meet the WebLinc team. Just like you, they’re ready to casually shake some hands and start a conversation.
“We’re interested in getting a pulse on who’s out there locally,” said Amaya. “We want to get to know people in the area, in the tech community. And we want the chance to talk to anybody that wants to learn more about what we do or contribute to our team.”
PromptWorks
PromptWorks builds custom software for clients that run the gamut from Fortune 500 companies to new ventures, including Twitter, Sony and Picwell.
“Because of our focus on engineering, we get to work with extraordinary clients solving really complex problems,” said Director of Operations Kristy Humes. “We are experts in Ruby, Python, JavaScript, mobile development, UX design and we utilize the Agile process.”
Currently, the company is going through a period of great growth and is looking to make at least four to five hires. Good candidates are not just highly skilled engineers, UX designers and software project managers, but are also capable of closely advising clients on strategy and design.
“We’re not just engineers for hire; we’re in a partnership with our clients,” said Humes. “We help them understand how to develop their software in the way that makes the most sense. We want engineers who enjoy complex problem solving and finding ways to an elegant solution. That involves a lot of consulting with clients, and understanding what their needs are.”
Don’t let all this make you think they’re all work and no play. The collaborative, ego-free Center City office space is built for fun and learning, featuring a foosball table, endless snacks, pairing stations that enable engineers to work together and weekly catered lunch-and-learns.
FreedomPay
No suits and ties required to work at this digital payment platform. FreedomPay provides advanced commerce technology so that merchants can better operate payments in a PCI-secured environment. And although it’s been around for 18 years, it still operates with a startup mindset.
“We’re not a 9-to-5 culture. We have more of a ‘come in and get the job done’ mentality,” said Director of Human Resources Allan Moulds. “We’re motivated, type-A, outgoing and work at a fast pace.”
The fintech company provides commerce solutions to a wide range of industries, covering sports (including your favorites, the Phillies and Eagles), gaming and hospitality in Las Vegas (hello, MGM Grand) and airports and rest stops across the East Coast.
Though they work hard, Moulds assures us there’s also plenty of fun to be had.
“We have an on-site barista who makes complimentary food and beverages,” he said. “And at least once a month we have a party. We celebrate every holiday. We’ve hosted everything from an old-school video game day, to luaus, to a Diwali celebration, Super Bowl parties, Hanukkah, Halloween…”
The company is excited to attend Super Meetup for the same reason it recently moved its headquarters from Radnor, Pa., to Center City: “We want to support the Philly community.”
Technical.ly Talent IRL
This summer, Technical.ly has been busy connecting the dots on how we bring our digital and events experiences more closely together, especially when it comes to how people find jobs.
Super Meetup has been been one of our most impactful ways that we connect our readers and hiring companies, but connecting people to new opportunities is something we do all year long with our Technical.ly Talent platform.
To help share that story, we’re setting up a special experience during Super Meetup that we hope you’ll love: Talent IRL.
Not only will we be helping attendees navigate the 25+ sponsors at the event, we’ll have an in-person event “jobs board” so you can see what opportunities are available at Super Meetup. Plus, we’ll have copies of our new, beloved jobs newsletter “This Week In Jobs,” written by me, Abby Mosconi.
You’ll also have a chance to meet two close friends of the Technical.ly Talent platform, who know how job connections happen: Co-Create Founder Kristin Dudley will share more about the work she’s doing to help everyone love where they work. And Technical.ly’s new Match Lead Arie Mangrum can tell you how he’s helping companies and candidates find their perfect match.
“Consider Technical.ly’s Talent IRL your official job concierge at Super Meetup,” Dudley said. “We’ll be there to help anyone who wants to learn about the awesome culture of the companies in this community, like Technical.ly does through its editorial and jobs board every day, and hopefully make the experience better for everyone.”
https://www.meetup.com/Technically-Philly/events/251885544/
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