Waterloo Region's tech community is built on events. From founder meetup to hardtech hikes to panel discussion (yeah, even panel discussions), getting together IRL is back and better than ever.
On this episode of Tech About Town, our own events specialist Victoria Harrison joins us in the studio with Shriaa Sheth, Events & Communitiy Engagement Specialist at the Accelerator Centre, to dig into what makes an event succesful.
Whether you're planning your first event or an established pro, tune into this episode to learn their secrets and what events they're most excited for this year.
01:29 – Guest spotlight: Shriaa Sheth from Accelerator Centre
02:22 – What makes an event successful?
04:09 – Founder-focused event elements & networking tools
06:17 – Measuring attendee experience and post-event surveys
07:47 – Launching the AC Expert Founder Workshop series
08:58 – Incubate + showcase preview (Aug 20)
09:41 – Panels: pros, cons and moderating tips
13:45 – Designing inclusive events (dietary, accessibility, alcohol-free)
18:04 – The rise of non-alcoholic options at tech events
18:56 – Getting the word out: multi-channel promotion & posters
22:17 – Cross-org collaboration to avoid double-booking
23:23 – Favourite event venues around Waterloo Region
27:06 – Tannery Event Centre relaunch & future plans
30:27 – Immersive venues and creative event spaces
34:15 – Unlimited-budget dream events & pub-crawl idea
37:48 – Waterloo Tech Week & September event rush
39:29 – Sponsorship hustle and final thoughts
