Tech Chicago Week will return in July with a focus this year on women in tech, featuring keynote speakers such as Dr. Mae Jemison, a Chicago Public Schools graduate and the first person of color to fly in space, organizers announced Thursday.
An estimated 9,000 attendees are expected to attend the third annual Tech Chicago Week, taking place July 22-26, to take part in workshops, panel discussions, presentation competitions and networking events. Last year's event drew 9,000 attendees, according to organizer P33, a tech nonprofit, and 1,000 for the inaugural event in 2022.
Other keynote speakers include former Chicago Bulls star Joakim Noah and Pete Shadbolt, co-founder and chief scientific officer of quantum computing company PsiQuantum.
Organizers said the July 26 event is free and will feature networking opportunities for job seekers as well as talks, workshops, roundtable discussions and a forum highlighting Chicago startups. The intern networking event on July 23 will also be free.
“Equitable access to these events is unique and essential to our mission of making Chicago the most inclusive and premier tech hub in the country,” said P33 CEO Brad Henderson.
The event “continues to solidify Chicago's position as an inclusive technology and innovation hub,” said Brenda Darden Wilkerson, CEO of AnitaB.org, a nonprofit named for the late Anita Borg, a Chicago computer scientist.
On July 25th, AnitaB.org will be spotlighting speakers from the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing, the world's largest gathering of female and non-binary technologists.
TechChicago Week will be held at Lincoln Yards, 1229 W. Concord Place.
Tickets and a schedule of events can be found on the TechChicago website.
