By Julian Steinforth, Expedition PR
Cofounder,
Food52 and provisions at Northside Innovation
The tech scene in Brooklyn is thriving and has attracted a great mix of startups, established companies and incubators. While most of New York City’s tech events listed on Gary’s Guide still take place in Manhattan, don’t overlook the Brooklyn tech mixers.
Here are our top four picks for tech networking events in Brooklyn:
Brooklyn Tech Meetup: Founded in 2012, the Brooklyn Tech Meetup features Brooklyn tech companies and innovators in its monthly meetings. Speakers share their views on new tech developments in Brooklyn or talk about their story as a Brooklyn-based business. In addition to meeting inspiring entrepreneurs, you can connect with organizations that can help you start and operate your business, such as the Brooklyn Downtown Alliance or New York City Business Solutions. At every meetup there is plenty of time for networking. There is a small admission fee of about $10. The monthly events are held at different locations. Check out the upcoming meetup here.
Northside Innovation Meetup: Started in 2013, the Northside Innovation Meetup is held monthly at the Brooklyn Brewery and brings together the most exciting and dynamic innovators from Brooklyn and beyond to discuss their ever-changing industries, ideas, challenges and more. Each event has a different theme, but the event format is the same: The events start with presentations by speakers who talk about their “aha”- moment, the moment that actually led them to start the company or find a better way to do business. The keynote presentations are followed by half-hour panel discussion and a Q&A with the audience. After the program ends, attendees stay for networking and food from Mable’s Smokehouse. This is an invitation-only event, with no admission fee. Early sign up is recommended.
DUMBO Tech Breakfast: This event is for people who speak tech. Its focus is less on the business story than on how to make tech products and solutions. The concept is simple: “Everybody grabs some food, grabs a seat and talks tech.” There is no particular focus or topic, neither any speakers or panel discussions, but for tech obsessed who want to start their morning breakfast with a discussion about Linux, Phyton and the Web 2.0 or any other tech related topics, this event is ideal. The event takes place every second Friday at DUMBO Kitchen.
Technical.ly Brooklyn Meetup: Technical.ly Brooklyn is a local technology news site, that offers great events, such as the Diversity In/Tech Event, I wrote earlier about. Exploring how the local tech community is impacting job growth/retention, digital access/education and government/policy reform in Brooklyn, the events are worth going to occupy oneself with different angles of technology. Since they don’t meet on a regular base, I recommend to sign up for the Meetup group to stay updated. They also have a weekly newsletter.
This is not an exhaustive list. The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce also organizes great events for Brooklyn-based businesses. In fall 2013 The Center for Entrepreneurship at St. Francis College in Brooklyn Heights started hosting free events on the topic of entrepreneurship. Last but not least, B3Global, one of the largest entrepreneur networking groups in New York City, puts together events that are great networking and new business development opportunities for entrepreneurs from all types of industries.