Events Roundup: Refresh your tech or startup career in Pittsburgh with these January programs

Events Roundup is a Technical.ly column where we highlight events happening in the Pittsburgh area each month. Got a submission? Email us the details so we can consider it for our next roundup.

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Have a tech-related New Year’s Resolution?

These events coming up in January will help you get a start. From honing new programming skills to finding funding for your startup idea, this mix of conferences, hackathons and meetups will bring together members of Pittsburgh tech looking for a strong beginning to 2022. For students and professionals alike, these events offer mentorship and community as local technologists look to capitalize on the success of this year.

Did we miss anything? Email pittsburgh@technical.ly to have new events added here.

2022 EDGE Women’s Leadership Cohort

This nine-month program for mid-career women kicks off at the end of January, with applications due at the start of the month on Jan. 7. Participants in the program will have access to mentorship and resources through a community of other women in the middle stages of their careers, in an effort to create a supportive environment that is sometimes lacking in the tech workspace. Programming will focus largely on the development of soft skills like personal branding, leadership, networking and more in an effort to prepare women for the second half of their careers.

• Applications due on Friday, Jan. 7; program starts with in-person event on Thursday, Jan. 27 through Friday, Jan. 28
• Free to apply

Code & Coffee

This monthly community work session will continue in the new year! Hosted by Node.pgh and Prototype PGH, this in-person event is a chance to hone your coding skills alongside other technologists, with all skill levels welcome. These informal sessions are a great opportunity to network and problem solve on any coding projects or questions you may have, and newcomers are welcome! Those who are unvaccinated are encouraged to wear a mask.

• Saturday, Jan. 8, noon to 2 p.m.
• Prototype PGH, 460 Melwood Ave. #208, Pittsburgh
• Free to attend

2022 Three Rivers Educational Technology Conference (TRETC): Making Connections

This professional development event in partnership with the Pittsburgh Technology Council’s nonprofit arm, Fortyx80, is a chance for educators at all levels to learn more about integrating technology into their teaching. Apart from networking opportunities, this conference features discussions specifically tailored to CTOs, superintendents, grade and high school teachers and more, all with the aim of advancing education through tech.

• Sunday, Jan. 16 through Monday, Jan. 17
• Hybrid, multiple locations
• $70 for two-day attendance, $50 for Monday only

McGinnis Venture Competition Round 1

The annual McGinnis Venture Competition will launch its first round next month. The renowned competition is open exclusively to Carnegie Mellon University students for a pitch competition awarding a total of $60,000 across the winners. It also gives them access to a vast network of alumni entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and more essential resources to grow their businesses. Past winners of the competition include successful tech startups such as Agot AI, Fifth Season, BlastPoint and Vigilant Technologies. The first round application deadline is Jan. 19, with judging to begin on Jan. 21.

• Application deadline: Wednesday, Jan. 19
• Online
• Free to apply

Startup Funding in Pittsburgh w/ OneValley: How to Raise Capital

Looking to raise money for your startup in the new year? This event will feature a discussion between venture capitalists and startup founders like Zach Malone of Draper Triangle Venture Capital and Nicholas Kuhn of NanoGriptech on how to leverage local resources to get capital for your company. Beyond learning how to find funding, the discussion will also share insights on how equity works and common pitfalls of the venture capital process. Plus, this in-person event takes place in the newly finished roundhouse at Hazelwood Green, a growing entrepreneurship hub for Pittsburgh tech.

• Thursday, Jan. 20, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• OneValley, 4170 Second Ave., Pittsburgh (entrance on Blair Street)
• Free to attend

Census, Data, and the Reapportionment Process in Pennsylvania

Fresh off the news of redistricting in Pennsylvania, this virtual event hosted by the University of Pittsburgh’s Year of Data and Society initiative will examine how census data and other sources are used to determine new political district boundaries. Those interested in civic tech and understanding the process of how data can inform policy should be sure to attend this discussion, led by Pennsylvania Association of School Retirees Executive Director Mark McKillop, who previously worked in the Senate of Pennsylvania where he specialized in redistricting.

• Friday, Jan. 28, noon to 1 p.m.
• Online event
• Free to attend

She Innovates 

Hosted by Pitt’s School of Computing and Information, the Big Idea Center and the university’s Women in Computer Science organization, She Innovates is a hackathon for undergraduate and graduate female students in the Pittsburgh region. In addition to the hackathon, the hybrid event will feature mentorship, technical talks and more. Those wishing to participate in person will have to abide by the university’s pandemic protocols, including wearing a mask indoors.

• Friday Jan. 28 through Sunday, Jan. 30
• Hybrid event
• Free to attend for any undergraduate or graduate student

Sophie Burkholder is a 2021-2022 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.