Nashville Technology Networking Guide

Here’s an overview of the networking opportunities I’ve stumbled upon in my less than two years as a full-time IT professional in Nashville.

Some friends have asked where to get started. It’s a small town, but it still can be overwhelming. Here’s where I’ll now send them.

If you’re just getting started in a technology, interactive, web, or internet marketing field; are just now focusing on networking; or are wanting to simply meet some folks with like interests, here’s an immersion strategy and links for the following in Nashville:

• Tech-Infused Events
• Mixers
• Groups and Clubs
• Nashville Technology Beat Blogs
• Twitter Recommendations
• Creative Ways to Network in Nashville

An Immersion Strategy

1. Get on twitter and interact with folks.
2. Attend, and if possible volunteer, at one of the tech-infused event listed below.
3. Then regularly attend a tech mixer in town.

It’ll be less threatening to meet folks over a period of a day or weekend when you’re working towards a common goal.

You’ll likely meet a few folks you’ll be excited to connect with in the future, which will in turn make attending mixers around town less threatening.

Things to Remember

However your social or professional motives are prioritized, remember:

• Get to know people first, and then let collaboration happen naturally.
• Network before you need to network. Start now.

Nashville Tech-Infused Events

BarCamp is traditionally the largest tech event in Nashville. I prefer Startup Weekend because there’s a focus on innovation and it’s a great cross-section of marketing, business, and technology folks.

BarCamp Nashville
Enterprise LAMP
Fast Pitch
Nashville Startup Weekend
PodCamp Nashville

There are many more, but those are some of the larger, more community-oriented events.

Nashville Technology Mixers

Geek breakfast and the CS Mixers are solid choices. I haven’t checked out Geek Social yet, but hope to soon. Recurring or one-time events pop-up quickly, so check calendars with some of the groups below for seasonal events and stuff like twestivals.

Nashville Geek Breakfast
CS (Centresource) Mixers
FireFly Logic Geek Social

Nashville Technology Groups and Clubs

Digital Nashville
Innovation Nashville
Nashville Entrepreneur Center
Nashville Geeks
Nashville Technology Council
Meetup.com Groups

Again, many more. These are some of the more established ones I’ve run into.

Nashville Technology Beat Blogs

Dave Delaney
Tom Cheredar
Milt Capps’ VNC
Nashville Geeks
GeniusCog

Creative Ways to Network in Nashville

As of 2012. This could get outdated quick at the speed of things. I’m interested to know what else you’d add to the list.

Twitter Lists - Prepend someone interesting on Twitter with /lists to see if they are keep lists of folks they find interesting. This is a great way to find people involved in niche topics.

Foursquare - GPS-based social game based on leaving tips about places for people.

Twitter Recommendations

Here are some folks I’d recommend following on twitter. They are approachable and knowledge about the Nashville technology scene if you have questions. I know they’ve helped me on numerous occasions.

Nate Baker (That’s me. Let’s connect!)
Chuck Bryant
Dave Delaney
Kate O’Neil
Rex Hammock

What did I miss?