Techtober events include a ‘hackathon,’ Techfest and Venture Center celebration

Editor’s note: Following is a preview by Todd Jones of startup and technology related events in Arkansas.

Techtober continues this week with several events across the state. Tuesday night (Oct. 13) the Venture Center will host Catalyst which is a business networking event designed to create connecting points for entrepreneurs, developers and others interested in technology, startups and entrepreneurship.

This week, the Venture Center will celebrate Elyxor and Apptegy, two startup companies that have grown to the point they have their own space now. They have successfully navigated the programs of the Venture Center. The celebration is sort of a de facto graduation party for the two companies.

Friday (Oct. 16) is Little Rock Techfest. Techfest is in its third year hosting some of the brightest developers in the state with several sessions. The Techfest organizers have lined up an impressive array of speakers from across the country.

Speakers include Stewart Whaley of Phyzit, Ben Llegbodu of Eventbrite, Sarah Pressler of Code Brain Media in Austin, Brent Coney and Jordan Little of Inuvo, Sarah Daigle, Currant Technology and Angie Albright of Arkansas Support Network.

In addition, Techfest speakers include Duncan Jimbo, Jeremy Abbott, Val Polouchkine, Paul Gower, Jonathan Fontanez, Meredith Lowry, Shawn Weisfeld, Tyrale Bloomfield, Kelly Andrews, Steven Lowe, John Downey, Ryan Tablada, Alese Stroud, David Walker, Jessica Mauerhan, Chandler Dhall, Gordon Apple and Victoria Ridge of Ed4U, Nicholas Norfolk, Scott Ford of and Pete Buletza.

Saturday night (Oct. 17) the Venture Center will host JOLT, a hackathon event. According to the Venture Center website:

“Don’t miss this intense, high-energy, 24-hour ‘Game of Codes’ which pits teams of developers, engineers and programmers against each other to solve technical puzzles of increasing difficulty.

“The winners complete the greatest number of puzzles in 24 hours.

“And to the winners go the spoils. And bragging rights. But mostly bragging rights.  But we have cool spoils too!”

Additionally, this week EAST will hold their EAST Night Out, a National EAST Classroom Open House Event. Several of the EAST classrooms are hosting an open house on Tuesday night with the Gurdon and Green Forest schools hosting on Monday.

If you are interested in visiting an EAST Open house, check out the EAST website for schools near you that are participating. EAST classes across the state and one in Oklahoma are participating.

Finally, the Hub-UB monthly event returns this week at the Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub. According to the Hub website:

“A timely topic – Hack-o’-Lanterns. We know Halloween was made for makers. So, what does a maker do with a pumpkin? Find out Oct. 14! Pick up some cool  tips and tricks that’ll make your jack-o’-lantern the envy of the neighborhood.”

The event is set for 6 p.m., Oct. 15, at the Hub.