Collision is a premier technology conference that brings people together from all over the world and provides a forum for discussion and idea exchange. Forbes called it the best technology conference on the planet, and we’re a featured startup! Read on for the 5 things we’re looking forward to about Collision, and 5 things we’re excited for about New Orleans.
We are delighted to announce that Symba has been chosen by Collision's judges to take part in their PITCH competition. PITCH brings together some of the world's leading early-stage startups for a live on-stage battle. Symba will have the opportunity to present in front of a distinguished investor panel, influential media, and global partners. We will pitch-battle across 3 days for a chance to present at the final and semi-final in front of thousands of attendees at the Center Stage. Previous PITCH judges have included CTO of Amazon Werner Vogels, Founder of Lowercase Capital and occasional Shark Chris Sacca, and CEO of Damier Fleetboard Daniela Gerd tom Markotten.
While in college, I did six different internships with the State Department, Peace Corps, and various nonprofits. With each cohort, I noticed a lack of diversity and an inequality in socioeconomic representation.
In addition to PITCH, we’ll be exhibiting on Thursday, May 3rd. Stop by stand A-324 at ALPHA area 3 to say hello to our CEO, CTO, and CMO, and to learn more about Symba! We’ll have some goodies you can grab as well.
We’re very grateful for this opportunity to participate in PITCH and explore Collision, and we wanted to share some of the top things we’re looking forward to at the conference and in our host city, New Orleans.
5 Must-See and Must-Do Things at Collision Conference
1. See these speaker sessions.
- “Growing global” features two growth managers and a head of global strategies. This seems like a great session to attend to learn how to scale a company across a global market.
- Want to learn about the new ways to engage customers and what considerations need to be put in place? Check out “Customer engagement: What every SaaS company needs to know".
- As an all-female startup team under 30, “How to be a female millionaire by 30” featuring Sasha Hoffman, COO of Piaggio Fast Forward, is obviously very compelling.
- After Uber’s data breach scandal, it could be very interesting to hear from CISO John Flynn in his session “Your security is arriving: Uber and data.”
- Everyone's heard about blockchain and its applications in cryptocurrency, but blockchain has many applications beyond cryptocurrency. "Blockchain beyond cryptocurrency" discusses the future applications of blockchain technology.
- Interested in sustainability? Former Vice President Al Gore speaks during his session "Investing in the transition to a sustainable economy" about how the tech community can contribute to one of the planet's biggest problems.
2. Startup workshops. Collision’s network of speakers and industry professionals will be hosting curated workshops to help startups learn how to scale their business, raise funding and avoid common pitfalls. Previous workshop speakers include CMO of Facebook Gary Briggs and CIO of Aviva Monique Shivanandan.
3. Night Summit. From 8pm every night of the conference, Collision “takes over” a part of New Orleans. This is a great opportunity to network with attendees and grab a drink with fellow techies and #startuplife-rs. From Pat O’Brien’s to Frenchmen Street, you’ll get a great taste of New Orleans nightlife.
4. View the exhibitors. This is a great chance to see a selection of some of the most amazing startups in the world. Use this map for guidance to find your way around the exhibit floor.
5. Watch the PITCH competition! We’re a little biased because we’re participating in it, but who doesn’t want to see a pitch battle? It’ll be aca-amazing.
5 Things We’re Excited About for New Orleans
1. Luke. This French & German Brasserie is super close to our hotel! Nikita, our CTO, claims they have the best fried oysters, so we’re excited to chow down and enjoy a nice glass of wine at this restaurant.
2. New Orleans Crawfish. After watching Ugly Delicious, our CMO is having some serious crawfish cravings. It’s crawfish season, and for the Big Easy, crawfish boils are an important way to bring people together. Here are some of the best spots for crawfish in NOLA.
3. Bourbon Street. At some point in your life, you probably have heard of Bourbon Street. It’s the infamous street in the French Quarter of NOLA known for its “endless celebration opportunities”. There’s so much history and fun on this street and we’re excited to check it out.
4. Jazz and Live Music. NOLA is famous for its jazz scene. In fact, the second weekend of Jazz Fest is after the conference. If you’re staying beyond Thursday, grab a ticket and see some of the best jazz artists and musicians. You can catch Lionel Ritchie, Tank and the Bangas, Beck, Sheryl Crow and more! If you’re not staying past Thursday like us, there’s plenty of live music all over the city.
5. Cafe du Monde. Donut lover? Grab a beignet at this historic cafe. Open 24 hours a day, Cafe du Monde has been standing since 1862. It comes highly recommended from locals and is listed as a go-to in several travel guides.
Collision is a huge event with over 20,000 people in attendance. Overwhelmed? Print out a copy of their survival guide, use our list above, and have fun! We hope to see you there. Connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter to stay updated.
