2007 wasn’t exactly a stellar year. It was the beginning of the worst economic crisis in the United States since the great depression, and companies and individuals everywhere took a hit.

Brad Stone. (Town Hall Photo)

But some people also saw opportunity — entrepreneurs like Uber co-founder Travis Kalanick and Airbnb founder Brian Chesky. These Silicon Valley upstarts rose from the veritable ashes of extreme economic crisis, and the companies they founded are upending whole economic systems as well as how everyday folks live their lives.

So who are the people behind this revolution? What’s next for the innovation economy?

New York Times bestselling author Brad Stone takes a magnifying glass to this generation of entrepreneurs in his recent book “The Upstarts.” Join Stone and GeekWire editor Todd Bishop for a discussion of the people and forces in the innovation economy that are changing our world at light speed.

The discussion takes place Tuesday, Feb. 21, at 7:30 p.m. at Seattle’s Town Hall. More information and tickets here.

That’s just one of the highlights from our GeekWire community calendar, the spot for geek and tech events in the greater Pacific Northwest. See the full calendar here, submit your event here and keep reading for more suggested events over the next few weeks.

David Duchovny with Jess Walter: ‘Bucky F*cking Dent’

What: You might know him for his Golden Globe-winning role as Fox Mulder in “The X Files,” but turns out that actor David Duchovny has a few other talents. He’s stopping by Seattle to promote his recent book, “Bucky F*cking Dent,” a novel all about father-son relationships (and baseball rivalries, of course). Catch him on stage with Spokane, Wash.-based author Jess Walter.

When: Feb. 19, 1 – 4 p.m.

Where: Town Hall Seattle

Register: Tickets and more info here.

Ignite Seattle

What: Ignite’s request is simple: “Enlighten us, but make it quick!” And when they say quick they mean it  — each speaker is given only five minutes to share a story, a thought, a struggle or anything in between. No pitches, and no agendas, just thought-provoking discussion.

When: Feb. 23, 8 – 10 p.m.

Where: Town Hall Seattle

Register: Tickets and more info here.

Party Like A Pro | The YPOS 6 Anniversary

What: Young Professionals of Seattle has been bringing together charities, local companies, and smart, young professionals for six years, and now it’s time to let it loose! This anniversary party is a great excuse to dress up, check out the swanky W Hotel in downtown Seattle, and do some networking.

When: Feb. 25, 8 p.m. – midnight

Where: W Seattle Hotel

Register: Tickets and more info here.

Distinguished Speaker Series with Matthew Holloway

What: Atlas Informatics, and its leading product Atlas Recall, are aiming to change how we access information on our computers — no small task. Atlas’s VP of products Matthew Holloway discusses how the tiny startup approached designing a hugely ambitious piece of software at this forum.

When: March 2, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Where: Galvanize

Register: Register and get more info here.

Richard Yonck: Artificial Emotional Intelligence

What: What if your smartphone knew when you were anxious, or your connected TV could sense your sadness? Futurist Richard Yonck says that technology is already on its way, and there could be serious pitfalls. Hear him talk about the possible applications of this tech — both good and bad — at this event.

When: March 7, 7:30 – 9 p.m.

Where: Town Hall Seattle

Register: Tickets and more info here.

Like what you're reading? Subscribe to GeekWire's free newsletters to catch every headline

Job Listings on GeekWork

Find more jobs on GeekWork. Employers, post a job here.