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 started 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
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Norwin | Fall 2017 | icmags.com 33