Columbia In Tech @ Viam
- Date
- 2025-06-11
- Location
- New York, NY, USA
- Host
- Columbia in Tech
About this event
If you’re part of the Columbia community and you care about technology, this is a strong reason to get out from behind your screen and into the room. Columbia In Tech @ Viam brings together people who want sharper conversations, better connections, and a more grounded way to meet others working across the tech world in New York. This is not just a generic mixer with name tags and small talk. It’s an in-person evening built around community: meeting other people who share a Columbia connection, exchanging ideas across roles and experience levels, and spending time with people who are actively building, learning, hiring, exploring, or looking for their next meaningful connection in tech. About the Event Columbia In Tech @ Viam is a community-centered meetup for people interested in technology, hosted in person in New York. The event sits at the intersection of tech, networking, and social connection, which means you should expect a room that feels conversational and welcoming while still drawing people who take their work and interests seriously. The core purpose of the event is simple: create a space where the Columbia tech community can gather face to face. That matters because the best professional communities are rarely built through cold outreach alone. They form when people have the chance to talk casually, compare paths, ask smart questions, and discover shared interests without the pressure of a formal pitch. Because this is an in-person meetup, the format is likely to feel more fluid than a conference and more intentional than a purely social hang. You can come ready to introduce yourself, reconnect with familiar faces, and meet people you probably would not have crossed paths with otherwise. Whether you work in engineering, product, research, operations, startups, investing, design, or you’re still figuring out where you fit in the broader tech landscape, the event is designed to support real conversation across disciplines. What to Expect Expect an evening atmosphere centered on community, conversation, and relationship-building. This kind of meetup usually works best when attendees come prepared to be open, curious, and specific about what they’re working on, what they’re exploring, and what kinds of people they hope to meet. You can expect a mix of the following: Informal networking with other Columbia-affiliated people in tech Organic conversations about current work, projects, ideas, and career paths Cross-functional connections between technical and non-technical roles A social environment that makes it easier to meet people without the stiffness of a formal industry event A local New York gathering with the energy that comes from being in the room together The evening may be especially useful if you like events where you can move between conversations naturally instead of sitting through a long agenda. That creates room for both breadth and depth: you might have one quick introduction that turns into a future coffee chat, and another longer conversation that gives you a new perspective on your field. A good way to approach the night is to arrive with a few things in mind: What you’re currently building, studying, or thinking about The kinds of roles, industries, or problems that interest you A short introduction to yourself that feels natural, not rehearsed A willingness to ask others thoughtful questions instead of only talking about yourself Why Attend There’s real value in spending time with people who share a common institutional connection but have taken very different paths through tech. That combination often makes for better conversations: there’s enough shared context to make introductions easier, but enough diversity of experience to keep things genuinely interesting. If you’re trying to expand your network, this is a more targeted setting than a broad public tech event. The Columbia angle helps narrow the room to people who are likely to have overlapping interests, mutual connections, or some level of shared context, which often makes follow-up easier and more meaningful. You should also attend if you want to stay close to the human side of the industry. Tech can become very transactional very quickly. A meetup like this gives you a chance to build relationships before you need something urgent, whether that’s hiring help, career advice, product feedback, introductions, or perspective on a new opportunity. Practical takeaways from attending can include: New professional relationships within the Columbia tech community Better visibility into what others in New York tech are working on Career insight from people at different stages and in different functions A stronger sense of belonging within a specific professional community Potential follow-up conversations that continue well beyond the event itself Just as important, you may leave with more clarity about where you fit. Sometimes one good conversation can sharpen your thinking about what to build next, where to apply, which skills to develop, or how to navigate a transition. Practical Details This event takes place in person in New York, USA on Wednesday, June 11 at 7:00 PM EDT. The in-person format is a major part of the value: it gives you the chance to read the room, have more natural exchanges, and make stronger first impressions than you typically can online. Because it’s an evening event, it fits well for people coming from work, school, or other daytime commitments. Plan to arrive on time if you want the easiest window for introductions; early arrivals often have more space for relaxed conversation before the room gets busier. A few practical tips will help you get more out of the night: Come ready to introduce yourself clearly in one or two sentences Wear something appropriate for a professional but social setting Be intentional about follow-up if you meet someone you want to stay in touch with Give yourself time to circulate rather than staying in one conversation all evening If you’ve been meaning to get more involved with the Columbia tech community in New York, this is a strong place to start. It offers a useful mix of familiarity, ambition, and openness — the kind of setting where meaningful connections can happen without feeling forced.
Who should attend
This will feel especially worthwhile if you want your networking to be more relevant, more local, and more grounded in real conversation. - You’re part of the **Columbia community** and want to meet other people connected to the university who are working in or exploring tech. - You work in **engineering, product, design, data, research, operations, startups, or adjacent roles** and want stronger ties within the New York tech scene. - You’re a **student, recent graduate, or early-career professional** looking to learn how others built their path and how to navigate your own next step. - You’re more established in your career and want to **share perspective, meet emerging talent, and stay connected** to a smart, motivated community. - You’re looking for a **better kind of networking event**: one where conversations can be thoughtful, useful, and easy to continue after the event. - You’re curious, social, and willing to introduce yourself, ask good questions, and leave with a few new people you genuinely want to keep in touch with. If you’ve been wanting a reason to reconnect with community while also expanding your professional circle, this event is a strong fit.