Countdown to Philly Tech Week 2021: Check out these first events on the community calendar

Much like the rest of the world, the 10th annual Philly Tech Week presented by Comcast was anything but normal, compliments of COVID. So, in 2020, we chose to slim down and postpone until September. We are proud to say we pulled off an exceptional week of events, all while staying true to our mission statement:

“Philly Tech Week convenes and connects people who use new tools and processes to make a better future for all communities.”

Much like last year, PTW21 is almost entirely online (almost … more on that next week). What’s different this year? Technical.ly is partnering with longstanding tech community organizer and regional tech council Philadelphia Alliance for Capital and Technologies (PACT) on producing the 11th annual Philly Tech Week. Together, we are very happy to be returning to our traditional spring timing to run May 7 through 15, 2021.

With over 20 options to choose from (and counting), deciding which events to invest your time and attention it can be a bit overwhelming; there is no shortage of compelling topics. Here are just a few of the featured events we think you will enjoy.

Monday, May 10 – Penn Emerging Startup Showcase

If you are a fan of the “Shark Tank” format of watching the latest and greatest entrepreneurs presenting their startups to a panel of brutally honest investors, this is the event for you. Join the University of Pennsylvania and PACT as they feature pitch-length presentations from some of the most innovative startups emerging from Penn. The lineup of tech and healthcare companies includes School Sims, Myorete and Infini-Fluidics. They’ll be joined by a panel of investors providing on-the-spot feedback to our presenting companies. Plus, join them following the presentations in our virtual lounge and meet the presenters face to face.

Monday, May 10 — Entrepreneurs Blazing A Trail In The Legal Cannabis Market

2020 was a massive year for the cannabis industry. RCCB Partner Jon Grosser and Attorney Neil Willner will moderate a panel discussion on new technologies and innovations that will take the cannabis industry to the next level. Please join us to hear from leaders in technology, software, processing facilities and research who are blazing the trail in this dynamic industry.

Tuesday, May 11 — Technical.ly Developers Conference

The Technical.ly Developers Conference is historically one of the highlights of PTW. Good news: For the first time, the conference will be completely free. This conference is the place where programmers sharpen their skills, learn new approaches and explore new opportunities. Technology companies will also share their expertise, connect with top engineering talent and promote their company culture. Find more details here.

Tuesday, May 11 — Building a Cell & Gene Therapy Business Alliance

In the past decade, Philadelphia has continued to climb the charts as a leading life science hub in the U.S. This year, Philadelphia ranked sixth on Newmark’s 2020 list for innovation and growth areas, moving closer toward Boston, San Francisco and Seattle. But what will it take for Philly to move even higher? Moderated by Sam Woods Thomas, director of life science and biotechnology for Philadelphia’s Department of Commerce, this panel discussion will look at how a regional alliance for cell and gene therapy could cement Philly as the top life science market cluster in the U.S.

Tuesday, May 11 — The Future of Data and AI in Business and the Workplace

This event will feature great speakers and panelists discussing the current and future applications of advanced data science. The event will start with a keynote speech from Freya Systems’ lead data scientist, Christopher MacNeel, on the basic principles of AI and machine learning. Then join us for a panel led by Freya CEO Ben Johnson on the future of data and AI in business and the workplace. The panel will incorporate diverse thought leaders in data from academia, healthcare and data science agencies.

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To register for these events and many more, visit 2021.phillytechweek.com. Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for the latest event news, sponsor info and newly added events. And keep an eye out next week for another group of featured events.