The annual Internet Week New York festival that began on Monday is a meeting of the minds — and a few bodies — for the local tech community.
Attendees spent the first day playing with an app aimed at connecting singles who have a passing connection on the street, but who fail to get a phone number.
“Hey beige suit! we chatted after deblasio spoke and you’re kinda awesome! Shoulda gotten you #,” read a post on irlbb — which stands for “in real life, baby.”
Another wrote: “Internet week hotties everywhere!! You black shirt guy w blue shoes!”
Mayor de Blasio kicked off the festivities with a speech about improving the city’s broadband network and bringing free Wi-Fi to a large chunk of Harlem.
“We have to get broadband right for the future of this city,” he said. “We need people from the tech community, from academia, from nonprofits to help us figure out the solutions that will make us stronger for the future.”
The week of conferences, classes and idea-sharing will wrap up Thursday night with a pool party atop the swanky Gansevoort Park Avenue hotel following a gathering at Rooftop at The DL on Delancey Street.
“I would say the party has the potential to be a hook-up party,” said irlbb founder Vivian Thi Tang.
“You could potentially hit on someone that you wouldn’t otherwise hit on. To me, it’s targeted to the shy romantic.”
Tuesday night, many attendees will go to the rowdy “Webutante Ball” at Marquee — which has become like prom night for people in the tech sector. Guests dress to impress in ball gowns and tuxedos and dance the night away.
For Jennifer Chang, a p.r. exec for a start-up, the event serves a dual function.
“I’m partying it up this week,” she said. “Whether I make connections for work or meet a guy, it’s a win-win. Everyone I meet will serve a purpose. It’s work and play at the same time.”
Seminars at IWNY include “Disrupting Investments and IPOs” and “The Driverless Car: Heaven or Hell?”