More than a dozen and a half US states are represented among the first group of announced speakers for this year’s Technical.ly Builders Conference.

Did you know? This is the only conference focused specifically on storytelling for entrepreneurs, ecosystem builders and place-based marketers. The annual event this year takes place May 6-8 in Philadelphia, timed with the US Semiquincentennial and Philly Tech Week. We expect more than 300 people to join us from around the country. 

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Early-bird tickets are available through Feb. 28, when the cost jumps a bit, so get yours now to lock in the discount.

As ever, a ticket is not just professional development for you, but supporting our local journalism and ecosystem storytelling.

Here’s the plan, in broad strokes:

  • Wednesday, May 6 (5 to 7 p.m.): Opening reception
  • Thursday, May 7 (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.): Conference programming, including workshops, discussions and podcasts
  • Friday, May 8 (9 a.m. to 3 p.m.): Conference programming, including a special interactive element to celebrate the US Semiquincentennial
  • Friday, May 8 (5 to 10 p.m.): Drexel Square activation and skyscraper gaming — To help close Philly Tech Week, we’re bringing back the Guinness-certified world’s largest video game for the first time in 12 years alongside an outdoor, interactive party 

Conference programming kicks off Thursday morning with the first-ever live recording of Builders Live, Technical.ly’s podcast on ecosystem building with co-hosts Victor Hwang (Right to Start), investor Brian Brackeen (Lightship Capital) and Rae’Mah Henderson, most recently of Techstars. 

A group of seven people sits around an outdoor table having a discussion, with papers and drinks on the table; two other people stand nearby.
Attendees during a break at the 2025 Builders Conference (Beau Monde Originals)
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Throughout the two days that follow, expect dedicated rooms for workshops on applied AI (bring your laptop), plus interactive high-growth founder “fishbowl” discussions. Planned sessions include “Centering (and Funding) Entrepreneurship,” “AI Analytics: What We’re Tracking” and “Explaining the Sciences as Economic Strategy.”

Our confirmed speakers include:

  1. Victor Hwang, Right to Start founder/CEO (California)
  2. Brian Brackeen, Lightship Capital founding partner (Ohio)
  3. Nicola Corzine, Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center (California)
  4. Rae’Mah Henderson, Techstars (Alabama)
  5. Hollie Mackey, NSF AgTech Engine CEO (North Dakota)
  6. Scott Nissenbaum, Ben Franklin Technology Partners CEO (Pennsylvania)
  7. Tim VanReken, Headwaters Tech Hub Executive Director (Montana)
  8. Kendrick Alridge, Nexus Louisiana ecosystem development (Louisiana)
  9. Steve Wray, City of Pittsburgh economic development director (Pennsylvania)
  10. Taylor Overton, Midwest House chief strategy officer (Kansas)
  11. Tiffany Henry, ACC Capital Foundation executive director (Arkansas)
  12. Fay Horwitt, WayBuilders founder (North Carolina)
  13. Aaron Weiskittel, Center for Research on Sustainable Forests director (Maine)
  14. CJ Bell, State of DE Small Business director (Delaware)
  15. Amy Beaird, Ecosystem Edge founder (Florida)
  16. Jason Rittenberg, Excel Regions founder (Ohio)
  17. Debbie Irwin, Lighthouse Network executive director (Virginia)
  18. Tasia Malakasis, The Company Lab (Tennessee)

Any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to info@technical.ly. We look forward to seeing you there!