Tech-minded UO students will have a rare opportunity to tour several dozen of Eugene’s most desirable employers at the 2019 Eugene Tech Tour, an Oct. 3 open house co-sponsored by the UO, along with the Technology Association of Oregon.
Technology companies will open their offices to the public to show off their work and recruit top talent to fill 234 current job openings, ranging from gaming software engineer to user interface developer to digital content creator. The Tech Tour was scheduled to align with the beginning of the UO academic year, making the local tech industry more accessible than ever to local students.
“The Tech Tour is a win-win event, connecting industry to the rich talent pool here in Eugene,” said Tina Guldberg, UO’s senior director of industry partnerships. “University of Oregon students bring energy and specialized skills that will, undoubtedly, enrich workplaces across the state.”
Greater Eugene is home to 471 tech companies, according to the event’s co-sponsor, the Technology Association of Oregon, a members-based, not-for-profit organization that aims to grow the tech industry in Oregon and to establish the Pacific Northwest as a global hub for innovation.
Participating firms are active in education technology, video game development, cybersecurity and other sectors. Tour highlights include Arcimoto, which will be featuring its newly released Evergreen Edition “Fun Utility Vehicle,” and the video game studio Pipeworks, makers of games such as Terraria. Pipeworks is joining with neighboring firms Inseego and Nulia for an Oktoberfest-themed open house.
Two newly renovated downtown Eugene buildings will also be open to the public for the very first time: the management, consulting and marketing firm Tyndale Advisors at 1 East Broadway and the e-commerce home goods company Wayfair and the online restaurant wine seller Bitcork, which will offer a pop-up presence at 1235 Willamette St.
The Eugene Tech Tour registration and check-in will open at 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3, in Kesey Square at the corner of Broadway and Willamette Street with live music from the local band Upstate Trio. Opening ceremonies will kick off at 5 p.m. with an address from Eugene Mayor Lucy Vinis and Executive Director Kristina Payne of the Lane Workforce Partnership.
The tour is open from 5:30 to 8 p.m. An after-party will be held at 8 p.m. at Level-Up Arcade, 1290 Oak. St.
Admission is $5 for students or $10 general admission. After-party tickets are $5. For tickets and information, including a full list of participating companies, visit the 2019 Eugene Tech Tour website.