Flashback Friday: TechfestNW
As we gear up for TechfestNW 2018, we take a look back at what we learned last year — and how marketing agencies can benefit from attending.
The tech community in Oregon is more than alive and well — it’s thriving. TechfestNW, Portland’s annual technology conference, holds the proof. For two days, notable speakers from across the globe descend on Portland to share their thoughts on the present and future of technology. Many attendees come specifically for PitchfestNW, a competition and “conference within a conference” designed for startups looking to get their ideas in front of investors. Out of hundreds of applications, only a handful make the cut.
Founded in 2012, TechfestNW covers a wide variety of tech-related topics. Last year’s event featured speakers from such diverse companies as Nike, Daimler, and the New York Times. We saw a number of sessions devoted to digital health, including a product designed to simplify glucose monitoring for diabetics, apps and services for people with eating disorders, a talk on the collaborative potential of technology and healthcare, and more.
VR was also a central topic. However, the talks focused less on technical details and more on the power of storytelling and empathy. Eren Aksu from Emblematic, based in LA, gave a talk on VR’s potential to unite people. Aksu’s company has developed journalistic VR experiences that allow users to immerse themselves in circumstances they would not normally experience — from a solitary confinement cell to New York’s flagship Cartier store in the year 1910. And contrary to the popular idea that virtual reality causes users to ignore the world around them, Aksu proposed that VR could be a way for people to “better understand each other.”
Although TechfestNW has a global focus, the “Silicon Forest” is well represented. Last year, startups and speakers from Oregon’s tech hub shared their innovations in digital health, drones, 3D printing, VR, robotics, cannatech (it is Portland), and more. Oregon Senator Ron Wyden spoke to a packed room about the importance of cybersecurity — bound to be a hot topic again this year, especially in light of the current drama around Facebook. Three of last year’s PitchfestNW finalists were founded in Portland, and the winner, Madorra, is located in Portland’s South Waterfront — just a 5-minute walk from the Quango office!
All in all, TechfestNW is a testament to the creativity brewing in Portland’s tech community — and beyond. Though the tech world often skews white and male, TechfestNW features a collection of diverse voices. Seasoned professionals give speeches about the future of robotics while, in the next room, teens excitedly show off robots they built. From the technical to the empathetic, TechfestNW is a showcase of brilliant ideas and brilliant people. We can’t wait to see what this year’s event will bring!
