BURGH
C
elebrating its fifth year, the Thrival Innovation + Music
Festival is gearing up for what promises to be another year
of spectacular events.
The Thrival Innovation + Music Festival is an annual,
Pittsburgh-based event featuring multiple days of innovation-
focused programming capped by a two-day outdoor live music
experience.
The festival started in 2013 as an initiative of Ascender (known
then as Thrill Mill), and was founded by CEO Bobby Zappala,
Chairman Luke Skurman and a group of their friends. The
original concept goes even further back—almost 10 years ago—
when this group started a neighborhood barbecue that served as
an informal party for young Pittsburghers, raising funds for local
startup companies.
This yearly block party eventually transformed into a
nonprofit, now called Ascender, a “start/build” hub that offers
an incubator program for early-stage entrepreneurs, co-working
space and free community programs—and Thrival. Ascender
produces Thrival as the organization’s flagship initiative that
promotes and celebrates Pittsburgh’s innovation and creative
ecosystems. It has two parts: Thrival Innovation and Thrival
Music.
“Thrival is a Pittsburgh creation,” says director Dan Law.
“It has grown and scaled over the years with the support of
Pittsburghers, and it now welcomes attendees from over 30 states
and multiple countries.”
This year’s Thrival Innovation will be held in Pittsburgh’s
East End on Sept. 27 and 28, at the Ace Hotel, Kelly Strayhorn
Theater, Bakery Square and the Carnegie Museum of Art. Thrival
Innovation will feature two full days of programming and events
centered on “Intelligence: Humans X Tech,” focusing on the
relationship between humans and technology.
Thrival Music will be held at Carrie Furnaces on Sept. 29 and
30. “The Carrie Furnaces site is special for Thrival Music because
the space literally represents the physical and philosophical
transformation of our entire region,” explains Law. “The furnaces
no longer produce hot metal, but the facility now contributes to
new economic growth and creativity. Carrie remains a significant
element of our culture and we’re proud to partner with Rivers of
Steel, the nonprofit dedicated to preserving the site.”
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