The Victoria Innovation, Advanced Technology & Entrepreneurship Council has unveiled a weeklong celebration of regional success stories designed to cultivate local collaboration.
VIATEC says that the forthcoming Victoria Tech Week intends to leverage a decentralized format that was inspired by models adopted by popular events like Boulder Startup Week, Seattle Tech Week, and NY Tech Week.
“Victoria Tech Week turns our entire city into a stage for innovation,” says Dan Gunn, chief executive officer of VIATEC.
Victoria Tech Week, slated for November 17th through 21st, empowers businesses to open their doors and welcome attendees inside, offering an authentic behind-the-scenes look at Victoria’s thriving ecosystem.
“Instead of being locked in a single convention hall, people will be moving through neighbourhoods, stepping inside local companies, and experiencing the culture that drives our sector,” says Gunn.
“It is a chance for the community to see what has been hiding in plain sight and for the world to see why Victoria’s tech ecosystem has more momentum now than at any time,” added the CEO.
By distributing events across multiple venues, Victoria Tech Week is designed to generate widespread economic benefits for the city’s hospitality and service sectors as well, with attendees naturally supporting local cafés, restaurants, and other businesses while moving between events.
“Our hope is that many of these companies will open their doors so the community can see where all the innovation is happening, often right around the corner or upstairs from plain sight,” says Tessa Davies, VIATEC’s Director of Communications and Events.
One company opening their door is Redbrick, a sponsor of the event, which intends to host “intimate events” throughout the week.
“Participants will be moving throughout Victoria, experiencing our neighbourhoods, supporting local businesses, and seeing firsthand why our quality of life attracts world-class talent,” says Victoria Tech Week co-organizer Marc Stoiber.
The weeklong event culminates in two flagship events, Stoiber says: The Prompt Victoria >_ AI Conference, which is set for November 20, and then the iconic Discover Tectoria as a capstone affair on November 21.
Thanks for the awesome coverage. When I did NY Tech Week and Seattle Tech Week this year, they were incredible. The decentralized nature of the events ensured I got to a huge variety of different venues – from rooftops in Seattle, to a recording studio in NY. Each event was full of new people who took networking very seriously – they were keen to meet. And the events were all sponsored by different companies, which meant no one sponsor had to carry the massive load.
Coming back to Victoria, I thought this place could use that sort of awesomeness. I was thrilled to see Dan at Viatec loved the idea (Viatec had run similar events in the past) and that Tessa at Viatec would help me organize everything. Great ideas are nice – but great organization is EVERYTHING.
Thrilled to say that, following the official press release dropping yesterday, we’ve been running full tilt with enquiries from people who want to sponsor, host at their venue, offer speakers, etc.
Very exciting. And super grateful to you for helping spread the good news!!!