Like Richmond Inno Approved? A fresh version comes out month with new tech and networking events to check out. Here’s a list of great technology, business and networking events in the Richmond area to hit up in the next few weeks. You can also submit events to our events directory.
Monday, December 3
Virginia Computer Science Education Week Launch
Location: Science Museum of Virginia, 2500 W. Broad St. Date/Time: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Event Type: Networking Price: Free
Description: Virginia is the Digital Dominion. Computer science drives our world, and Virginia leads the nation as an innovator in technology. Come celebrate Computer Science Education Week with Code VA or tune in to the livestream at www.CSforVa.org. School districts, teachers, and students are encouraged to register to participate in Virginia Computer Science Education Week and the international Hour of Code.
Wednesday, December 5
Location: VCU Depot Building, 814 W. Broad St. Date/Time: 9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Event Type: Meetup Price: Free
Description: Celebrate 1 Million Cups Richmond and the city’s growing entrepreneurial system. At this annual holiday party, meet some of the RVA Works graduates, as well as many other fellow 1 Million Cups speakers.
Wednesday, December 5
You Have Machine Learning. Now What?
Location: 4301 Dominion Blvd., Suite 200, Glen Allen Date/Time: 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. Event Type: Meetup, workshop, networking Price: Free
Description: Data science and machine learning have enormous potential to drive revenue, decrease costs, and influence positive change within an organization. However, machine learning is also mired in hype, and businesses often seek to unlock its “magic” without full consideration of its scientific underpinnings and unique operational challenges. This talk, offered by the Richmond Data Science Community, by data scientist Dr. Miriam Friedel will cut through the hype and offer a set of best practices for operationalizing data science, providing a framework for taking scientifically robust machine learning models and making sure they deliver real business value.
Wednesday, December 5
RVA Works Workshop: Content Marketing
Location: Sacred Heart Center, 1420 McDonough St., Manchester Date/Time: 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. Event Type: Workshop, meetup, networking Price: Free
Description: Growing brands and their stories can only travel so far without dedicated content marketing. This session, led by Jolinda Smithson of Red Orange Studio, will focus on the intersection of business and content marketing and walk you through how to strategically jumpstart your content creation for 2019. Topics will include identifying your unique brand voice, selecting the best channels to share your content, creating a theme-based, actionable content calendar for 2019, and developing 3–5 content categories and how to structure content to fit them.
Wednesday, December 5
SVA Builder Series: How to Hire the Best Team
Location: 1717 Innovation Center, 1717 E. Cary St. Date/Time: 4 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Event Type: Workshop, networking Price: Free
Description: Hiring for your startup can be an overwhelming and time-consuming process. This session, led by Whitney Forstner, co-founder of boutique staffing firm Momentum Resources, will discuss the when, who, where, and how of growing your team, including the right time to add talent, the role you should hire first, where to look for the right people, and how to successfully integrate new team members.
Friday, December 7
Women Who Code Richmond Technology Brewery Tour
Location: Hardywood Park Craft Brewery West Creek, 820 Sanctuary Trail Dr. Date/Time: 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. Event Type: Meetup, networking Price: Free
Description: In this quarterly happy hour and technology meetup, celebrate the end of 2018 and look forward to 2019. What do you want to learn and how do you want to grow next year? How can Women Who Code Richmond help you achieve your goals? How can you help others achieve their goals?
Tuesday, December 11
Blockchain Interoperability Meetup
Location: Gather Short Pump, 2400 Old Brick Rd., Glen Allen Date/Time: 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Event Type: Meetup, networking Price: Free
Description: One of the biggest issues with new technology is the independent efforts by different parties to become the first to market in their space. In the process, the foundation needed to communicate with different applications becomes an afterthought, which leads to inefficiencies. Come and join the discussion, organized by RVA Blockchain Developers, on what it takes to effectively build interoperability between blockchains.
Tuesday, December 11
Metro Business Live: Commercial Business Real Estate Hot Spots in RVA and What’s Next?
Location: Richmond Times-Dispatch, 300 E. Franklin St. Date/Time: 7:15 a.m. – 9 a.m. Event Type: Panel Price: $20
Description: This panel will discuss the region’s hot spots for commercial real estate development and what the future holds for these neighborhoods and others, as well as address various planned projects. Panelists will include Taylor Williams of Spy Rock Real Estate Group, Margaret Freund of Fulton Hill Properties, Henrico County Planning Director R. Joseph Emerson Jr., Rob Hargett of the Rebkee Co., and Matthew Raggi of Thalhimer Realty Partners.
Tuesday, December 11
Lunch n’ Learn: Tax Credits & Strategies: What Founders Want to Know
Location: 1717 Innovation Center, 1717 E. Cary St. Date/Time: 12 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Event Type: Workshop, networking Price: Free
Description: The workshop will focus on year-end tax planning strategies, tax credits available to small businesses, Qualified Opportunity Zones and the benefits and pitfalls of new regulations affecting Startup Virginia and the companies working out of this space. Speakers will be Zac Blanco, Scott Zickefoose, and Ryan Beethoven Wilson, all of Keiter CPAs.
Tuesday, December 11
Location: North Courthouse Road Library, 325 Courthouse Rd., North Chesterfield Date/Time: 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Event Type: Workshop, networking Price: $25
Description: When you’re starting a business, you must be able to tell your story in several formats and settings. In this interactive workshop presented by SCORE Richmond, presentation coach Joan Bowling will help participants create engaging, conversational pitches that will open the door to sales and success. Topics will include why you should start your elevator speech with a question, which free editing tools are best for making your own videos, how to use any smartphone to record a strong video pitch, what you should never do in a sales presentation, and how to be ready at any time to answer the question, “What do you do?”
Thursday, December 13
Virginia Community Capital 2018 Learning Exchange
Location: Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, 200 N. Boulevard Date/Time: 10:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. Event Type: Panel, networking Price: Free
Description: Cities and towns all over the country are implementing innovative tactics to invigorate and revitalize their communities. Join Virginia Community Capital for a conversation about these place-based trends with Bruce Katz, founder of the Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program with the Brookings Institution, and Erika Poethig, vice president and chief innovation officer at the Urban Institute. Craig Carper of WCVE will serve as moderator. Programs include a catered lunch by the VMFA.
Thursday, December 13
Startup Virginia Open House and Info Session
Location: 1717 Innovation Center, 1717 E. Cary St. Date/Time: 9 a.m. – 10 a.m. Event Type: Informational session, networking Price: Free
Description: Join us for an overview and tour of Startup Virginia to find out what we’re all about. Whether you’re a prospective member, mentor, investor or simply someone interested in learning more, this is an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of Startup Virginia. Topics covered will include different memberships, mentors, and programs, and a tour of the workspace will be offered. Registration is required.
Thursday, December 13
So You Think You Want an Intern?
Location: The Broad, 209 N. Foushee St. Date/Time: 12 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Event Type: Workshop, networking Price: Free for members, $10 for nonmembers
Description: Feeling like your business missed out on a fall intern because you didn’t know where to find one? Experts from VCU and the University of Richmond will answer questions about searching for an intern for the semester. Topics will include when students look/apply for internships throughout the year, what departments have the most eligible students, the systems used by VCU and UR and how to register with them, differences in paid vs. unpaid internships, and special institution programs.
Monday, December 17
Learn the Ways of 3D Design & Printing
Location: 804RVA, 1657 W. Broad St., #3A Date/Time: 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Event Type: Meetup Price: $20/person
Description: Come learn how to use a 3D printer from Tech Em Studios instructors. Courses include an introduction to 3D Design software that allows you to mold and create things on the iPad and a rundown of GRID’s Makerbot® Replicator® 2x 3D Printer. This week’s focus will be desk/countertop organizers.
Tuesday, December 18
RVA Data Hackers December Meetup
Location: 804RVA, 1657 W. Broad St. Date/Time: 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. Event Type: Meetup, workshop, networking Price: Free
Description: RVA Data Hackers is a community of data professionals and enthusiasts who meet regularly to develop skills and learn about tools and techniques for working with data. We discuss how to find, organize, understand and serve data sets large and small. We'll cover anything related to “big data” — machine learning, artificial intelligence and architectures to scale data processing for the Internet. Topics vary from basic concepts to demonstrations of real-world implementations and everything in between. Our mission is to foster a local community of experienced, practicing experts.
Wednesday, December 19
Women Who Code Python Hack Night
Location: Capital One Town Center, 15075 Capital One Dr., Room C1 Date/Time: 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. Event Type: Meetup, workshop, networking Price: Free
Description: Python is a top-ranked programming language that can be applied to numerous different domains, including web development, scientific computing, machine learning, data analysis, education and DevOps. Bring your own work, a problem to solve, or a new concept to learn to this Python hack night organized by Women Who Code Richmond. A light dinner and beverages will be provided. All levels are welcome. Laptops are strongly encouraged, but not required.
