In-person events may be on the back burner for now, but that doesn't mean that networking and learning has to stop. Many expos, seminars and networking happy hours have transitioned to an online format to maintain a sense of community and continue innovating while maintaining social distancing.
Here are some of April's top virtual tech and innovation events.
Wednesday, Apr. 1
2020 B.E.T.A. Challenge Semifinals: The Blank Center at Babson College will host its B.E.T.A. Challenge Venture Expo semifinals virtually this year. Via WebEx, attendees will see pitches by 18 semifinalists competing for a chance to move on to the finale. The semifinalists will be narrowed down to nine, and they will compete for the grand prize of $20,000 on April 16. Sign up here. 2 p.m. EDT, free
Thursday, Apr. 2
MassMEDIC Virtual Town Hall: The MassMEDIC virtual town hall meeting will take place via Zoom, and will consist of a 55-minute interactive video conference. Discussions will focus on changes in the healthcare industry, the impact of COVID-19 and innovation in the medical community. Register here. 12 p.m., free
Friday, Apr. 3
THE IDEA METHOD: A Framework for Clarity in Business Growth: Hosted by Roxbury Innovation Center, this virtual workshop will help participants align their communication tactics to the cornerstone idea of their business. Led by Dolores Hirschmann, chief clarity officer at Masters in Clarity, the webinar will help entrepreneurs to move forward with their businesses in a clear and constructive way. Register here. 6 p.m. EDT, free
MIT COVID-19 Challenge: MIT is hosting a series of challenges to inspire individuals to take action amidst the pandemic. The challenges pose two questions: how to protect vulnerable populations from the effects of COVID-19, and how to support hospitals facing a shortage of staff, supplies, and resources. Participants can form teams fo five to six people, and others can apply to be mentors. Apply here. all day, April 3-5, free
Monday, Apr. 6
November Project Virtual Workouts: During the pandemic, in-person group workouts are no longer an option. But that does not mean that you cannot get the benefit of working out with others virtually. Get out of bed bright and early to join the November Project on Zoom for a group fitness session. Sign up here. 6:30 a.m. EDT, free
Tuesday, Apr. 7
Piano Craft Social Distancing Gallery: Take a break from the stress of the pandemic to appreciate some local art. Since the Boston community has been forced to shut down due to the pandemic, it is becoming increasingly difficult for artists to publicly share their work. The Piano Craft Gallery will be launching the Social Distancing Gallery on social media, in the hopes of representing New England artists while staying healthy. View the gallery here. All day, updated through April 16, free
Wednesday, Apr. 8
Calculate Financial Projects For Investment Presentations: This webinar, hosted by The Capital Network, will discuss financial projections and planning for startups in the midst of fundraising. Experts will discuss pitching, valuation and due diligence, and teach attendees about key metrics and tactics that will get the attention of investors. Sign up here. 1:45 p.m. EDT, free-$20
Thursday, Apr. 9
Mitigating COVID-19: Small Business Resources: Hosted by Venture Café, this virtual event will give small businesses advice on how to maintain business health throughout the pandemic. The discussion will discuss federal, state and local resources that are available to help mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on small businesses. Register here. 2:30 p.m. EDT, free
Friday, Apr. 10
A Dose of Positivity: Margaret Greenberg and Senia Maymin, positive psychology experts and co-authors of "Profit From the Positive," along with Michele Lurvey, will share tools and techniques supported by psychology to help individuals thrive despite the uncertainty of this time. Sign up here. 3:30 p.m. EDT, free
Monday, Apr. 13
Virtual Happy Hour: COVID-19 and Your Career: Hosted by The Intelligence Community, recruiters, CEOS and business leaders will be dialing-in to this happy hour event to answer all of your questions about how COVID-19 may impact career options. The group will welcome questions and suggestions to ease your mind and discuss career options and opportunities. Sign up here. 5:30 p.m. EDT, free
Tuesday, Apr. 14
She+ Geeks Out Virtual Happy Hour: Join She+ Geeks Out for a virtual version of its monthly happy hour. One week prior to the event, attendees will receive a list of topics and icebreakers to get the conversation rolling. The event will be free, but donations are appreciated. Register here. 6 p.m. EDT, free
Wednesday, Apr. 15
Staying Connected When WFH: Physical separation does not have to mean social separation. This webinar will discuss the challenges of working remotely and being separated from colleagues. Panelists will discuss feelings of isolation that can arise from working remotely, as well as strategies to stay connected during this time. Register here. 10 a.m. BST, free
Thursday, Apr. 16
How Corporate Innovation is Changing Amidst the COVID-19 Crisis: Join Venture Café for a virtual fireside chat about corporate innovation and how it is shifting during the pandemic. Speakers will include Carrie Earle Allen, managing partner of Captains of Innovation and Scott Kirsner, founder and CEO of Innovation Leader. The panelists will also provide advice on how to continue innovating when your entire team is working remotely. Register here. 4 p.m. EDT, free
Friday, Apr. 17
HR Hackathon Online: Create HR Tech in Light of the COVID-19 Crisis: HR representative and coders will come together at this virtual event to discuss the development of useful apps and management tools for HR departments to use during the pandemic. This hackathon will take place from Friday to Sunday, and attendees could emerge with a new idea or application for HR practices. Register here. 5:30 p.m CEST, donation recommended.
Monday, Apr. 20
Virtual Team Building #Coronavirus Safe: Join John Chen, CEO of Geoteaming, on Zoom for a webinar consisting of tips and tricks for team building through remote platforms. Takeaways will include best practices for web conferencing and how to increase team productivity remotely. Register here. 12 p.m. PDT, free
Tuesday, Apr. 21
Virtual Boston Job Fair: Search for your next employer at this virtual job fair, which will feature companies in a variety of industries, from advertising to technology to entertainment. Attendees from anywhere will be able to connect directly with potential Boston employers to make their next career move. Register here. 11 a.m. EDT, free
Wednesday, Apr. 22
More Than Coffee With Mentor Sessions: Join District Hall virtually for this month's morning mentor session. Spend 30 minutes with a mentor and walk through your entrepreneurial hurdles and challenges. Obtain valuable advice on how to grow your business and connect with local business leaders in the process. Sign up here. 8:30 a.m. EDT, free
Thursday, Apr. 23
Venture Café FinTech Connect 2020: Attendees of this mini-conference will bring together the best and brightest in the Greater Boston area's FinTech community. Hear the latest ideas and see the newest technologies in the FinTech field while participating in the innovation yourself. Sign up here. 3 p.m. EDT, free
Friday, Apr. 24
She+ Geeks Out Virtual Job Fair: Using a platform called vFairs, attendees will have the opportunity to learn about local companies that are hiring during this troubling time. Job seekers and companies must apply by April 15 to participate. Learn more here. 12 p.m. EDT, free
Monday, Apr. 27
Virtual Coworking & Accountability Power Hour: Hosted by FEMX, this virtual event will allow attendees to meet like-minded female entrepreneurs and gain inspiration for working from home. Network with entrepreneurs and creators while learning how staying productive and focused when working from home. Register here. 9:30 a.m. PDT, free
Tuesday, Apr. 28
Job Hunting In Tech After 40: Hosted by career counselor Wendy Saccuzzo, this event will discuss the challenges of being over 40 in the tech industry and searching for jobs. The discussion will cover ageism in the tech industry, and will provide tips for optimizing your job search. Register here. 12 p.m. PDT, $10
Wednesday, Apr. 29
SGO DEI Virtual Meetup: Embodying Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Your Startup: This workshop will focus on how to honor the identities of employees and increase employee diversity, equity and inclusion within your startup. There will be a moderated panel discussion, small group breakout sessions and virtual networking. Register here. 6 p.m. EDT, free
Thursday, Apr. 30
Applying the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People to Your Startup: This session will introduce attendees to key concepts from "7 Habits of Highly Effective People" by Stephen Covey. Presented by Doron Gan, founder and CEO of Yomez, the discussion will focus on how to apply these concepts to your work on a personal level and as a team. Register here. 6:45 p.m. EDT, free
