Boston TechJam 2018

Boston TechJam 2018 to Celebrate Region’s Tech Culture & Innovation

Largest Regional Technology Festival Back for its 6^th Year

BOSTON, March 28, 2018 -- On June 14, 2018, City Hall Plaza will again be home to the annual Boston TechJam, a celebration of the technology ecosystem and culture of New England- and Boston-area entrepreneurs, startups, established tech companies, venture capitalists, non-profit organizations and higher learning institutions. The event, now in its sixth year, uniquely combines a tech block party, innovation showcase and live music to connect the community and celebrate the local startup economy.

"Boston TechJam has grown beyond anything we could have imagined when launching, in large part due to the amazing partners who’ve returned year after year to bring this celebration to the community,” said Christine Nolan, co-founder of Boston TechJam and Sr. Director of Communities at MassTLC. “It has become a massive gathering for anyone who loves technology and wants to see and be part of the vibrancy of our local ecosystem. For 2018, we’re taking over the entire City Hall Plaza space to allow for additional attendees and offer even more entertainment and engaging content like a Robotics/IoT Village.”

The event, which drew over 7,000 attendees last year, is made possible by the visionary thought leadership and financial support of underwriting sponsors Autodesk, Cengage, Chewy, Everbridge, Kronos Incorporated, Liberty Mutual, MathWorks, PTC and The Predictive Index. Additional sponsorship and exhibiting opportunities are still available.

"The pace at which technology impacts our lives accelerates every day, and events like these are needed to harness new ideas and inspire people to continue to innovate,” said Jack Little, CEO of MathWorks, developers of the MATLAB technical computing software. “We’re excited to partner with Boston TechJam to showcase and celebrate the culture of innovation, collaboration and creativity this region has to offer organizations and individuals alike.”

Boston TechJam will feature live bands, appearances from entrepreneurial leaders, local craft beer, food truck fare and “street-festival”-type games and giveaways from 4:00 – 9:00 p.m.

New in 2018 is an area dedicated to robots and the Internet of Things, as well as a “theater-in-the-round” – a central stage showcasing a mash-up of amazing talents of our local techies. From juggling to slam poetry to pitching the next big idea in tech, if you think you’ve got what it takes to make it onto the stage, apply to perform. 

The event is led by co-founders Christine Nolan of MassTLC and Mark Lorion of Arxan Technologies along with founding team members Dave Polcaro from East Coast Catalyst, Ben Maitland-Lewis from Pretty Instant, Dave Cutler from Influence Central and Sarah Babbitt from SHIFT Communications. 

How to Get Involved

• To register to attend and get the most up-to-date information on the schedule of events, visit www.bostontechjam.com and follow @bostontechjam (#btj2018).
• To exhibit or sponsor, contact exhibit@bostontechjam.org.
• To be considered for the “theater-in-the-round,” contact ruth@masstlc.org or complete the form here www.masstlc.org/apply-to-perform-at-boston-techjam/.
• To attend as a member of the press, contact btj@shiftcomm.com.

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About Boston TechJamBoston TechJam is a showcase and accelerator for new ideas and world-class innovations coming out of the Boston region. The event brings together early stage companies, entrepreneurs, students, established enterprises, venture capitalists and artists to celebrate the region’s technology, entrepreneurship and culture. Equal parts idea exchange and celebration, Boston TechJam is an unconventional meeting ground for local innovators, visionaries and up-and-comers. The 18+ event will take place June 14, 2018 on Boston City Hall Plaza.

Boston TechJam is supported by Autodesk, Cengage, Chewy, Everbridge, Kronos Incorporated, Liberty Mutual, MathWorks, The Predictive Index and PTC. Founding collaborators include Arxan Technologies, MassTLC, East Coast Catalyst, Pretty Instant, Influence Central and SHIFT Communications.

Media Contact:

SHIFT Communications

btj@shiftcomm.com

Rudoph the Musical

The beloved TV classic Rudolph returns this holiday season to light up the stage in Boston! Come see all the characters come to life: Santa and Mrs. Claus, Clarice, Hermey the Elf, the Abominable Snow Monster, and Rudolph! The show will run from December 14 through the 17th at Boston's historic Shubert Theatre. A show for all ages, be sure to get your tickets while they last.

Cirque du Soliel: Kurios

“People might think that we set out to reinvent the circus, and then just did it. But things did not happened that way. We were a bunch of crazy people who wanted to do things, and little by little we came to a vision of what the modern circus could be.”
René Dupéré, music composer for 10 Cirque du Soleil shows

Under the auspices of their signature yellow and blue tents, Cirque du Soleil brings Kurios, written and directed by Michael Laprise, to life. Under those tents, Cirque implores you to enter a new world. If you enter, you will find wonders in this curios. It is here that all things are possible. Performers are challenged to perform their art - whether it be acts of contortion, the upside down world, or flying through the air on the trapeze - and Kurios enables each artist to bring their talents to a whole new level. One that is out of this world.

Cirque du Soleil's Kurios is a marvel for any age. Anyone can enjoy this timeless tale which embodies what one can do if he or she dare to simply - dream. Truly unleashed before the audience's very eyes is imagination. And what's more is imagination paired with passion. You can't help but see the way that everyone on stage works together to create the whole artistic creation of Kurios. At its core: a dreamer or "seeker." But there is more than meets the eye as is the case at every turn in the show. For Kurios turns mere ordinary objects, say a bicycle or yo-yo, into something extraordinary.

Perhaps the heart of Kurios lies in that it is also the story behind Cirque du Soleil. As musical composer René Dupéré states at the top (see above), the group started "little by little." It was those once "ordinary" folks who started slowly with an idea and created something extraordinary. Now, they have taken those ideas to new heights, on a literal level as each act has to perform their talent and then perform it again with a twist in which movement enhances the challenge and creates a visual effect like no other seen before.

See it for yourself; be swept away in Kurios– Cabinet of Curiosities now playing through July 10th under the yellow and blue tents at Suffolk Downs.

Esmeralda: Inside Look

The Red Balloon was recently invited to a special inside look at Esmeralda's in Cambridge. The shop Esmeralda is the hidden gem of Harvard Square. Conveniently located at 54 Church St., the store offers an array of jewelry, accessories, and more.

The talented designer and owner of the Harvard Square shop is Esmeralda Lambert. Esmeralda hails from a family of entrepreneurs and knew that she too wanted to follow in her family's footsteps. Esmeralda grew up in the Dominican Republic. Esmeralda's first step toward entrepreneurship began when she enrolled at Babson College to complete her MBA. It was there that she met her husband, who is also a major part of the business. Esmeralda's business is very family focused and she credits her family for being supportive and enabling her dream to become a reality. However, making her own dream a reality was not enough for Esmeralda, for she also wanted to help women back in her home country of the Dominican Republic.

Esmeralda employs women from the Dominican Republic to create all of her designs. She provides opportunity for these women to be employed from the comfort of their own home and earn an income. See below one design which Esmeralda calls her, "Oscar piece." This beautiful necklace is one that Esmeralda hopes Sofia Vergara may one day wear to an award ceremony.

Esmeralda's store has a wide array of designs, including more casual pieces. Whether looking for jewelry for a glamorous night out of the town or a piece for daytime wear, Esmeralda's is the place to find it. See more of Esmeralda's designs below.

Esmeralda also features artists, some of which are new and others who have been designing jewelry for many years. She showcases many artists and provides them with opportunities within her shop. In addition, she provides new artists with mentoring and knows first hand that starting out in business is not easy. She shares many of the tips and tools that she has learned first-hand, having been there herself. 

Esmeralda's shop is a unique and beautiful store. Below is one more photo from another artist featured in Esmeralda's in Cambridge. See Esmeralda's first-hand for yourself at 54 Church St. in the heart of Harvard Square.