Boston TechJam 2014 To Showcase, Inspire And Celebrate Local Innovation Economy

BOSTON, April 22, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- On June 12, 2014, the second annual Boston TechJam will transform City Hall Plaza into the largest and most diverse innovation event in the region. Boston-area entrepreneurs, startups, established tech and tech-enabled companies, venture capitalists, non-profit groups, students and artists will come together to network and celebrate the region's technology ecosystem in an event that uniquely combines a tech block party, live concert and innovation showcase.

With its new venues at Boston's City Hall Plaza and Historic Faneuil Hall, the event will be bigger and more diverse than 2013, which brought in nearly 2,000 attendees over the course of the afternoon and evening and sold out days before the event. The 2013 event also crowned startup company DataCrowd its first-ever "Pitch Heard 'Round the World Contest" winner and contributed nearly $10,000 – 100 percent of the admission revenue – to the MassTLC Education Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization focused on supporting computing education in Massachusetts.

"We want the world to expect innovation to come from Boston and to look to us as a technology leader," said Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh. "The city is already one of the greatest talent incubators and centers of intellectual capital in the world. Events such as Boston TechJam and the organizations involved help keep that talent local and provide the support needed to bolster our innovation economy."

As a showcase and accelerator for new ideas and world-class innovations coming out of the region, Boston TechJam invites a broad spectrum of contributors across the tech, business and creative industries to connect and have fun with peers in a unique and non-traditional way.

What to Expect

• Historic Faneuil Hall adjacent to the Faneuil Hall Marketplace from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. – This two-part event will kick-off with a pitch contest, "The Pitch Heard 'Round the World," where startups test their pitches and ideas in front of a panel of leading local venture capitalists and entrepreneurs. New this year will be a series of TechTalks by tech and other luminaries as they share secrets behind their successes and tips to inspire the latest generation of innovators. More details will follow.
• Boston City Hall Plaza from 4:00 to 9:00 p.m. – Network with 3,000 other tech industry workers, explore tech innovations and enjoy "street festival"-type games and activities hosted by more than 75 area tech companies. This innovation showcase will feature live bands from the tech industry, local artists, craft beer from Harpoon Brewing and local food trucks.

"The success of Boston TechJam '13 was beyond even our wildest visions," said Mark Lorion, co-founder of TechJam and chief marketing officer at Apperian.  "This year promises to show off innovations already underway and to create unexpected connections that will again lead to new startups, new jobs and new partnerships. Boston TechJam will rally people who share the vision and passion for raising our profile to its rightful place in the national technology conversation."

"Innovation doesn't happen by itself – it's created for people by people," said Tom Hopcroft, president and CEO of the Mass Technology Leadership Council (MassTLC), the lead organizer of the event. "New ideas, and even industries, are born when people from different backgrounds – be it different industries, experience-levels, risk profiles, you name it – 'bump' together and spark ideas in creative settings like Boston TechJam. Within the next three to five years, expect to read about a great company or innovation that got started at Boston TechJam."

"There's no question that Boston's incredible wealth of entrepreneurs, investors, mentors, tech talent, university faculty and students make it the best place in the world to start and grow companies," said C.A. Webb, director of the New England Venture Capital Association. "Paired with the city's physical density, that wealth means that we are well equipped to support its innovators in every conceivable way."

The event is being led by co-founders Mark Lorion of Apperian and Christine Nolan of MassTLC along with founding team members Dave Polcaro from East Coast Catalyst, Ben Maitland-Lewis from Presskit.to and Joel Richman from SHIFT Communications. Other leading collaborators include Greenhorn Connect, MassChallenge, MITX, New England Venture Capital Association and TUGG.

The event would not be possible without the thought leadership and financial support of our underwriting sponsors Constant Contact, Continuum Managed Services, DYN, EnerNOC, HP, LogMeIn and Wayfair. Additional sponsorship and exhibiting opportunities are available.

How to Get Involved (You must be 21+ to attend)

• To register to attend TechJam and get the most up-to-date information on the schedule of events, visit www.bostontechjam.org  and follow @bostontechjam (#btj2014). 100 percent of the admission will go to support computing education in Massachusetts through the MassTLC Education Foundation.
• To exhibit or sponsor, contact exhibit@bostontechjam.org.
• To apply for the Startup Pitch Contest, contact info@bostontechjam.org.
• To perform as a musician or exhibit as an artist, contact info@bostontechjam.org. For bands to be considered, at least one member of the band must currently work in the Boston area tech community.
• To attend as a member of the press, contact btj@shiftcomm.com.

About Boston TechJam
Boston TechJam is a showcase and accelerator for new ideas and world-class innovations coming out of the Boston region. The event brings together early stage companies, entrepreneurs, students, established enterprises, venture capitalists and artists to celebrate the region's technology, entrepreneurship and culture. Equal parts idea exchange and celebration, Boston TechJam is an unconventional meeting ground for local innovators, visionaries and up-and-comers. The 21+ event will take place June 12, 2014 in Boston City Hall Plaza.

Boston TechJam is supported by Constant Contact, Continuum Managed Services, DYN, EnerNOC, HP, LogMeIn and Wayfair and collaborators include Apperian, MassTLC, East Coast Catalyst, Presskit.to, SHIFT Communications, Greenhorn Connect, MassChallenge, MITX, New England Venture Capital Association and TUGG.

Media Contact:
SHIFT Communications
btj@shiftcomm.com

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140421/76890

SOURCE Boston TechJam