NZTech UPDATE – Techweek’17 and a call for ShadowTech mentors

Hi Readers,

Techweek’17 is almost here.  When I think back to a year ago when we committed to expanding Techweek from a calendar of Auckland events to a truly national festival, we knew it would be a challenge.  With very limited funding we approached this year as our MVP.  The goal was to engage tech communities throughout New Zealand and create a national experience.

Now, with over 200 events scheduled across 25 cities, I am proud of what the team has achieved. In case you haven’t met them, the Techweek team includes Jennifer Clamp, Jackie Clark, Georgia Taylor, Natalie Robinson, Keren Phillips, Laura Kerrison and Courtney Peters.

It’s encouraging that everywhere I go, every meeting I attend, people are talking Techweek’17.  Last week, at our regular meeting with Minister Dunne, he was excited to be hosting Techweek’s Beehive Code Club experience bringing together kids and Ministers to learn coding at the Beehive.

When you are across all of the events, like I am, it is hard to decide which ones to attend as they are all so interesting.  If I can pull it off, my Techweek’17 calendar will look something like this: Auckland on Sunday (Magnify AR/VR demo day), Wellington on Monday (Beehive and EHF events), Auckland on Tuesday (Blockchain and Investor Guide events), Hamilton on Wednesday (Farming 2020), back to Auckland for the Hi-Tech Alumni event and launch of the NZ Tech Story on Thursday.  Friday will be busy with AI and FoodTech events in the morning followed by the Hi-Tech Awards to finish the week.

I hope you can experience a few of the wonderful tech and innovation conversations that we’ve coordinated into Techweek’17. Follow Techweek’17 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.  Tag #twnz17 and I’ll see you there!

All the best

Graeme

PS: Read this great piece from yesterday’s Sunday Star Times on ShadowTech Day.

STARTS THIS SATURDAY!

BE A SHADOWTECH MENTOR

AWARDS DINNER SOLD OUT!

CONNECT

Join Canterbury Tech on 9 May for Developing a Laser Tag System and Blockchain and Crypto-currencies. Also in Christchurch this week, the NZTech Women Executive Lunch on 3 May.

Join the NZSA on 9 May in Auckland.  Hear from Xero’s Gareth Cronin on scaling software product businesses without losing the magic.  Also hold the date for the NZSA’s An Angel at My Table, scheduled for 8 August.

Do you share a passion for tech marketing? Join the Wellington Tech Marketers Community for their first networking event on 25 May.  An opportunity to share ideas, expertise and provide support.

PROMOTE

Registrations are now open for mentors for ShadowTech Day.  We are looking for mentors in Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Rotorua, Palmerston North, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.  This is your chance to inspire the next generation of women into tech.

Take a glimpse into the future of the New Zealand food industry during Techweek on 12 May in Auckland.  Attend the NZBio Autumn Reception on 10 May in Auckland.  Early bird registrations are now open for the NZBio Annual Conference, 12-13 October in Wellington.

New Zealand is packed with cool #twnz17 events to showcase the best of NZTech.  Check out the highlights for the Upper North Island, Lower North Island and South Island.  Plus the Techweek’17 Next Generation programme to inspire kids.

ADVANCE

Enhancing collaboration for 21st century learning.  Register for our EdTech Summit on June 26-27 in Auckland.  A must for all educators, tech leaders and policy makers.  This year, structured into two forums; Tech and Pedagogy, and EdTech for Export.

Want to know more about innovation and technology in law?  Register for Lawfest 2017 on 17 May in Auckland.
For your $100 NZTech member discount, please email Andrew King.  Learn more about LawFest 2017.

Did you know only 3% of 15 year old New Zealand girls consider a career in IT?  Women make up only 23% of those employed in tech.  Want to help make a change for the better?  Register as a mentor for ShadowTech Day.

Want to know more?  Sign up for the NZTech weekly update, it’s free and will take less than a minute!