We will have another Toledo Tech Holiday Mixer again in 2026.
- Organizer/presenting sponsor: ConnecToledo
- Date: Tuesday, December 8th, 2026 (the 2nd Tuesday of December is the traditional date)
- Location: Renaissance Toledo Downtown Hotel
Contact for more information: Keith Instone, [email protected]
What is the TechHoliday Mixer?
- An end-of-year celebration of the Toledo tech community (broadly defined to include IT, software, design, and startups in any industry)
- A recap of the past year in the ecosystem and planning for next year
- The core: Tech groups, such as professional associations, user groups, meetups, and student clubs, all have their holiday parties together at the same place
- Non-profits and service providers exhibit to publicize how they help the community
- Companies sponsor (give money to pay for the venue, food, and drinks) to promote their products & services and to recruit talent
- Other institutions, such as economic development organizations, sponsor to support the regional tech economy
- Anyone else who wants to hang out with technologists, designers, and entrepreneurs can get a ticket to join in the celebration and become familiar with the tech ecosystem
- Tickets will likely be around $20 to attend but many people will be able to get freebies or discounts. For example, a participating group will get free tickets for its leaders and a certain # for members. Sponsors will get a set of free tickets for their employees, clients, and partners.
- Food will be provided as part of the ticket (with quality based on income from sponsorships). It will be a cash bar but we expect some sponsors will provide drink tickets.
What is Planned for 2026?
Groups to be invited: Toledo Codes, Google Developer Group, AI Collective, Microsoft User Group, OHNUG, VMUG, ISACA, AAF Toledo, Infragard, Bryan IT, BGSU ACM/ACM-W/DevClub/Linux Club, UT RocketHacks/Data analytics, PMI WLEC, IEEE, NWO ACM-W, NOHRA. (More to add!)
Example non-profits to be invited: EmpoweredAI, Kool Kat Science, Midstory, The Ability Center, BESN-X Community
Example service providers to be invited: Toledo Lucas County Public Library, JumpStart, UT Business Incubator, African-American Chamber, Toledo Regional Chamber/EPIC, BEAT
Categories of companies to be invited to sponsor: IT service providers, software producers, design agencies, AI startups
If you are a tech group, non-profit, service provider, company or other organization, contact Keith Instone at [email protected] to be on the list to be contacted when the details and packages are ready.
History of Tech Holiday Mixers
We have used the “Mixer” format, where many groups host their holiday parties together, as a community-building event since 2011.
2024: AAF Toledo led the organizing team, held at the Toledo Tech Loft
2018: Collingwood Arts Center
2017: Renaissance Toledo Downtown Hotel
2015–2016: Blarney Event Center
2011-2014: Packo’s at the Park
From 2011-2018, Tech Toledo organized the Tech Holiday Mixers.
In other years, various groups hosted other types of holiday parties. For example, JumpStart hosted local holiday parties in the early 2020s, such as one in 2022.