Announcing: TechFestNW 2016

Mark your calendars. Buy your tickets. Ready your self-driving car.

For those not in the know, TechFestNW is a gathering of leading thinkers, startups and established companies that showcases the Pacific Northwest's talent and innovation. For TFNW veterans: welcome back.

You may have heard that TechFestNW was returning when we announced it in January, but now we are ready to share the juicy details and our brand new website.

First—and no surprises here—we've got some excellent speakers.

Entrepreneurs and thought leaders from throughout the industry will share their insights about the Internet of Things, virtual reality, the sharing economy, health tech and tech for social good.

Our headliners include local tech stars like Uncorked Studios head Marcelino Alvarez, Simple CEO and founder Joshua Reich, and Al Pearson, Daimler's chief of self-driving trucks.

National speakers include Anthony Batt, Ashton Kutcher's business partner and one of the true pioneers of virtual reality, and Aubrey Thelan from Nest labs.

Our lineup is awesome now—but it's only going to get better as we announce more speakers in the coming weeks.

Second, we've made TechfestNW even better for entrepreneurs and startups.

This year, we are introducing a conference within a conference, PitchfestNW, that's specifically catered to new startups and those looking to expand their business.

PitchfestNW Basic gives you the FREE opportunity to pitch your startup to a panel of experienced venture capitalists for the chance to win cash, prizes and more.

For those looking to take expand their PitchfestNW experience with access to investors, a space in our Demo Alley and a ton of workshops specifically catered to you and your startup, we've created Pitchfest Amplified: a premium experience for a bargain price.

Apply by March 4. Organizers are currently reaching out to startups outside of Portland to attend as well—already five companies from Canada will be joining us.

Third, TechFestNW is showing off Portland like never before.

We're going to be promoting Experience Meetups—small gatherings led by local tech leaders at choice Portland restaurants, bars and the like—so you can learn from some of the brightest tech minds while enjoying the best the city has to offer.

The Armory is in the heart of the Pearl District, so you'll be within walking distance of many of the best bars and restaurants in Portland. Whether you are one of our many guests from out of town or a native looking to explore some of the city's nooks and crannies, we're set up to make sure you can experience the real Portland.

Tickets to both days of TechFestNW 2016 are on sale now for $119.

Space is limited, so get your tickets soon. Make sure to keep an eye on techfestnw.com and our Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram accounts for updates, Portland tech news and more information. Or, subscribe to our newsletter to get information and updates straight to your inbox.

Willamette Week