Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak to headline Tech Week Grand Rapids

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak will headline the fourth annual Tech Week Grand Rapids kickoff event on September 15.

The week is designed to celebrate what organizers describe as the innovation, collaboration and the transformative power of technology in the Greater Grand Rapids region. Tech Week is hosted by The Right Place economic-development group.

Here is more information provided in a Right Place news release via Clark Communications:

Widely known as one of the most influential figures in modern computing, Wozniak will set the tone for a week celebrating innovation, collaboration, and the transformative power of technology in the Greater Grand Rapids region.

“We are beyond thrilled to welcome Steve Wozniak to Grand Rapids,” said Andria Romkema, Senior Vice President of Business Development at The Right Place and lead organizer of Tech Week Grand Rapids. “His story is a testament to what happens when creativity meets technical brilliance, and we believe his presence will inspire our community to continue pushing boundaries and thinking big.”

Now in its fourth year, Tech Week Grand Rapids is a multi-day celebration of the Greater Grand Rapids region’s growing tech ecosystem. Hosted by The Right Place and powered by over 100 community partners, Tech Week features 70+ events focused on artificial intelligence, med-tech, software, mobility, cybersecurity, and more. In 2024, the event welcomed over 16,000 attendees.

For full event details and to purchase your ticket to the Kick-Off event, visit techweekgr.com or follow Tech Week Grand Rapids on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

About Steve Wozniak

A Silicon Valley icon and philanthropist for more than forty years, Steve Wozniak helped shape and innovate the computing industry with his design of Apple’s first line of products, the Apple I and II. He also influenced the popular Macintosh. In 1976, Wozniak and Steve Jobs founded Apple Computer Inc. with Wozniak’s Apple I personal computer. The following year, he introduced his Apple II personal computer, featuring a central processing unit, a keyboard, color graphics, and a floppy disk drive. The Apple II was integral in launching the personal computer industry.

Through the years, Wozniak has been involved in various business and philanthropic ventures, focusing primarily on computer capabilities in schools and stressing hands-on learning and encouraging creativity for students. Making significant investments of both his time and resources in education, he adopted the Los Gatos School District, providing students and teachers with hands-on teaching and donations of state-of-the-art technology equipment. He founded the Electronic Frontier Foundation, and was the founding sponsor of the Tech Museum, Silicon Valley Ballet and Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose. Wozniak has been honored with the National Medal of Technology, inducted into the Inventors Hall of Fame and received the Hoover Medal, given for “outstanding extra-career services by engineers to humanity”.

About The Right Place, Inc.                                                                                           

The Right Place, Inc., is a regional nonprofit founded in 1985 with the mission to drive sustainable economic growth and shared prosperity for all in the Greater Grand Rapids Region. The Right Place works to achieve this mission by focusing on three core areas: People, Place, and Prosperity. The Right Place is an Accredited Economic Development Organization (AEDO) as designated by The International Economic Development Council. Find out more by visiting rightplace.org, liking us on Facebook, and following us on LinkedIn and Instagram.

About Tech Week Grand Rapids

Tech Week Grand Rapids is a dynamic, community-driven event celebrating innovation and technology in the Greater Grand Rapids region. Taking place from September 15-20, 2025, this week-long ‘unconference’ features over 70 independently hosted events. Attracting 16,000+ attendees in 2024, Tech Week showcases the latest in tech advancements and fosters collaboration among professionals, enthusiasts, and the general public. Organized by economic development organization The Right Place, Inc. with the support of local businesses and organizations, Tech Week Grand Rapids is where the future of technology and innovation converges. For more information, visit techweekgr.com.

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