STAMFORD, Conn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The region’s most enterprising minds will gather at venues across the city September 13-23, 2018, for Stamford Innovation Week (SIW), an event series designed to connect entrepreneurs, tech talent and investors to create unexpected opportunities for growth. For tickets and full schedule of events visit: www.SIweek.org.
The week kicks off with CT Next’s EIA Award Ceremony, the launch of “Spark.Innovate.Move” – SIW’s official beer – a cryo-powder pale ale by Half Full Brewery, a large-scale video art installation by Danger Gallery, and the “soft launch” of drone pizza delivery by Pieology.
“Stamford Innovation Week will be a celebration of the area’s entrepreneurial ecosystem,” says Jonathan Winkel, SIW Founder, managing partner of SquareWheel, a Stamford marketing agency, and chair of Stamford’s Economic Development Commission. “The intent is to bring disparate groups together to cultivate relationships that spark new ideas and result in new businesses.”
Headlining events include:
- CT Next – EIA Pitch Competition and Award Ceremony with $40,000 in prizes
- Keynote Speaker Nikki Mamuric, founder & CEO of Sprout Innovation Co., on “The Innovation Within” at the Entrepreneurs Symposium
- Blockchain technology conference featuring Nick Spanos, sponsored by Blockhive Technologies.
- Frontier industry luncheon series by UCONN’s Werth Institute of Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Topics are: Blockchain, VR/AR, AI, Autonomous Vehicles, Smart Cities
- Blockchain networking event co-produced by Citi Group and Checkmate Digital
The week’s capstone event is the Entrepreneurs Symposium, with over 50 expert-led sessions covering aspects of business from marketing to fundraising, development to networking, and more. Notable speakers include Senior Director of Search and Biddable Media at MARC USA, John Kagan, Author and Life Coach Tracy Fox, Independent Macro Investing Consultant & Founder of Strata Analytics, Matt Garrett.
During the symposium’s keynote address, “The Innovation Within,” Nikki Mamuric, founder and CEO of Sprout Innovation Co., will discuss her own journey with innovation, from big CPG companies, like Procter & Gamble, to starting her own innovation ecosystem. She will explore how to expedite innovation from within by looking at current technologies, creating a culture of innovation, and even innovating ourselves.
“Small businesses are quickly becoming the backbone of this economy, and it’s important for industry leaders and institutions to support their growth,” says Mamuric. “I am honored to be this year’s keynote and to be able to impart some of what I learned on my journey from Fortune 500 companies to starting my own business.”
SIW’s line-up includes more than 100 events including conferences, panels, speakers, open houses, networking, and after-hours socializing with live music at local pubs and restaurants. Themes will follow three main tracks: entrepreneurs and start-ups; innovations in food and beverage; finance and fintech and networking. Notable sponsors and participants include: NatWest Markets, Deloitte, NBC Sports, People’s Bank, CT Innovations and McCarter English. See complete list here.