(Net)work from home: 13 virtual events to connect with Baltimore’s tech and biz community

Events Roundup is a Technical.ly column where we highlight events happening in the Baltimore area each month. Have a submission for the next edition? Email us the details at baltimore@technical.ly.

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Social distancing orders to stop the spread of COVID-19 meant in-person events were canceled or postponed. But with tools that make remote work possible and a bit of creativity, it didn’t take long for a schedule to re-emerge with virtual events.

So, yes, the Baltimore tech community is still getting together. With news changing all the time and everyone hunkered down at home, the need to find community may be more needed than ever.

For just a couple of examples we saw last week, Startup Grind Columbia quickly shifted its plans from an in-person fireside chat to a session on “Overcoming Social Distancing.” Baltimore Women in Tech’s planned late-March happy hour transitioned from a mixer at Spark Baltimore to a Zoom meeting sharing new realities and drink choices. And Technical.ly put together a panel on hiring in a crisis with growth companies from around the mid-Atlantic.

Cheers & Thank You to everyone who joined us tonight! We had a blast hosting our 1st virtual #happyhour & it won't be our last! #mybmore #womenwednesday #womenintech pic.twitter.com/fDiRcwzmtg

— Baltimore Womxn in Tech (@BmoreWomenTech) March 26, 2020

And even as we head into April under a stay-at-home order announced Monday by Gov. Larry Hogan, meetups, webinars and more are on the schedule to provide networking and resources.

Take a look at the virtual events calendar:

Federal and State COVID-19 Economic Disruption Resources for Small Businesses

Last week, the U.S. government and State of Maryland both announced new relief packages for small businesses amid COVID-19. Baltimore Development Corporation and M&T Bank are teaming up to host a webinar with officials who will talk about the CARES Act, Small Business Administration loans and Maryland’s emergency relief grants.

Speakers include: Mayor Bernard C. “Jack” Young of the City of Baltimore; U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin of Maryland, who is the ranking member on the U.S. Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee; and Stephen Umberger, director of the U.S. Small Business Administration Baltimore District Office and a representative from the Maryland Department of Commerce.

• Tuesday, March 31
• 2 to 3 p.m.
• Register

COVID-19: Immediate Secure Remote Work Response Summit

The full-day event format is going virtual. The switch to remote work has brought change across sectors. Columbia-based Attila Security is bringing together tech companies to talk about adapting government agencies, businesses and contractors. Plus, there will be sessions on training, collaboration and a chance to network. The event will take place on Zoom, and will be broadcast on YouTube.

• Tuesday, March 31
• 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Register

Weathering the Storm: A Virtual Gathering on COVID-19 Adaptation

Backroom and Cohado are teaming up for a daylong online community drop-in. It’s a chance to hear from folks about how they’re adapting, and learn about new approaches in a time of uncertainty. The day features half hour interviews with leaders in healthcare, business and entrepreneurship, the arts, thought leadership and government. Participants are welcome to stay for all or part of the event.

• Wednesday, April 1
• 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Register

Vital Signs Wednesdays

The Baltimore Neighborhood Indicators Alliance at Jacob France Institute is rolling out its annual report on neighborhood-level data in Baltimore through a series of weekly webinars. The next session is April 1, with the release of info on crime and safety, as well as children and family health. Further sessions on April 8, 15 and 22 will cover census demographics workforce and economic development and more.

• Wednesday through April 22
• 3 p.m.
• Register

It's that time of the year again! That's right Baltimoreans, data about your neighborhood is on the way. We're doing things a little differently this year, so join us for a series of webinars each Wednesday in April to release each chapter! https://t.co/HFXCxBeS2i #WorkFromHome

— BNIA-JFI (@bniajfi) March 23, 2020

Fireside chat with mayoral candidate Thiru Vignarajah

Startup Grind Baltimore is hosting a virtual fireside chat with Vignarajah, who is running for mayor along with more than a dozen other Democrats in the June 2 primary. Vignarajah is a former federal and city prosecutor, and deputy attorney general of Maryland.

• Thursday, April 2
• 4 p.m.
• Tickets

Let’s Build an API in Python

Learning to code keeps going in the virtual event realm.  Code and Coffee and MASTERMND are teaming up to lead a session on building in Python. Over the course of two sessions on April 4 and April 18, they will be building an open source API for Code and Coffee.

• Saturday, April 4 & Saturday, April 18
• 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
• RSVP

East Coast Bootstrappers Breakfast

The monthly event series for entrepreneurs building businesses without venture capital is moving online, and adding cities including New York, Philly and Atlanta to the mix.

• Tuesday, April 7
• 8:30 to 10 a.m.
• RSVP

Moving AI work online

The Baltimore Tech Meetup is bringing together members of TEDCO’s AI roundtable for a series of short presentations. Presenters include Dr. Jim Fackler of Rubicon Health, Yet Analytics CEO Shelly Blake-Plock and Yaylo founder Mohid Farazi.

• Tuesday, April 7
• 4 to 5 p.m.
• RSVP

Leveraging Technology to Weather the Storm

Startup Grind Baltimore is hosting a panel discussion on how businesses can use technology and data amid social distancing. Plus, there will be breakout sessions with chances for networking. Speakers include NextGen Venture Partners’ Lolita Taub, Protenus Chief of Staff Sherrod Davis, T. Rowe Price Data Analyst Anand Macherla and ByteLion Project Manager Matthew Lowinger.

• Thursday, April 9
• 5 to 7:30 p.m.
• RSVP

Storytelling in User Experience

Baltimore UX Meetup is hosting a session with UX practitioner Joe Natoli on how storytelling can bring impact to user experience, both in getting buy-in and getting work noticed.

• Tuesday, April 14
• 6 to 8 p.m.
• RSVP

Social Engineering 101: Don’t Get Manipulated by Attackers

Attention, nonprofits: Baltimore Techies for Good is hosting a cybersecurity-focused webinar on the interactions that attackers study to manipulate people and gain illegal access to data and systems. It’ll feature Erich Kron, a security awareness advocate at KnowBe4.

• Thursday, April 23
• 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• RSVP

Virtual Skill Shares at Impact Hub Baltimore

Impact Hub Baltimore typically holds in-person opportunities for social entrepreneurs to share their passions and expertise. Now it’s shifting the program online to Instagram Live. The calendar remains full, and there’s plenty of chances to pick up some at-home skills, perfect for social distancing. Full schedule here.

Hack to Help 2020

You can still play capture the flag in quarantine, thanks to Baltimore-based Point3 Security. Through the company’s ESCALATE platform, it’s hosting virtual capture-the-flag challenge to help promote social distancing, and pick up a few cyber skills in the process. Plus, there will be prizes. The first challenge is already released, and more will be available on April 2 and 9. The competition runs through April 16. Get in the game here.

Planning a virtual event? Email us at baltimore@technical.ly to be included.