# TechfestNW

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{{Short description|Former annual technology conference in Portland, Oregon, US}}
thumb|VR demo at TechFestNW 2016
'''TechfestNW''' (TFNW) was an annual technology conference in [Portland, Oregon](/source/Portland%2C_Oregon) that ran from 2012 to 2021. It was founded by ''[Willamette Week](/source/Willamette_Week)'' editor [Mark Zusman](/source/Mark_Zusman), and was the sister festival to [MusicfestNW](/source/MusicfestNW), which ran from 2001 to 2018. The event included innovators, entrepreneurs, tech companies and investors from around the world. It featured main stage speakers, workshops, a startup pitch competition, exhibitor booths, networking opportunities and parties.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.techfestnw.com|title=TechfestNW {{!}} A Global Tech Conference on the Upper Left Coast {{!}} TechfestNW|website=TechfestNW|language=en-US|access-date=2018-04-23}}</ref> In 2012, ''[Fortune](/source/Fortune_(magazine))'' magazine called it the next [South by Southwest](/source/South_by_Southwest) (SXSW).<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://fortune.com/2012/08/28/tech-may-have-found-its-next-sxsw/|title=Tech may have found its next SXSW|work=Fortune|access-date=2018-04-23|language=en}}</ref>

TechfestNW was held in several different venues, including the [Portland Art Museum](/source/Portland_Art_Museum), [OMSI](/source/Oregon_Museum_of_Science_and_Industry), [the Armory](/source/First_Regiment_Armory_Annex), and Left Bank Annex. In both 2020 and 2021, it was held online as a "virtual conference" due to the [COVID-19 pandemic](/source/COVID-19_pandemic).

== TechfestNW 2018: April 5–6 ==
In 2018, TechfestNW moved venues to [Portland State University's](/source/Portland_State_University) Viking Pavilion, which enabled the increase in size and scope of the conference. The themes, which drive speaker and workshop content, were Smart Cities/Smart Transit, Food Tech, Health Tech, and Inclusivity in Tech Culture.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.wweek.com/technology/2017/11/29/techfestnw-gets-a-new-home-at-psus-viking-pavilion/|title=TechFestNW Gets a New Home at PSU's Viking Pavilion|work=Willamette Week|access-date=2018-04-23|language=en-US}}</ref>

Seventy-five companies from all over the world participated in PitchfestNW, the startup competition within TechfestNW. The top 5 finalists presented on the main stage to a special panel of judges, before the winner, Goodnuss, was ultimately chosen.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.oregonbusiness.com/article/tech/item/18271-pitchfest-nw|title=Oregon Business - Vegan nut milk startup wins Pitch Fest NW|last=Diehl|first=Caleb|access-date=2018-04-23|language=en-gb}}</ref> International startups were judged separately and the 2018 winner was Moduu from [Bavaria](/source/Bavaria), [Germany](/source/Germany).<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.wweek.com/technology/2018/04/06/portland-entrepreneur-wins-pitchfestnw-by-making-a-reusable-bag-to-press-fresh-nut-milk/|title=Portland Entrepreneur Wins PitchfestNW by Making a Reusable Bag to Press Fresh Nut Milk|work=Willamette Week|access-date=2018-04-23|language=en-US}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://techfestnw.com/ TechfestNW website]

Category:Annual events in Portland, Oregon
Category:Technology conferences
Category:2012 establishments in Oregon
Category:2021 disestablishments in Oregon

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [TechfestNW](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TechfestNW) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TechfestNW?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.