An annual rite of spring for Boston’s tech community, TUGG Makes Boston (also known as the “Wine and Tequila Party”) upped the ante from previous years in 2016, drawing more than 1,500 guests and doling out a few hundred thousand dollars. Not a group to rest on its laurels, TUGG (Technology Underwriting Greater Good) is looking to make the 2017 edition its biggest and best party yet by adding three new portfolio members to the showcase.
On March 23, TUGG, the non-profit arm of Boston’s tech community, will hold its biggest event of the year at the Seaport’s The Innovation and Design Building in the Seaport. Six local non-profits will compete for more than $400,000 in funding and who gets what will be decided by hundreds of attendees. To date, TUGG has funded 39 innovative non-profits and granted more than a $1M to local non-profits thanks to the support of more than 12,000 members of the Boston tech and venture capital community.
At the March 23 event, each organization will make a presentation about their mission and goals, and attendees will cast a vote in two different categories (returning and new) so their favorite non-profits can take home between $10,000 and $50,000. Returning from last year’s event are current TUGG portfolio non-profits Resilient Coders, First Teacher, and WeThrive.
Here’s a look at TUGG’s three additions to the event:
-Media Girls: a non-profit that that teaches middle-school girls to critique how girls and women are portrayed in mainstream media
-Mbadika: the group, whose name means ‘idea’ in Kimbundu (a language popularly spoken in the Northern region of Angola), seeks to increase relations between international innovators and leaders in various fields
-Tech Goes Home: the award-winning initiative helps to provide under-served residents the opportunity, tools, education, and access required for 21st century skills development.
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“We’re thrilled to introduce Mbadika, Tech Goes Home, and Media Girls at the largest Boston tech party of the year,” said TUGG Managing Director Elizabeth Dobrska. “TUGG Makes Boston has been a launching pad for some of the region’s best social entrepreneurs and this year’s group looks promising.”
Reflecting the tech industry’s hard/play hard mentality, guests can look forward a memorable night while doing good; the event’s hosts and sponsors include Avion Tequila, KillerBoomBox, Ghost Tequila, Terlato Wines, and JAM'N 94.5's DJ E Dubble. Uber will also be offering free rides to and from the event with a special promo code, should you choose to sample any of the wine or tequila.
But make no mistake, TUGG Makes Boston is not your run of the mill tech event with booze (not that there’s anything wrong with that). What makes this event unique is that many entrepreneurs can relate to TUGG's mission to fund risky social enterprises because similarly someone once took a risk to fund their companie. Thanks to thousands of guests and dozens of event hosts and sponsors over the years, TUGG Makes Boston has become one of the most important funding opportunities for emerging social enterprises in the area.
“We selected each non-profit based on their strong leadership, impactful social innovation, potential to scale and ability to effectively serve and inspire local youth,” Dobrska added. “We invite the Boston tech and innovation community to join us in support of these non-profits and enjoy an incredible night out together.”
Details:
TUGG’s 11th Annual Wine and Tequila Party
Thursday, March 23, 2017
6:30 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.
The Innovation and Design Building - Door 25
25 Drydock Ave. Boston, MA 02210
Tickets: $100 each and can be purchased here.
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