Upcoming Events: ad:tech & SF New Tech

Next week is going to be very busy for us here at THE Tech Scoop. I’ll be in the city by the bay, San Francisco, California rubbing shoulders with folks in the online advertising industry at the annual ad:tech Conference then after that we’re going to the San Francisco New Tech event as they celebrate 4 strong years of technology collaboration around the Northern California area.

What is ad:tech ?

Positioned as “The Event For Digital Marketing“, ad:tech is an interactive advertising and technology conference and exhibition. Worldwide shows blend keynote speakers, topic driven panels and workshops to provide attendees with the tools and techniques they need to compete in a changing world.

As the digitization of media continually redefines the business of marketing, it is ad:tech’s mission to provide brand advertisers, agencies, portals, online publishers and technology providers an unparalleled forum – one that supports the exchange of ideas, experiences, new practices, emerging models and expert opinion. That’s why every ad:tech conference features a balanced blend of:

• Keynote speakers sharing frontline experiences and an executive level perspective
• ad:tech Panel discussions focusing on best practices and economic opportunities
• ad:tech Hands-on workshops delivering immediate, take-away value

What is SF New Tech ?

The SF New Tech Meetup is a series of regular events for VCs, journalists, hackers, techies, recruiters, CEOs—and everyone involved in technology. They have over 2500 members. According to their website, they do a Belly Up happy hour every first Wednesday of each month; no demos, just drinks! I have definitely got to get to one of those ! At their monthly SF New Tech events people/companies get 5 minutes to stand in front of the crowd and speak on their topic of choice and receive real-time, honest feedback (TED-talk style but with audience participation).

I like this interaction format, since it also mimics the O-Reilly Ignite format

Fast-paced, fun, thought-provoking, social, local, global—Ignite is all of these and more. It’s a high-energy evening of 5-minute talks by people who have an idea—and the guts to get onstage and share it with their hometown crowd. Run by local volunteers who are connected through the global Ignite network, Ignite is a force for raising the collective IQ and building connections in each city. And, via streaming and archived videos of local talks, local Ignites share all that knowledge and passion with the world.

Obviously we’ll be streaming and interviewing during each of these events – so come back to THE Tech Scoop frequently for all the updates.