It’s something Seattle techies look forward to every year: Techstars Seattle Startup Week.

Next week, hundreds of talks, meetups, panels, discussions and parties will fill the Seattle region across a variety of venues. There’s way more to see and do than one person could take in, so we’re going to break down some of the highlights and recommend a few events to put on your calendar below.

But first, the tracks. Every year, Startup Week features tracks of events organized around particular topics important to the startup world. Some are organized around technologies themselves: this year features a track about artificial intelligence, one on virtual and augmented reality and a robust hardware track. There are also tracks formed around industries, like health and real estate technology. There’s even a solid day of events on the games industry.

Or, you can dip your toes into some tough topics like keeping corporations innovative and creating social impact.

Some tracks get even more specific, like one seeking founders to turn technologies into successful startups.

Some events require that attendees register, but most are free and open to anyone. Startup Week is very popular, and events will tend to fill up quickly, so be sure to show up with plenty of time to spare!

Check out the full lineup, a list of speakers and exhibitors and other ways to get involved at the Techstars Seattle Startup Week website, and keep reading for some of our recommended events. And be sure to follow the GeekWire Calendar for many more tech, science and geek events.

Fuel Talent CEO Shauna Swerland is moderating the panel.

David vs. Goliath (Competing for Top Engineers Against Seattle Giants)

What: So, you’re growing exponentially and need top talent to push your startup to the next level. Now what? This round table discussion will explore the main drivers for engineering candidates and align them with what your startup needs to offer. This is your chance to hear from the people who spend day in and day out deciphering candidates desires and matching them with companies who are navigating what it means to compete in this hot Seattle market.

Featuring: Shauna Swerland, CEO, Fuel Talent; Kevin Goldsmith, Chief Technology Officer, Avvo; Nicole Maddox, lead of HR and recruiting, Convoy.

Where: Galvanize, 111 S Jackson St, Seattle, WA 98104

When: Monday, October 2, 11 – 12 p.m.

Clarissa San Diego, founder of Makerologist, is one of the speakers on the panel.

Women in Hardware

What: Come ready to hear about the innovative perspectives these women have brought to the hardware scene.

Featuring: Christina Cyr, Founder, CEO and CTO, dTOOR; Clarissa San Diego, Founder, Makerologist; Jennifer Fox, Owner, Foxbot Industries; Oleha Riden, COO, MistyWest; Martine Stillman, Mechanical Program Lead, Synapse Product Development; Stephanie Xenos, Senior Systems Engineer, SpaceX

Where: Ebay, Chinook Conference Room, 411-108th Avenue NE, Bellevue, WA 98004

When: Tuesday, October 3, 12 – 1 p.m.

Casey Marks will speak on the power and limitations of artificial intelligence.

Beyond the AI Hype: Examining its limitations and potential

What: AI is a powerful technology, but the biggest challenge is making sure its capabilities are not misconstrued and that companies learn accurate information on how to leverage AI for their business. Join our speaker Casey Marks, founder of CarveAcre, who will present cases where AI and machine learning applications demonstrated limitations in solving particular problems and where the applications demonstrate potential.

Where: Galvanize, 111 S Jackson St, Seattle, WA 98104

When: Thursday, October 5, 2 – 3 p.m.

ID Genomics CEO Kaveri Parker is taking part in the panel.

Science NOT Science Fiction: Medical Technologies of the Near Future

What: Tumor zapping, genomics, predictive and proactive medicine: Seattle is home base for some mind-boggling developing technologies and you have a front row seat! Come to be inspired by the leaders who are pioneering the personalized and targeted approaches to medicine that will change the way we manage our health.

Featuring: Terri Butler, Assistant Director, University of Washington Burek Center for Entrepreneurship; Sean Bell, Chief Business Officer, Arivale; Alex Jiao, President and CEO, Silene Biotech; Kaveri Parker, President and CEO, ID Genomics; Rhonda Rhyne, CEO and President, Prevencio; Chris Rivera, President, CEO and Chairman of the Board, Nativis.

Where: Cambia Grove, 1800 9th Avenue, Suite 200, Seattle, WA 98101

When: Tuesday, October 3, 3 – 5 p.m.

OfferUp Co-founder Arean van Veelen

Making something from nothing: what a startup’s early days are REALLY like

What: In this panel, a diverse group of founders covering everything from enterprise software, consumer marketplaces, and even VR, will share their early experiences with you. Every startup changes during the early years, but how do you set yourself up for success from the get-go? Learn what you should (and should not) be doing in the early days from founders that have seen and done it all.

Featuring: Melissa Lehman, Co-founder & CEO, Pogo Rides; Lacey Leavitt, Founder, Electric Dream Factory; Ambika Singh, Co-founder & CEO, Armoire; Arean van Veelen, Co-founder, OfferUp; Casey Willis, Co-founder, Wrench.

Where: Atlas Workbase, 500 Mercer St, Seattle, WA 98109

When: Tuesday, October 3, 4:30 – 6 p.m.

Strange Loop Games Executive Producer and Creative Director John Krajewski.

Bridging the Gap Between Games and Education and Creating a Viable Market

What: As a startup, it’s often the case that targeting multiple markets will split your focus, causing you to succeed in neither.  This talk describes our approach of using one to leverage the other: creating video games that succeed in the entertainment market, then using that as a route into the education market. John Krajewski (executive producer and creative director at Strange Loop Games) will describe Strange Loop’s approach with a product that stretches the standards of what an educational game should be, a route has been especially helpful in helping to disrupt a very static and slow-moving market (education) through a much faster one (entertainment).

Where:  First&Bell, 2218 First Avenue, Seattle, WA 98121

When: Wednesday, October 4, 11:35 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Microsoft Ventures Partner Lisa Nelson.

Corporate Innovation: Microsoft Ventures and Verizon Wireless

What: Learn how Microsoft Ventures and Verizon build and execute on internal corporate innovation initiatives, engage with the external tech community and startups, and create social impact through their innovation initiatives.

Featuring: Lisa Nelson, Partner, Microsoft Ventures; Terry Dell, Verizon Wireless

Where: Pioneer Collective, 100 South King Street Suite 100. Seattle, WA 98104

When: Wednesday, October 4, 6 – 7 p.m.

Seven Peaks Ventures Partner Dave Parker will moderate the session.

FOUNDERS WANTED! Working with Intellectual Ventures and Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence

What: Are you curious what goes on at Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Intellectual Ventures? Meet with the Entrepreneur Representatives for both organizations with this fireside chat.

Featuring: Dave Parker, Venture Partner, Seven Peaks Ventures; Jacob Colker, Entrepreneur In Residence, Allen Institute Artificial Intelligence; Azam Khan, Director of New Ventures, Intellectual Ventures;

Where: CoMotion HQ, 4545 Roosevelt Way NE #300 Seattle, WA 98105

When: Thursday, October 5, 2  – 3 p.m.

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