The idea for FullConTech emerged three years ago after WTIA had revised its mission to put more emphasis on being the unifying the voice of Washington’s technology community. The WTIA team wanted to do an event that supported the new mission, but the group wasn’t interested in doing a typical tech industry trade show. They felt the region had plenty of those. They preferred, instead, to organize an event that was interactive, focused on people, and provided an opportunity for stakeholders from different sectors to collaborate on problem-solving.  

Julie Pham, who joined the team in 2014, remembers the strong desire to do something different. “The heart of our organization isn’t software or devices – it’s people,” she said. “We wanted our event to bring doers together, not to exchange business cards, but to share ideas and get things done.”

FullConTech launched in September 2015 with a focus on Ecosystem and Talent and the goal of using collaborative problem-solving to develop new WTIA projects for the coming year. One program that came out of the FullConTech discussions was the recruiting event, Draft Day, which was held for the first time last June. In their feedback on the first FullConTech, participants expressed enthusiasim for WTIA’s unique approach to its conference, saying what they liked most was its emphasis on action and the opportunity to exchange ideas with a diverse group of people. But participants also said that the scope of the event was too broad, and they wanted their FullConTech discussions to continue beyond event day.

For 2016, WTIA kept the same basic format for the day – panel discussions and problem-solving sessions – but simplified the FullConTech program, building it around a single theme: attracting, retaining, and developing talent. Moreover, for participants who wanted to continue collaborating after the event, WTIA helped them form nearly a dozen teams that are currently working to turn FullConTech ideas into completed projects.

Feedback from FullConTech 2016 echoed what participants had said the year before, that collaboration and networking were the best things about the event. But after running FullConTech for two years, WTIA decided that an all-day event was too long: FullConTech 2017 would be split into two events; one in May and a second in October, with fewer breakout sessions and a greater focus on problem-solving with more immediate impact.  

“At WTIA, we do things like a startup,” Julie said. “We put out something new, get feedback, and then make improvements. We’re always looking for opportunities to learn, and that means taking risks and trying out new ideas.” 

FullConTech 2017 also reflects WTIA’s growing interest in Civic Collaboration and fostering grassroots participation. Inspired by Boston’s New Urban Mechanics initiative that brings diverse citizens together to address community problems, WTIA is exploring new ways to connect people in the tech industry with other sectors to solve tough problems and improve life for the whole community. Moreover, WTIA wants to create a laboratory for idea-sharing and innovation, supporting teams as they try new things and learn from their experiments. The May FullConTech event will give participants the chance to learn about civic collaboration from experts and take on real problems facing the Seattle community.  

“Our willingness to experiment and change is something we’re really proud of,” Julie said. “Conferences often get stale after a few years because organizers get locked into one approach. But at WTIA, we’re constantly looking for ways to improve FullConTech – and not just food and speakers. We listen to feedback, and based on that, we’re willing to break the form.”

Click the button below to find out more about FullConTech 2017 and register for the May event.