​Official #CLETechWeek26 Welcome Ceremony

​Building Cleveland's Innovation Ecosystem

​Cleveland Tech Week starts by bringing Cleveland's innovation ecosystem into one room.

​Join founders, students, emerging talent, investors, industry leaders, educators, nonprofits, civic leaders, and innovators at Cleveland State University as we officially kick off #CLETechWeek26.

​This year's Welcome Ceremony, in partnership with Cleveland State University and the CSU Talent Hub, explores one of the biggest questions facing our region:

​How do we prepare Cleveland's talent pipeline for an AI-powered economy?

​Before the Welcome Ceremony begins, teams of students, emerging talent, and industry leaders will spend the day together in the Official #CLETechWeek26 Buildathon, using emerging AI tools to build solutions at the intersection of education, workforce, and industry.

​At 4 PM, the doors open.

​Grab a beverage and light refreshments, meet people from across Cleveland's innovation community, and explore the Buildathon projects at interactive demo tables.

​At 5 PM, selected teams will take the stage to show us what they built, followed by our signature conversation:

​Building Cleveland's Innovation Ecosystem: Talent in the Age of AI

​We'll bring together leaders from education, industry, technology, workforce development, and the broader community to explore:

​How is AI changing the skills employers need?

​How should education evolve as technology changes faster than traditional curricula?

​How can employers play a more active role in developing talent?

​And how can Cleveland create stronger connections between education → experience → employment → entrepreneurship → opportunity so that more people choose to build their futures here?

​Because Cleveland's innovation ecosystem isn't built by any one university, company, startup, or organization.

​We build it together.

​📅 Agenda

​4:00–5:00 PM → Buildathon project showcase, beverages, light refreshments & networking
5:00–6:00 PM → Selected project presentations + Building Cleveland's Innovation Ecosystem panel
6:00–7:00 PM → Beverages, light refreshments & networking

​📍 Cleveland State University

Dress: Business casual

​Come see what Cleveland's emerging talent and industry leaders can build together—and help us kick off a week dedicated to building what's next for Cleveland.

​A Rising Tide Lifts All Boats
#ClevelandOnTheRise
#CLETechWeek26
#BuildTheTide

​This event is part of Cleveland Tech Week 2026, a community-driven celebration of innovation across Greater Cleveland. Learn more and explore the full calendar at cletechweek.com.

​By registering, you consent to share your registration information with the event host and Cleveland Tech Week organizers. You may also receive occasional emails about Cleveland Tech Week related events and announcements. You can unsubscribe at any time. Photography and videography may occur during the event and may be used for promotional purposes.