Your 2023 Pittsburgh tech conference guide

From the student-centered Discovery Day to pitch competitions like the UpPrize Social Innovation Challenge, Pittsburgh has no shortage of exciting tech events. Yet we at Technical.ly know it can be hard to keep track of what conference is happening and when.

To make marking up your calendars a little easier, we’ve rounded up a year’s worth of tech events that give you some options, whether you’re a student, an academic, or an entrepreneur looking for the next networking opportunity.

Since some of the local tech scene’s annual event series have yet to make any announcements about a 2023 event, this list is subject to change. Expect it to be updated when we hear about more events. If you have any to share, please reach out at pittsburgh@technical.ly.

McGinnis Venture Competition

This student entrepreneur pitch competition is exclusively for Carnegie Mellon University students. Should your presentation win, you and your business could take home up to $60,000 in investments. Even if you don’t take home a monetary prize, you can still make plenty of connections in the Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship.

• When: March 21
• Where: 4765 Forbes Ave. and virtual
• Cost: Free

CMU Energy Week

This annual conference explores opportunities and challenges of decarbonizing the industrial sector. Throughout the week, sustainability leaders, investors and entrepreneurs will discuss the biggest issues facing energy around the world.

• When: March 21 to 24
• Where: Carnegie Mellon University
• Cost: Free

SteelHacks Pitt Hackathon

This event is hosted by the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Computing and Information for students around the Pittsburgh area to create and problem solve using technology.

• When: March 24 to 25
• Where: 135 N. Bellefield Ave.
• Cost: Free

XChangeIdeas weekend hackathon

This hackathon hosted by XChangePgh is all about ideas, finding solutions to everyday problems, and finding better ways to use technology. Whether you’re a novice or a seasoned entrepreneur or intrapreneur, you’re welcome to experiment and swap ideas at this event.

• When: March 24 to 26
• Where: Carnegie Mellon University
• Cost: $100, but free for some groups

Our CS: Diversity in Tech

This is a research-focused conference designed to help more diverse candidates enter the field of computer science research. The conference is accepting applications from undergraduate students currently enrolled in computer science programs.

• When: March 31 to April 1
• Where: Virtual via CMU
• Cost: N/A

Project Olympus Show and Tell

This student entrepreneur event is a two-hour opportunity for startup founders and CMU professors to give presentations about their companies and take advantage of networking opportunities.

• When: April 13
• Where: Carnegie Mellon University
• Cost: Free

Aviation and Robotics Summit

The Aviation and Robotics Summit is for members of the robotics and aviation industries to come together, discuss robotic solutions, and see the new technologies available at the Pittsburgh International Airport. The event is hosted by the Pittsburgh Robotics Network and Innovation Works’ Robotics Factory and is the beginning of the CREATE series the Robotics Factory plans to host over the course of the next year.

• When: April 18 to 29
• Where: N/A
• Cost: N/A

Teq Ed Tech Roadshow

The Teq Ed Tech Roadshow organizers want educators, school and building leaders to share ideas on STEM education, try out robotics products, and participate in professional development opportunities.

• When: April 19
• Where: DoubleTree by Hilton Pittsburgh
• Cost: Free

BUILDFest SWPA Youth Pitch Competition

Each year, BUILD.org convenes business teams from schools and community orgs across Pittsburgh to develop a product, service or campaign that would improve their communities.

• When: April 20
• Where: N/A
• Cost: N/A

2023 STEM Summit

This Pittsburgh Technology Council-hosted fair is designed to introduce students in grades 6 through 12 to possible STEM careers.

• When: April 19
• Where: Penn State University
• Cost: $50 for members and $90 for non-members

Xchange Innovation Week

Xchange Innovation Week is a little unorthodox because in its first year, it’s letting potential attendees decide where they want it to take place, and what they’d like to do over the course of the week. If you’re a hacker, programmer or entrepreneur with ideas, XchangePGH wants you to submit ideas about what should be shared and showcased during this week of digital and IRL events.

Look out, too, for the series’ XchangeValue workshops taking place in October, and XchangeAwards awards ceremony to celebrate outstanding entrepreneurs in November.

• When: April 24 to May 1
• Where: TBD
• Cost: Free

AI and Robotics Venture Fair

The AI and Robotics Ventures Fair provides a forum for these tech founders to showcase their startups for prospective investors.

• When: May 1
• Where: Fairmont Hotel
• Cost: Free

Crypto Energy Summit

The Crypto Energy Summit is an event where professionals from the cryptocurrency, renewable energy, oil and gas industries meet. The convention will include panel discussions and networking opportunities.

• When: May 11
• Where: Loft Conference Center
• Cost: $175

DrupalCon

DrupalCon is a summit dedicated to training courses and sessions where members of the Drupal community — yes, the content management software — can learn about new initiatives while networking with colleagues.

• When: June 5 to 8
• Where: David L. Lawrence Convention Center
• Cost: $795 for early birds

CMU K&L Gates Conference on Ethics and Artificial Intelligence

This conference gives leaders from academia, government, and the tech industry the opportunity to discuss the ethics and ultimate impact that artificial intelligence could have on their professions and society as a whole.

• When: June 21 to June 22
• Where: Carnegie Mellon University
• Cost: N/A

Electronic Power Transformation: 2023 MEGA Symposium on Energy, Environment, Policy

This year’s MEGA symposium will focus on how the energy industry can transition from its current state into electric energy that is climate-resilient, clean, cost-effective and reliable.

• When: Sept. 26 to 27
• Where: Sheraton Pittsburgh Hotel at Station Square
• Cost: $595 for members and $745 for non-members

Know of a tech conference or event happening in the Steel City that we missed? Let us know by emailing pittsburgh@technical.ly.

Atiya Irvin-Mitchell is a 2022-2024 corps member for Report for America, an initiative of The Groundtruth Project that pairs young journalists with local newsrooms. This position is supported by the Heinz Endowments.