By Toral Cowieson, chair, New Hampshire Tech Alliance Board
After 18 months of work reviewing its mission, focus, and services, the New Hampshire High Tech Council shed its 35-year old name and became the New Hampshire Tech Alliance (Alliance). We were excited to do this unveiling and launch of a new website in conjunction with our Product of the Year event on October 10.
The new name recognizes that the tech ecosystem has evolved significantly and that there is an even greater imperative for cross-sector collaboration. The name also recognizes that the organization has grown through partnerships, events and robust programming that more broadly serve the tech sector and economic development across the state. Three specific efforts have become part of the Alliance since January. These include Alpha Loft, Live Free and Start and Computer Science for NH (CS4NH). The board also voted to update the mission statement to recognize that the Alliance serves companies from the earliest stage through some of largest and most mature companies.
This work is the culmination of many hours of strategic conversations and efforts to reposition the NH Tech Alliance as a true statewide resource, serving a growing and diverse membership. I want to personally thank our members, the board, staff and volunteers for their significant efforts to bring this to fruition.
The work of the Alliance will focus on four value pillars: talent & workforce, education & programs, advocacy & policy and ecosystem engagement. Signature events, such as Entrepreneur of the Year, Product of the Year and TechOut (please join us on November 15), will continue and be complemented by additional programming including the Speed Venture Summit on November 28, and Start-up Shindig and AccelerateNH in 2019. The Alliance will also continue its events and outreach efforts through the newly-created Startup Committee and the solid programming of the BioMed | Tech, TechWomen|TechGirls and Seacoast initiatives. Additional programming such as executive forums and leadership roundtables are also in the works for Q4 2018 and into the next year.
As part of the reorganization, membership benefits and tiers, new sponsorship opportunities have been restructured to focus on engagement and a clear value proposition.
The tech sector is an economic driver in New Hampshire. It supports 12.6% of our state’s GDP and puts us eighth nationally in terms of the percent of our workforce that is in tech. The sector creates quality, high-paying jobs and contributes to New Hampshire being consistently ranked in the top 10 or even top five for overall quality of life, education, healthcare and a place to raise children and retire. Technological knowhow and innovation are integral to many industries today, including healthcare, life sciences, education, manufacturing and much more, and the new Alliance brand and structure has been designed to help serve and bring together these diverse companies and support New Hampshire’s strong and growing economy.
With membership at an all-time high of nearly 300 companies and organizations, representing about 50,000 employees, it is certainly an exciting time. We look forward to hearing from our members and others in the tech ecosystem on these new efforts and enhancing our engagement in the future.
In the interim, please visit the new NH Tech Alliance website at www.nhtechalliance.org for more details.