Spooky season is finally here, but the only fear you should have this month is the fear of missing out. October’s tech and entrepreneurship events schedule is fuller than a candy basket after a long night of trick or treating.

There are big ecosystem convenings like TEDCO’s 2026 Entrepreneur Expo and 1Philadelphia’s Innovation Weekend, info sessions on the Nasdaq Entrepreneur Center’s Milestone Circles program and Temple University’s GIS and GDS graduate degrees, and relaxed networking gatherings like the Tech Council of Delaware’s Tech a Walk and the University of Maryland BioPark’s Science in the City. Nexus Louisiana continues its college football gameday Tech Tailgates, and the North Dakota bioscience community comes together for its annual summit. The sheer volume of activity can be a little scary, but you won’t want to ghost these events.

Check out the links below, and for more local tech community events (or to promote your own), visit the #events channel in Technical.ly’s free community Slack.

Thursday, Oct. 1

Virtual

  • Milestone Circles Information Session — “If you’ve ever said, ‘I’m so busy working IN my business that I never work ON it,’ this session is for you. Milestone Circles, powered by the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center, is a free, 12-week program that helps U.S. founders achieve one meaningful business goal through expert-led workshops, guided reflection, peer accountability, and targeted mentorship. Join our open house to learn how Milestone Circles can help you.” Hosted by the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center.
  • Digital Assets, Prediction Markets, and the New Regulatory Frontier — “As the US Congress and administration advance digital asset market structure legislation, the regulatory landscape for digital assets, prediction markets, and related financial products continues to evolve. Featuring insights from Morgan Lewis lawyers with experience at the CFTC and SEC, this webinar will examine the latest legislative and regulatory developments, their implications for financial institutions, fintech companies, and gaming businesses, and what organizations should expect as new rules are implemented.” Hosted by Morgan Lewis. 
  • AI Contracting in an Era of Digital Dependency: Key Issues in Outsourcing and Commercial Transactions — “Please join us for a discussion of emerging issues in contracts involving artificial intelligence tools, AI-enabled services, outsourcing arrangements, and other commercial transactions.” Hosted by Morgan Lewis. 
  • Accelerating Your Research with AI while Still Writing Every Word — “This session is headlined by José Antonio Bowen, co-author of Teaching with AI: A Practical Guide to a New Era of Human Learning. José offers that using AI is like being an executive chef. You need to know how to cook and you make all the decisions and do the verification. AI is like a Chef de Cuisine who creates assignments for your RAs or agents (your Sous Chef).” Hosted by University of Delaware Horn Entrepreneurship. 

Maryland

  • ETC’s Fueling Your Technology — “Join founders, investors, financial experts, and ecosystem partners to gain valuable insights, build meaningful connections, and discover resources designed to help startups grow and thrive.” Hosted by Emerging Technology Centers (ETC), Baltimore Development Corporation (BDC) and the University of Maryland BioPark.

North Carolina

  • Life Sciences Unplugged with Research Triangle Foundation of NC — “Join us for an evening of networking, conversation, and insights into the growing life sciences ecosystem in Research Triangle Park! We’re excited to partner with the Research Triangle Foundation of NC for this special Life Sciences After Hours event at Horseshoe at the Hub RTP. The evening will bring together professionals, business leaders, and innovators from across the life sciences community for a conversation about an often-overlooked part of the industry: the power of storytelling.” Hosted by the Morrisville Chamber of Commerce and Research Triangle Park.

North Dakota

  • ND Next – The Future Grows Here — “ND Next is a conference designed to strengthen rural North Dakota communities by connecting entrepreneurs, business owners, community leaders, educators, workforce partners, and innovators around emerging opportunities for growth and prosperity.” Hosted by North Dakota State University with partnership from the NSF AgTech Engine in North Dakota.
Find more events on Technical.ly’s free community Slack

Saturday, Oct. 3

Louisiana

  • Tech Tailgate – Southern vs UAPB — “Kick off the season with Nexus and LA.IO at Tech Tailgates. Connect with founders, investors, and builders shaping Louisiana’s tech ecosystem, get to know our co-hosts, and learn about accelerators and startup investment across the state.” Hosted by Nexus Louisiana.

Tuesday, Oct. 6

Virtual

Wednesday, Oct. 7

Virtual

Delaware

  • Tech a Run — “Join us for a relaxed 3-mile out-and-back networking run on Brandywine Creek’s Brandywine Trail, starting at Thompsons Bridge.” Hosted by Tech Council of Delaware.

Maryland

  • Maryland’s Hispanic Leadership Awards — “Maryland’s Hispanic Leadership Awards honor the growing and powerful force of Hispanic people in Maryland’s economy and culture by recognizing Hispanic leaders and the companies that empower them.” Hosted by The Daily Record and The Maryland Hispanic Chamber of Commerce with sponsorship from TEDCO.
  • BRITE: Marketing 101 Series (3 Part Series) — “If you’re a founder or small business owner, you’ve probably run social posts, sent emails, maybe bought some ads — and you still can’t point to what’s actually driving revenue. That ends here. BRITE Core: Marketing Series is a 3-part workshop that helps you stop chasing trends and start building a marketing system that fits your business. You’ll learn how to define your ideal customer, attract quality leads, and turn them into paying clients — all with simple tools you can use right away.” Hosted by Howard County Economic Development Authority. Additional sessions on Oct. 14 & 21.
  • Science in the City — “Join us for Science in the City, a relaxed, no-pressure happy hour designed to bring together innovators, entrepreneurs, researchers, creatives, and resource leaders from across the Baltimore region. Whether you’re looking to spark new ideas, build meaningful connections, explore collaborations, or simply unwind after work with people shaping Baltimore’s innovation ecosystem, this is a welcoming space to mix, mingle, and connect. No pitches, panels, or formal agenda — just good conversation, new faces, and an opportunity to strengthen relationships across the city’s growing science, technology, and innovation community.” Hosted by the University of Maryland BioPark.

Philadelphia

  • Executive Forum — “The Executive Forum brings together Greater Philadelphia’s senior business leaders for a morning built around substance and connection. Phil Mackintosh, Chief U.S. Economist at Nasdaq, delivers a national and regional economic outlook, then opens the floor for direct Q&A on the issues shaping your business right now. Chamber President and CEO Chellie Cameron also joins to share a firsthand look at the Chamber’s priorities and the initiatives shaping Greater Philadelphia’s future.” Hosted by the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia.

Thursday, Oct. 8

Virtual

Maryland

  • 2026 Annual Meeting: Bold. Regional. Connected. — “Through dynamic storytelling, featured speakers, and high-impact networking, the program will spotlight the partnerships and strategies advancing business investment, strengthening workforce pipelines, accelerating innovation, and expanding inclusive economic opportunity across the region. Attendees will gain insight into what is working, who is leading, and where the region is headed next.” Hosted by the Greater Baltimore Committee with sponsorship from TEDCO, Howard County Economic Development Authority and Ballard Spahr.
  • MedTech Pitch Competition — “Join us for an exciting evening when, five rising MedTech startups pitch live. Network with the MedTech community over drinks and libations.” Hosted by Amplify MedTech and the University of Maryland BioPark.

Philadelphia

  • YPC Meet the C-Suite Featuring Dan Fitzpatrick — “Join the Young Professionals Council for Meet the C-Suite, our series where young professionals sit down with regional CEOs, founders, and C-suite executives to hear firsthand how they built their careers and the lessons they picked up along the way. This month’s forum features Daniel K. Fitzpatrick, President of Citizens’ Mid-Atlantic Region and a recipient of the Chamber’s 2024 William Penn Award, the region’s highest honor for a business leader.” Hosted by the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia.

Virginia

  • Brunch on the Boulevard — “Join the Langston Boulevard Alliance and BizLaunch, with sponsorship from Metro Motor, for an engaging community brunch designed for small business owners and professionals.” Hosted by the Langston Boulevard Alliance and Arlington Economic Development.

Tuesday, Oct. 13

Virtual

North Carolina

  • Miracle Road: The Story of RTP – Book Launch and Signing — “Come celebrate the launch of Miracle Road: The Story of Research Triangle Park, the historical story of RTP’s ‘rocky origins’, defining moments, recalibrations, and its ever-enduring promise of ‘inventiveness and collaboration’. Join us Oct. 13, as co-author Mack Paul shares the journey he and his father took to bring the story to life, drawing on more than 160 interviews with world-renowned leaders and scientists.” Hosted by North Carolina Biotechnology Center and Research Triangle Park.

Philadelphia

Find more events on Technical.ly’s free community Slack

Wednesday, Oct. 14

Virtual

Delaware

  • Tech a Walk — “Join us for a relaxed two mile walk with lightly facilitated conversations and an opportunity to connect with other professionals.” Hosted by Tech Council of Delaware.

Maryland

  • MIC Marketing Lab: Design an Offer People Will Pay For — “Most founders build a great service and then bury it under vague pricing, unclear packaging, and a model that doesn’t match how their customers actually buy. The result is a business that has to re-sell itself every single month. In this session, MIC Managing Director Pauline Shiu breaks down pricing strategy, offer design, and consumer buying behavior — so you can build an offer people say yes to and a revenue model that doesn’t reset to zero every 30 days.” Hosted by Howard County Economic Development Authority.

Philadelphia

Thursday, Oct. 15

Virtual

  • Fall 2026 M&A Bootcamp — “Interested in understanding current best practices in being acquired or acquiring startups in 2026? The Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center and our partners will present an update on the current M&A environment, discuss best practices to position yourself for future M&A opportunities, and explore winning strategies for successful transitions.” Hosted by the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center.

Maryland

  • Pitch & Mingle Series: The Great Pumpkin Pitch — “Fall means it’s time for the MIC’s favorite pitch competition to heat back up. Five entrepreneurs from across Maryland pitch live for more than $10,000 in prizes, then it’s cocktails, light fare, and networking with entrepreneurs, investors, and mentors from around the state.” Hosted by Howard County Economic Development Authority.
  • TEDCO’s BRIDGE Program Open Forum — “Come to the Open Forum to learn more about TEDCO’s BRIDGE program and how it connects you to advisory services, access to capital, and region-wide resources to help grow and scale your business.” Hosted by TEDCO.
  • Built with charm #3 — “Baltimore has always been a city of builders, from shipyards to startups, murals to microchips. “Built with Charm” is a new gathering for everyone building something in our city. Whether you’re shipping an app, experimenting with new tech, finishing a client project you’re proud of, or just getting started on an idea, this is your space to share, connect, and celebrate the act of building something in the city.” Hosted by Baltimore Tech Meetup and the University of Maryland BioPark.

Saturday, Oct. 17

Louisiana

  • Tech Tailgate – LSU vs. Mississippi State — “Kick off the season with Nexus and LA.IO at Tech Tailgates. Connect with founders, investors, and builders shaping Louisiana’s tech ecosystem, get to know our co-hosts, and learn about accelerators and startup investment across the state.” Hosted by Nexus Louisiana.

Philadelphia

  • BarCamp Philly — “Walk into most conferences and someone hands you a schedule that got locked months ago. Walk into BarCamp Philly and the schedule is a big empty grid on the wall. By mid-morning, it won’t be. That’s an unconference. The people who show up build the program themselves, the morning of the event. Anyone can propose a session — you write your idea on a card, pitch it to the room, and everyone votes with stickers on what they want to hear. Ideas that draw interest get a room and a time slot, and that empty grid turns into a full day of talks and workshops that didn’t exist two hours earlier.” Hosted by BarCamp Philly Collective with media partnership from Technical.ly.

Tuesday, October 20

DC

  • Boundary Breakers: A Showcase of Critical Technology Innovations in National Security — “From R&D in the lab to deployment in the field, entrepreneurs and innovators will join us to share the lessons they’ve learned along the way. As part of DC Startup & Tech Week, the brightest minds in the region will convene at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg Center for an evening of lightning talks from innovators, scientists, and entrepreneurs on Tuesday, October 20, 2026.” Hosted by Squadra Ventures with media partnership from Technical.ly.

Maryland

Philadelphia

  • Founders Alley Philadelphia: Our City in Motion — “Founders Alley returns to Philadelphia on October 20, 2026, bringing together founders, investors, operators, creators, and ecosystem leaders for a full day at Pennovation Works. This isn’t another conference built around sitting in a room and collecting business cards. Founders Alley is designed around the conversations, introductions, and opportunities that actually move companies and communities forward.” Hosted by Founders Alley with media partnership from Technical.ly.

Wednesday, Oct. 21

Maryland

  • TEDCO’s Venture Development Open Forum — “Join TEDCO’s Venture Development team for a monthly Open Forum — a recurring lunchtime discussion designed to keep Maryland’s entrepreneurial ecosystem connected, informed, and empowered.” Hosted by TEDCO.

North Carolina

North Dakota

  • BioScience Summit — “Join us for the fourth annual BioScience Summit — where the region’s brightest minds in bioscience, medical devices, and biotechnology come together for a day of big ideas, meaningful connections, and real opportunity. Whether you’re an industry leader, researcher, entrepreneur, student, or simply curious about the future of bioscience in the FM region, this is the event for you.” Hosted by Fargo Moorhead Economic Development with support from the NSF AgTech Engine in North Dakota.
Find more events on Technical.ly’s free community Slack

Thursday, Oct. 22 – Saturday, Oct. 24

Philadelphia

  • Innovation Weekend — “Innovation Weekend is where founders, investors and operators gather for curated experiences that turn proximity into momentum. Across three days, the weekend creates the rooms, relationships, and conversations that help companies grow and ecosystems move forward.” Hosted by 1Philadelphia.

Thursday, Oct. 22

Virtual

Maryland

  • 2026 MEDA Fall Conference — “Housing has become one of the defining economic development issues of our time. Employers can’t attract talent without attainable housing. Communities can’t grow without strategic planning, infrastructure, partnerships, and local leadership. This conference will explore why housing has become an economic imperative, what’s preventing new housing from being built, and the practical solutions Maryland communities are using today.” Hosted by the Maryland Economic Development Association with sponsorship from TEDCO and Ballard Spahr.
  • Business Mastermind Series — “Are you a small business owner or entrepreneur looking to deepen your understanding of what it truly takes to run a successful business? Join us for a transformative, hybrid six-week intensive workshop designed to refine your overall business management strategies.” Hosted by Howard County Economic Development Authority. Additional sessions held Thursdays through Dec. 3.
  • Strategic Storytelling for Scientists: Creating FOMO so People Act — “In this 60-minute session, attendees will build a story architecture for pitches, elevator conversations, and investor narratives, and leave with a reusable framework for making technical work land with non-technical audiences.” Hosted by the University of Maryland BioPark.
  • Nexevate —  “Scaling beyond your home market isn’t just about translating a website or hiring local reps, it’s about surviving the friction when your playbook hits an unfamiliar wall. The hidden cost of global expansion is almost always cultural and structural blindness. On October 22th, Session 2 brings together international scale-up leaders, ecosystem architects, and cross-border innovators for an unscripted, direct dive into what happens when growth crosses geographic and sector lines.” Hosted by Nexevate with media partnership from Technical.ly.

Friday, Oct. 23

North Carolina

  • RTP Student Entrepreneurship Conference — “A full day for student founders in the heart of RTP. NGEN, the Ivy League entrepreneurship network, is bringing a select group of founders, builders, and innovators from UNC, Duke, and NC State to Frontier RTP.” Hosted by NGEN and Research Triangle Park.

Philadelphia

  • 2026 Annual Meeting — “Join the Chamber and its regional partners, community leaders, and key stakeholders as we celebrate what it means to be Greater Together — recognizing the collective strength of a strong and growing business community. Together, we’ll reflect on our 225-year rich history of fostering an environment where businesses can thrive and look ahead to the next chapter of advancing economic opportunity through job creation, talent attraction, and strategic collaborations across Greater Philadelphia.” Hosted by the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia.

Saturday, Oct. 24

Louisiana

  • Tech Tailgate – Tulane vs. USTA — “Kick off the season with Nexus and LA.IO at Tech Tailgates. Connect with founders, investors, and builders shaping Louisiana’s tech ecosystem, get to know our co-hosts, and learn about accelerators and startup investment across the state.” Hosted by Nexus Louisiana.

Tuesday, Oct. 27

Virtual

Delaware

Maryland

  • TEDCO’s 2026 Entrepreneur Expo — “TEDCO’s 12th Entrepreneur Expo is happening Tuesday, October 27, 2026, at the Hilton Baltimore Inner Harbor. This can’t-miss, statewide event brings together Maryland’s entrepreneurs, innovators, international entities and ecosystem leaders for a high-impact day of workshops, roundtables, live pitches, and an exhibitor showcase packed with resources to help companies start, grow, and scale.” Hosted by TEDCO.

Pittsburgh

  • Scale Expo — “Scale Expo is an Innovation Works event connecting local hardware, med-tech, and robotics innovators with regional manufacturers for hands-on conversations about production partnerships.” Hosted by Innovation Works.

Wednesday, Oct. 28

Virtual

Maryland

  • TEDCO’s Investment Open Forum — “Come to the Open Forum to discuss topics related to venture capital investing and learn more about the TEDCO Investment Funds.” Hosted by TEDCO.

Philadelphia

  • Chamber 101 — “Get more out of your Chamber membership with Chamber 101, a learning and networking breakfast designed to help members and investors put their membership to work. Whether you’re brand new to the Chamber, just discovering what your company’s membership has to offer or are ready to get more engaged, this free session is a practical, hands-on way to understand your benefits and start building your engagement plan.” Hosted by the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia.

Thursday, Oct. 29

Virtual

  • What’s Hot in the Emerging Companies, Venture Capital, and AI Deal Market — “Our emerging companies and venture capital lawyers will draw on experience representing companies, founders, investors, and strategic acquirers across a high volume of transactions. We will discuss how market conditions are influencing valuations, financing structures, deal terms, governance, diligence, transaction execution, liquidity strategies, and exit opportunities.” Hosted by Morgan Lewis. 

Looking to get out more in your local tech community? Explore the #events channel in Technical.ly’s free community Slack to find opportunities to connect.

Find more events on Technical.ly’s free community Slack