The app economy is global, and so are we! Members of ACT | The App Association’s team were on the road throughout June, hosting and attending events worldwide. From happy hours to panels and everything in between, we had the opportunity to connect with our developer community through a wide range of in-person ACTivations. Learn more about where we went and what we did below.
“The Housewarming” Presented by Zillow in Washington, DC
Navigating the homebuying process today can feel daunting. Thankfully, member company BadVR, along with Morgan Reed, Alex Cooke, Graham Dufaut, Brad Simonich, Emma Stephens, and Chelsea Thomas, joined forces with our friends at Zillow for “the Housewarming” to help put those trepidations to rest. This tech-driven event aimed to demystify the homebuying process in a fun and interactive way. Attendees learned about the latest tech advancements in housing, the role technology plays in reimagining real estate to make homes a reality for more people, and efforts to improve housing access and affordability nationwide.
Jad Meouchy and Suzane Borders of member company BadVR joined us to demonstrate how their VR headset maps can make data real. Through an immersive map, they showcased everything from risk factors, connectivity, or even school systems, giving actionable data in a way anyone can literally see and understand, taking it from the spreadsheet into the world. This revolutionary application of VR technology excited attendees and certainly gives future home builders and buyers something to consider as they expand operations through tech solutions.
Dr. Funk’s Tech House @ WWDC in San Jose, California
Ahead of Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), Alex, Caitlin Irr, Mike Sax, and Kim Huey hosted “Dr. Funk’s Tech House” to gather developers, discuss new tech innovations, and enjoy some pre-conference conversations over snacks and tiki-themed refreshments. During this happy hour event, attendees connected with fellow developers and weighed in on predictions for Monday’s keynote.
A major highlight of the night was holding a raffle for an Apple Vision Pro. This giveaway called attention to the significant role that small business developers play in transforming new technology into indispensable tools. Just as they elevated the iPhone from a phone to a multi-functional device through innovative apps, we expect to see small business developers leading the charge to unlock the full potential of Vision Pro.
Dezmond Blair, a Swift Student Challenge Distinguished Winner and iOS developer, exemplifies this potential. Dezmond has already begun paving the way for small developers harnessing the power of the Vision Pro by starting the first VisionOS Bootcamp with Kodeco. His self-proclaimed determination to leave California with a Vision Pro paid off when he won the raffle at our event! His passion and energy highlight the excitement and readiness of developers to embrace and enhance new technologies, and we’re excited to see what he does next!
London Tech Week in London, England
From June 10-13, Alex, Brad, Mike, Chelsea, and Stephen Tulip attended London Tech Week (LTW), where we hosted not one but two events for SMEs in the UK. Our first event was titled “AI’s Patent Puzzle: Standards, Licensing, and the IoT Revolution.” This event brought together stakeholders and industry leaders to discuss how SMEs in the app economy can navigate the complexities of AI and IoT. Stephen and Chelsea shared the stage with Tatiana Botskina, co-founder and CTO of member company Deriskly, William Fish, CEO of member company Manulytica, and Jakob Mökander, director of science & technology policy at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change. The insights shared during the panel are vital for SMEs as they integrate AI and IoT into their operations, ensuring they can drive innovation while managing potential risks.
Later that evening, the team wrapped up their time at LTW with a fun and engaging happy hour event, “Digital Dockside: Techies Mixer on the Thames,” celebrating innovation and tech. The discussions, networking, and community building at LTW underscore the importance of a strong, connected global SME community.
Collision in Toronto, Canada
Caitlin and Emma represented the App Association at Collision from June 17-20. They attended various panels, roundtables, and happy hours, connecting with developers and other tech enthusiasts throughout the conference. Through the extremely friendly, warm, and personable environment at Collision, Caitlin and Emma hosted some truly inspiring startup entrepreneurs for shared meals and discussions about what SMEs in Canada and worldwide are asking for regarding tech policy and regulation.
Speaking of tech policy in Canada, new changes to Canadian law were announced recently that have the potential to upend business planning and research and development cycles for small business innovators. Click here to learn more about this move and to access our official statement.
The App Association in Stockholm, Sweden
From June 17-18, Alex, Brad, and Chelsea visited Stockholm to engage with the vibrant tech community and support SMEs and scaleups in their journey toward breaking into the U.S. market. The trip was an incredible opportunity to hear firsthand from innovators about their experiences and how to create a regulatory environment that better assists SMEs in the EU.
A highlight of the visit was a breakfast roundtable at the U.S. Ambassador’s residence, where scale-up and tech leaders in Sweden gathered for an inspiring morning of discussions. Ambassador Erik Ramanathan emphasized the importance of fostering strong ties between U.S. and Swedish tech communities, highlighting the potential for cross-border collaboration and innovation.
The roundtable provided a platform for Swedish tech innovators to share their challenges and opportunities, sharing valuable insights into the needs of the EU SME community. These conversations are crucial as we work together to create a supportive global regulatory landscape that benefits all parties involved. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with this incredible community and returning to Stockholm to support their growth and success further.
TNW Conference in Amsterdam, Netherlands
From June 20-21, Alex, Brad, Chelsea, and Maria Goikoetxea Gomez de Segura attended the TNW Conference, where we hosted a panel titled “Startup Founders and Policy: Bridging the Gap Between Technology and Government.” This event brought together stakeholders and industry leaders to discuss how SMEs can leverage collective action to engage in policy discussions effectively. Chelsea shared the stage with Carlo Ferretti, founder of member company 3DXR, Erika Maslauskaite, co-founder and CEO of member company Deverium, and Donny Wals, founder of member company donnywals.com. The insights they shared are vital for SMEs as they navigate the complexities of policy, ensuring policymakers recognize their unique needs to foster innovation and growth.
The team wrapped up their time at TNW with a fun and engaging happy hour event at Lab-44, celebrating a great first day at TNW. The discussions, networking, and community building at TNW underscored the importance of a strong, connected global SME community.
Future Opportunities
Keep your eyes peeled for more from our WWDC raffle winner, Dezmond Blair, a deep dive into our TNW experience, and a future episode of our global Tech Swamp podcast, where we discuss some of these global themes with ecosystem entrepreneur Jonas Almeling and our very own Chelsea Thomas. We recorded live on the ground in Stockholm with the help of William Bergman at MTW Studios, so stay tuned for this “can’t miss” episode!
If you’d like to partner and work with us to host an in-person experience for your community or during your next event or conference, reach out to Brad Simonich here.