We previously shared a list of blogs and mainstream media that provide start-up PR coverage. PR is a good way to attract users and keep the start-up on everyone’s radar. Additionally, we have shared a list of conferences taking place in 2009. Conferences provide a good way to connect with influential people involved in a focused area from across the country.
This post will list the best tech events that are held in major US cities. These community events are a good way for a start-up to reach a broader group of individuals who use web apps but do not attend conferences or actively read tech blogs.
How the list was built:
We searched popular sites like Meetup and Eventbrite as well as aggregate sites like Gary’s Guide to collect a long list of unqualified events. We then filtered the list via local knowledge by turning to our community and network.
The list below is incomplete. Help us refine it by sharing your thoughts in the comments. We’ll update the list as suggestions come in.
Top Tech Events in Austin
- Web Design and Developers: monthly events, 30 attendees
- BarCamp: events scheduled throughout the year, > 250 attendees
Top Tech Events in Baltimore
- Refresh Baltimore: monthly events, 50 attendees
- Ignite Baltimore: events scheduled throughout the year, > 100 attendees
Top Tech Events in Boston
- Social Media Breakfast: monthly events, > 60 attendees
- Web Innovators Group: monthly events, > 150 attendees
- DemoCamp: events scheduled throughout the year, > 100 attendees
- Ignite Boston: events scheduled throughout the year
- ProductCamp: events scheduled throughout the year, > 200 attendees
Top Tech Events in Boulder / Denver
- Boulder New Tech Meetup: 1st Tuesday of the month, > 325 attendees
- Denver/Boulder Startups: monthly events, 50 attendees
- Refresh Denver: monthly events
Top Tech Events in Chicago
- Net Tuesday: 2nd Tuesday of the month, 30 attendees
- TechCocktail: events scheduled throughout the year, > 250 attendees
Top Tech Events in Detroit
- Refresh Detroit: monthly events, > 30
- Startup Weekend: events scheduled throughout the year, > 100 attendees
- TechCocktail Ann Arbour: events scheduled throughout the year
Top Tech Events in Houston
- Startup Happy Hour: monthly events, 30 attendees
- Web Designers and Developers: monthly events, 30 attendees
Top Tech Events in Los Angeles
- LA Web App Developers: every other month, 75 attendees
- LA Sem Web Meetup: monthly events, 30 attendees
Top Tech Events in Miami
- Social Media Club: monthly events, 50 attendees
- Refresh Miami: monthly events, > 150 attendees
- BarCamp: events scheduled throughout the year, > 200 attendees
Top Tech Events in Minneapolis
- Social Media Breakfast: monthly events, 100 attendees
- MinneDemo: events scheduled throughout the year, > 300 attendees
Top Tech Events in NYC
- NY New Tech Meetup: 1st Tuesday of the month, 400 attendees
- Social Media Club: monthly event, > 70 attendees
- Next Web NY: monthly event, > 250 attendees
- Social Media Breakfast: 2nd Thursday of the month
- Ignite NY: events scheduled throughout the year, 500 attendees
Top Tech Events in Philadelphia
- Refresh Philly: 1st Monday of the month, > 100 attendees
- Net Tuesday: 1st Tuesday of the month, > 60 attendees
Top Tech Events in Phoenix
- Gangplank Hacknight: Every Wednesday
- Refresh Phoenix: monthly events, 20 attendees
- Ignite Phoenix: events scheduled throughout the year, > 100 attendees
Top Tech Events in Pittsburgh
- Blogfest: events scheduled throughout the year, 40 attendees
- Technology Council: events scheduled throughout the year, 40 attendees
Top Tech Events in Portland
- Java User Groups: monthly events, 40 attendees
- Ignite Portland: events scheduled throughout the year, 200 attendees
- BarCamp: events scheduled throughout the year, > 100 attendees
Top Tech Events in San Diego
- SD Tweetup: monthly events, > 150 attendees
- SD Web Techs: monthly events, 30 attendees
Top Tech Events in SF / Silicon Valley
- Silicon Valley New Tech Meetup: 1st Tuesday of the month, 150 attendees
- SF Beta: monthly events, > 100 attendees
- SF New Tech Meetup: 2nd Wednesday of the month, 40 attendees
Top Tech Events in Seattle
- Seattle Tweetup: events scheduled throughout the year, > 30 attendees
- People Interested in Web Tech: monthly events, 30 attendees
Top Tech Events in Washington DC
- Social Web & New Media Group: monthly events, > 45 attendees
- Washington Semantic Web Supporters: monthly events, > 40 attendees
- TechCocktail DC: events scheduled throughout the year, > 200 attendees
What did we miss?
Assembling this list took a lot of work. Thanks to all of our friends who helped us identify the top events in their local city.
There’s only one thing that we’re certain of at this point - the list is incomplete. Help us finish it! What’s the best event in your city? Leave it in the comments and we’ll update the post based on your feedback.
