2024 Toledo Region Innovation Community

Tech Toledo operated from 2011-2019 but we still get asked to help people find tech, entrepreneur, and design colleagues in the Toledo region.

The information below is mostly for community leaders, to help them collaborate in the Toledo Region innovation ecosystem. Technologists, entrepreneurs, and creatives can also use this to help them find groups to join and events to participate in.

This is what we know is going on, as of November 15, 2024. Send email to tech4toledo@gmail.com with additions, updates, and corrections.

Holiday Mixer @ Toledo Tech Loft, December 10

The tech & creative communities are getting together for a shared holiday party. If you are a member of one of the partner groups, look for information on how to get a free or discounted ticket. Or buy a ticket on your own. Sponsors are needed!

Tech Events Calendar

Toledo.com now has a “Tech Events” listing. You can create an account to add your own events (which will have to be approved by a moderator). Contact the Events Administrator at events@toledo.com for more information.

Toledo Tech Company Directory

Toledo.directory is a new list (by Tom Bush of Actual Reality Technologies) of companies that do software development, IT services, digital marketing, and related “tech” services, plus organizations that support them (such as tech training providers).

Tech Night at TolHouse

EmpoweredAI, a local non-profit led by LeSean Shaw and Tom Bush, started hosting Tech Night at TolHouse in April. The networking event is every other Tuesday evening (October 15 & 29, November 12 & 26, December 10), to inspire collaboration, innovation, and the growth of our local tech community.

Toledo Tech Loft

Toledo Tech Loft (led by Chris Eischen, Jason Kelly, and Justin Beaudry) is a new education, event, and coworking space in downtown Toledo. The Loft debuted on August 1st and is scheduling LOFTALKS every Thursday evening, and more.

University of Toledo Business Incubator

The UT Incubator has been hosting monthly networking events (4th Thursday) for startup founders and tech enthusiasts. The Tech419 Pitch Competition (formerly known as Pitch and Pour) was on November 7th.

Google Developer Group

Greg Miller and others continue to lead the local Google Developer Group, hosting monthly events since January, 2023 (2nd or 3rd Wednesdays, usually). They are also keeping once-very-active Toledo Web Professionals and the local Word Press group going.

Northwest Ohio ISSA (Cybersecurity)

The local chapter of the Information Systems Security Association (led by Jacob Squire) has been hosting networking events for cybersecurity professionals. They have started producing Capture The Flag events again.

Microsoft Enterprise User Group

The Microsoft / SharePoint / Office 365 “enterprise user group” was restarted in July. Wanda Brotzki is still a point of contact.

AAF Toledo

Once known as the “AdClub”, the Toledo chapter of AAF (American Advertising Federation) now serves media, marketing, and design professionals (with “digital creatives” invited to join them). They have been hosting monthly networking events (usually on Thursdays) and programming about every other month. Their big awards competition will be in February, 2025. Valerie Thompson is the president.

Activate Innovate

The first Activate Innovate conference was June 13th, helping kick start Toledo’s innovation ecosystem. More planned for 2025.

Mercy Innovation

The Mercy Toledo Innovation team (led by Megan Reichert) supports entrepreneurial and economic development activities, helping build a culture of innovation in the region.

More to explain later (just noting for now)

2025 Planning

Time to start planning major events in our region, and trips to our neighbors.

Other Calendars of Events

Events for the tech, entrepreneur, or design community might show up on these calendars:

Neighboring Ecosystems

Collaboration within the Toledo region is necessary but not sufficient. We also need to learn from and partner with neighboring tech hubs, who are more advanced in various ways. Some have had IT trade associations for 25 years, all have tech meetups we do not have, and often they host “statewide” conferences we can attend.

A few ways to get out of town, make connections, learn something, and bring it back to Toledo:

Finally, the “negative cycle” around funding community activities and local ecosystem builders in Pittsburgh resonates with our experiences in the Toledo region. We can do better! Just 1 example: “Empower Grassroots Leaders and Local Experts”.