Technology is more a part of our lives today than ever before, and in an effort to foster a sense of synergy between the consumers who utilize that technology and the companies that create it, LaunchPad, in connection with Nassau County and various sponsors including LongIsland.com, recently held its third annual Long Island Tech Day.
Hosted on October 18th at the Mitchell Field Athletic Complex in Garden City, Long Island Tech Day has grown considerably ever since its inception three years ago; it began in Huntington with 750 attendees, and moved to Mitchell Field for its second year, where attendance swelled to 2,700. This year, the event’s third, promises to be even bigger, according to Andrew Hazen, Founder and CEO of both LaunchPad and Long Island Tech Day.
LaunchPad, in connection with Nassau County and various sponsors including LongIsland.com, recently held its third annual Long Island Tech Day.
“The whole point of LI Tech Day is exposure for Long Island companies, both large and small,” he said. “We want the big companies like Canon and Computer Associates as well as smaller startups, to get out there and meet the Tech Community and get some validation and feedback on their products and services that they're creating, in addition to companies looking to raise capital and looking to network and collaborate with talent. It's basically a talent platform to show off all the latest and greatest technology being created here on Long Island.”
Hosted on October 18 at the Mitchell Field Athletic Complex in Garden City, Long Island Tech Day has grown considerably ever since its inception three years ago.
Since LI Tech Day started three years ago, it's been highly impactful, Hazen noted; of the over 100 companies participating this year, many have actually raised money for their endeavors or hired employees as a result of attending the event, in addition to consistent collaboration between many people working together to help their goals become reality, he said.
John Colascione, CEO of Long Island Media, Inc., said that his organization has been heavily involved with LI Tech Day, and feels that it’s an excellent event that helps to create a sense of community amongst Long Island-based technology firms, big and small.
The whole point of LI Tech Day is exposure for Long Island companies, both large and small.
“There are a lot of tech companies here, of course, a lot of small businesses, a lot of startups and local companies, as well as a lot of big companies like Canon and Microsoft,” he said. “Business people and business owners are networking, talking to other companies, and just getting their name out there–shaking hands, handing out business cards, and making things happen. That's why LongIsland.com comes here every year...it's a great event and we recommend that anyone trying to get a foothold in the Long Island business scene attends next year.”
Long Island Tech Day featured over 100 exhibiting companies and 2,700 attendees.
Creative360 is a mobile app company; Product Manager Sky Calivey said that they’ve become regulars at LI Tech day because they have developed an excellent quid-pro-quo relationship with their fellow companies thanks to Andrew Hazen’s event.
“This is our second year at Tech Day, and we've got everything from business leads to actual employees here,” he said. “So not only do we take, so to speak, but we give as well. It's great.”
Many companies have actually raised money for their endeavors or hired employees as a result of attending LI Tech Day.
Acceding to Glen Greenberg, President and CTO of Elmont Glass, his company started in 1949 doing glass and architectural metal for many New York City landmarks, including the Rainbow Room, Rockville Centre, and the Four Seasons Hotel.
“About 20 years ago we discovered Liquid Crystal technology for switchable privacy glass, and we started customizing it for the customer applications and even made it bullet and hurricane resistant. We've gotten great success,” he said. “We're here today at Long Island Tech Day, thanks to Andrew Hazen and all the great people working with him, showing off some of our latest technology. We think it's a great event and it's showing folks some of the future things that could be happening in Long Island. It's just great to try to keep all of the young people engaged with the people, investors, and the Long Island community.”
Big companies like Canon and Computer Associates, as well as smaller startups, get the chance to meet the Long Island Tech Community and get some validation and feedback on their products and services.
Kuri Difede, a teacher at Mineola High School, was with a group of technology students who were on a field trip to LI Tech Day to get some real-world experience relating to their prospective careers, an endeavor that she said was very effective.
“These kids are involved in a program in Mineola High School where they're taking classes in conjunction with Queensborough Community College,” she said. “They're taking web technology, they're taking operating systems, and we just wanted to bring them here today to get exposure to the Long Island tech market to maybe look for possible internships and just have fun.”
John Colascione, CEO of Long Island Media, Inc.
Hazen’s brainchild as clearly developed over the past three years into a must-attend event for Long Island tech companies; over the course of the upcoming years, he said he sees Long Island Tech Day developing and expanding even further until it becomes an indispensible function for the local business community.
“I see over the years LI Tech Day growing into either a two-day event, and/or a twice-yearly event. Winter and summer, Nassau and Suffolk…we look to have more than one of each per year as we go forward,” he said. “Long Island Tech day is really important because I bought and sold my own business here on Long Island, and I think it's important for other tech companies to get out there, get out of the garage, and make their dreams a reality.”
Business owners were networking, shaking hands, and handing out business cards.