Startups

What the heck is a neoFest?

The one-day celebration of startups, tech and what's new in Delaware hits the Chase Center on May 7.

As the buzz builds for neoFest — including the Startup302 pitch competition — you might be wondering if it’s something you should get involved with.

If you have a startup in Delaware, are interested in starting one, or are interested in sharing innovative ideas with other people locally, then yes, you probably should.

neoFest is a joint project between a dozen-plus organizations, including University of Delaware’s Horn Entrepreneurship, Delaware Prosperity Partnership, Delaware Innovation Space, Delaware Sustainable Chemistry Alliance, New Castle County Emerging Enterprise Center, Millennial Summit, Delaware Small Business Development Center and Tech Forum. It will take place at the Chase Center on the Riverfront on Thursday, May 7.

“All of these different organizations are working together on this one event, aligning, and, in some ways, combining,” said Ariel Gruswitz, director of innovation for the Delaware Prosperity Partnership. “So, for example, the New Castle County Chamber’s annual Entrepreneurship Summit is going to get folded into the educational component of neoFest during the first part of the day.”

neoFest, which is planned to become an annual event, will include:

  • The finals of Hen Hatch, the University of Delaware student/alumni/staff startup competition
  • Entrepreneurial Summit sessions
  • Tech talks
  • “Ask an Innovator” sessions
  • Lunch and keynote
  • Innovation Showcase, a juried event
  • Awards celebration
  • The finals of the Startup302 pitch competition
  • “Investor Connect”
  • After party

For the Innovation Showcase, led by Tech Forum, founders, inventors and innovators can apply for free for an opportunity to exhibit at neoFest. Exhibitors will be judged for several awards that will be given out at the celebration at the end of the day. Those who are accepted will pay a $500 exhibitor fee and will receive two free neoFest tickets ($280 value). Application deadline is March 17.

“It’s going to give people the opportunity to share ideas,” said Michele Schiavoni, director of external relations and marketing for Delaware Prosperity Partnership. “Let’s share a vision. That may sound textbook-y, but it’s really a way to go from good to great with what we’re trying to do in Delaware.”

Through March 27, tickets to neoFest are at a discounted early bird rate of $19 for students ($40 after March 27) and $99 for non-students ($140 after March 27).

P.S. As it happens, neoFest is happening during our 10th annual Philly Tech Week presented by Comcast. We hope you make it up to Philly for events like the Technical.ly Developers Conference on May 4 and the Signature Event, aka Nerd Met Gala, on May 8.

Before you go...

Please consider supporting Technical.ly to keep our independent journalism strong. Unlike most business-focused media outlets, we don’t have a paywall. Instead, we count on your personal and organizational support.

3 ways to support our work:
  • Contribute to the Journalism Fund. Charitable giving ensures our information remains free and accessible for residents to discover workforce programs and entrepreneurship pathways. This includes philanthropic grants and individual tax-deductible donations from readers like you.
  • Use our Preferred Partners. Our directory of vetted providers offers high-quality recommendations for services our readers need, and each referral supports our journalism.
  • Use our services. If you need entrepreneurs and tech leaders to buy your services, are seeking technologists to hire or want more professionals to know about your ecosystem, Technical.ly has the biggest and most engaged audience in the mid-Atlantic. We help companies tell their stories and answer big questions to meet and serve our community.
The journalism fund Preferred partners Our services
Engagement

Join our growing Slack community

Join 5,000 tech professionals and entrepreneurs in our community Slack today!

Trending

The person charged in the UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting had a ton of tech connections

From rejection to innovation: How I built a tool to beat AI hiring algorithms at their own game

Where are the country’s most vibrant tech and startup communities?

The looming TikTok ban doesn’t strike financial fear into the hearts of creators — it’s community they’re worried about

Technically Media