4th Annual Techweek Chicago Conference and Expo Begins
Chicago, IL (PRWEB) June 26, 2014 -- Techweek, the nation’s leading technology conference and festival showcasing, celebrating and enabling emerging innovation ecosystems, today kicks off its expo and conference at 12pm. The 4th Annual Techweek Chicago presented by Microsoft will continue through June 29. Techweek Chicago is the largest technology conference in the Midwest, dedicated to bringing together entrepreneurs, visionaries, influencers and thought leaders under a single 7-day “big tent” of remarkable collaboration and engagement. The Techweek Chicago 2014 conference and expo will run from June 27-28, closing out an exciting week of spotlighting the local ecosystem.
Techweek Chicago will celebrate the unique intersections in technology, including those in education, finance, startups, entertainment, fashion, gaming and more. Techweek Chicago aims to provide an open space for all who are passionate about technology to be a part of the conversation – this year, Techweek Chicago’s conference and expo will feature:
• High-Profile Speakers: Techweek Chicago will showcase influential leaders and influencers in technology in nine summits focusing on trends, innovation, growth, action and change within the greater tech industry. Notable names include: Brenna Berman, commissioner and CIO of the City of Chicago, who will give the opening remarks and discuss the growth in the tech industry in Chicago; Ryan Ozonian, president at Cyber Dust, who will share his entrepreneurial experiences; Kathryn Minshew, co-founder and CEO of The Muse, who will speak about navigating through the startup world; and Jeff Hoffman, partner and co-founder of ColorJar and founder of Priceline, who will provide insight into finding success as a startup.
• Future Sound Music Festival: The intersection between music and technology will be explored during the inaugural Future Sound Music Festival on June 26-28 on the South Drive at the Merchandise Mart. Recently announced headliner Eric Prydz will grace the Jack Daniels stage on Thursday, June 26, from 9pm-10pm. Thursday’s performances also include those by emerging artists NORdj and Jetlag. The festival continues with an exciting lineup including: St. Lucia, Panama Wedding, The Giving Tree Band, The Runners, Kody Madro. and Hans Bitburger (winner of the “Battle of the DJs” competition). The festival will conclude with an immersive 3-D show by Morgan Page. This stellar lineup will take place along the Chicago River with stunning views of the city.
• NASA’s Mobile Exhibit: NASA’s Mobile Exhibit is a multi-media experience that immerses visitors in the story of NASA and specifically the International Space Program. Guests will learn about the role the space station plays as the centerpiece of human exploration efforts, learn about where future exploration plans will take humans, how NASA will prepare for long-duration space travel, next-generation vehicles and surface systems, and the robotic missions that will be sent in advance to pave the way. Visitors will have the opportunity to touch a 4-billion-year-old moon rock brought back in 1972 aboard Apollo 17, the last time astronauts landed on the moon.
• LAUNCH Competition: Pre-qualified startups will compete for cash and sponsor-donated gifts valued at $50,000 from noon-5pm on Thursday, June 26. Each participating startup will pitch its business and will be judged by a panel of top tech and business leaders who will decide the winner of the LAUNCH Competition.
• Hiring Fair: For those searching for a new, exciting role or looking to bring an idea to fruition, the Hiring Fair is all about matching talented people with the right jobs. The Hiring Fair attracts more than 50 top businesses, ranging from startups to well-established tech brands. Attendees who bring a resume will be granted complimentary access to the Hiring Fair. Techweek Chicago will host a tech Hiring Fair from noon-5pm on Friday, June 27.
• Hackathon: The Hackathon is a day of development fueled by participants’ passions for business, innovation and technology. Techweek Chicago’s Hackathon, presented by AngelHack and Rackspace, will feature more than 50 developers, designers, and entrepreneurs looking to create the next best web or mobile app. The event starts on Friday, June 27 at 12pm and concludes on Saturday, June 28 at 6pm.
“We are excited to bring Techweek home to Chicago for a fourth year with the goal of strengthening and encouraging innovation and collaboration within the community,” said Iain Shovlin, Chairman of Techweek. “Techweek Chicago will bring together remarkable ideas, important conversations and an incredible experience to provide a platform on which to unite those who are passionate about technology. Techweek is proud to provide remarkable speakers and opportunities to truly achieve our mission to celebrate, showcase and enable innovation ecosystems.”
Top sponsors of Techweek Chicago include: Dropbox, Gogo Air, Microsoft, Salesforce and Southwest Airlines.
To learn more about Techweek Chicago or to register, visit http://techweek.com/chicago.
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ABOUT TECHWEEK
Techweek is a seven-day conference, expo and festival where entrepreneurs, tech visionaries and thought leaders meet to enable the innovation ecosystem in the cities of Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami and New York. Techweek curates compelling programming that allows a global spotlight to shine on each ecosystem and its leaders. Past speakers include Rahm Emanuel (Mayor, Chicago), Travis Kalanick (CEO, Uber), Craig Newmark (Founder, Craigslist), Barney Harford (CEO, Orbitz), Dan Gilbert (Founder, Quicken Loans), Peter Diamandis (Founder, X PRIZE) and Pitbull (World renowned musician). The Techweek expo has gathered more than 200 sponsors, including companies such as Google, Groupon, Microsoft, Motorola, Redbox, Uber and Wordpress. The after-parties at Techweek have become famous for events like the Bootlegger's Ball, attracting sports teams such as Stanley Cup Champions the Chicago Blackhawks and for hosting entertainers like Calvin Harris.
Sara Devine, Techweek, http://techweek.com, +1 3123768793, [email protected]
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