NOTE: TechWire is making live updates in a separate post here. Follow along for the latest news.
Growing concern over the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is prompting event organizers across North Carolina to reconsider hosting mass gatherings. Several major events were cancelled today in the wake of Governor Roy Cooper’s state of emergency declaration on Tuesday.
As TechWire works to stay on top of these changes, we’ve compiled a roundup of events that have been cancelled, postponed or rescheduled. We included links to the event websites so that attendees can get the latest information from organizers directly.
We will be removing events from our calendar as new cancellations are announced. We’ll also update the list below. If you have an update you’d like to share, please send me an email or use this contact form.
CANCELLED/POSTPONED/RESCHEDULED EVENTS:
1 Million Cups RTP events, held every Wednesday, will be cancelled for the next two weeks. See the group’s website for more info.
*CANCELLED* 1 Million Cups, Tomorrow., Mar 11th at 9:00am at American Underground in Durham – https://t.co/bx0Yn6om1L
— 1MillionCupsRTP (@1MillionCupsRTP) March 10, 2020
The Experience STEM-ILM showcase, set for March 12, was cancelled on Wednesday. Read our coverage here.
The Raleigh chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners cancelled their Get to Know NAWBO event, originally scheduled for March 12.
Bunker Labs cancelled its Atlantic Region Muster Across America Tour in Cary last week. The conference was originally scheduled for March 12. Read our coverage here.
We are extremely disappointed to inform you that the Atlantic Region Muster scheduled for Thursday, March 12th, has been postponed due to concerns over the Coronavirus. The safety of attendees at our events is uppermost in the minds of Bunker L… @MetLife, #MusterUSA #BunkerLabs pic.twitter.com/JPIiXejqar
— Bunker Labs (@TheBunkerLabs) March 9, 2020
NC TECH’s Diversity + Inclusion Summit, originally scheduled for March 13 at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel in Durham, has been postponed to June 23. Read our coverage here.
Analytics>Forward, originally planned for March 14 at SAS Hall, was cancelled this week. The event will be rescheduled sometime later this year. Statement here.
The Council for Entrepreneurial Development’s Venture Connect conference, scheduled for March 17-19 at the Raleigh Convention Center, was cancelled last week. Read our coverage here.
After much consideration and to keep our guests safe, we have decided to postpone #VentureConnect – Please stay tuned for updates. You will find the official press release here: https://t.co/TESaC7D5Ht pic.twitter.com/C9c2I9epPt
— CED (@CEDNC) March 5, 2020
RIoT announced it’ll be cancelling its RIoT Developer Day event, originally planned for March 27 at Wake Technical Community College’s RTP campus.
Electrification 2020, originally planned for April 6-9 at the Charlotte Convention Center, will be rescheduled for early-2021. Read the full statement here.
The UNC Technology and Business Strategy Forum, scheduled for April 16 in Chapel Hill, was cancelled on Wednesday. Read our coverage here.
EVENTS CONTINUING AS PLANNED:
One major upcoming event that has not been cancelled yet is the DIG SOUTH Tech Summit, slated for April 22-24 at the Charleston Gaillard Center in Charleston, South Carolina. The annual program is one of the Southeast region’s largest tech conferences, bringing in thousands of attendees every year. DIG SOUTH leadership confirmed in a blog post on March 9 that the event will continue as planned. Read the full statement here.
Similarly, the East Coast Game Conference, another major program for the local tech community, is still running as planned. The event will be held April 7-9 at the Raleigh Convention Center. Organizers have a statement on their website explaining their position.
