JC Smiley

Rising Stars of Memphis Tech

The 4 AM Algorithm: How Richard Whittington Learned to Think Like a Developer

May 18, 2026

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5 min read

The 4 AM Algorithm: How Richard Whittington Learned to Think Like a Developer

Memphis tech grows through builders who think deeper. This week, a rising developer shows how curiosity and community turn skill into impact.

JC Smiley

Newsletter

This Week in Memphis Tech (May 18–25): Design & Code with Brian Swanson + 6 Must‐Attend Events

May 17, 2026

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5 min read

This Week in Memphis Tech (May 18–25): Design & Code with Brian Swanson + 6 Must‐Attend Events

Power your week with a clear snapshot of what matters now. Then dive into 3 standout sessions, from leveling up Power BI skills to learning from Brian Swanson to building games hands‐on.

JC Smiley

Tech Meetup

At CoffeeBlk, BDPA Memphis Traded the Agenda for the Conversation

May 10, 2026

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3 min read

At CoffeeBlk, BDPA Memphis Traded the Agenda for the Conversation

At CoffeeBlk, BDPA Memphis skipped the agenda and had the conversation Memphis tech actually needed. On feedback, creativity, AI, and what it means to build together.

JC Smiley

Newsletter

This Week in Memphis Tech (May 11–17): Tech on Tap Returns + 8 Must-Attend Events

May 10, 2026

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5 min read

This Week in Memphis Tech (May 11–17): Tech on Tap Returns + 8 Must-Attend Events

Find the rooms worth your time this week. Unwind at Tech on Tap, trade AI workflow ideas in a 30-minute meetup, and build alongside local developers across 9 Memphis tech events.

JC Smiley

Newsletter

This Week in Memphis Tech (May 4–10): DevMemphis Kicks Off the Week + 5 Must‐Attend Events

May 3, 2026

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4 min read

This Week in Memphis Tech (May 4–10): DevMemphis Kicks Off the Week + 5 Must‐Attend Events

Level up your week with the events that sharpen your skills and widen your circle. From DevMemphis’ AI deep‐dive to CodeCrew’s CTF challenge and a security briefing built for Memphis pros.

JC Smiley

Tech Meetup

What BDPA Memphis Built When Nobody Was Keeping Score

Apr 28, 2026

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5 min read

What BDPA Memphis Built When Nobody Was Keeping Score

A rainy start turned into a weekend of laughter, demos, and first-time builders finding their footing. BDPA Memphis showed what happens when community comes before competition.

JC Smiley

Newsletter

This Week in Memphis Tech (April 27–May 3): CodeCrew CTF Takes the Spotlight + 10 Must-Attend Events

Apr 26, 2026

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4 min read

This Week in Memphis Tech (April 27–May 3): CodeCrew CTF Takes the Spotlight + 10 Must-Attend Events

Plug into Memphis tech this week. Test your skills, sharpen your security mindset, and share what you’re building. 11 events. Break Bluetooth attacks, enter a live CTF, bring your project to Code Connector, and many more opportunities.

JC Smiley

Newsletter

This Week in Memphis Tech (April 20–26): Dumb Hackathon Leads the Week + 6 Must‐Attend Events

Apr 19, 2026

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4 min read

This Week in Memphis Tech (April 20–26): Dumb Hackathon Leads the Week + 6 Must‐Attend Events

Level up your week with events that sharpen skills and strengthen Memphis' tech community. From the Dumb Hackathon’s wild builds to CodeCrew’s CTF and a data deep‐dive that moves real work forward.

JC Smiley

Newsletter

This Week in Memphis Tech (April 13–19): Innovate Xcelerate Hackathon Leads the Week + 9 Must‐Attend Events

Apr 12, 2026

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5 min read

This Week in Memphis Tech (April 13–19): Innovate Xcelerate Hackathon Leads the Week + 9 Must‐Attend Events

Cut through the noise and see where Memphis tech is moving this week. From the Innovate Xcelerate Hackathon to a Secure‐by‐Design cybersecurity deep dive and an IP workshop built for founders.

JC Smiley

Newsletter

This Week in Memphis Tech (April 6–12): Code, Create + Conversate by BDPA Memphis + 9 Must-Attend Events

Apr 5, 2026

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10 min read

This Week in Memphis Tech (April 6–12): Code, Create + Conversate by BDPA Memphis + 9 Must-Attend Events

Find where to plug in, who to meet, and what to watch this week in Memphis tech. 10 events including Code, Create + Conversate by BDPA Memphis, Tech on Tap, and 901 AI Meetup tech talk.

JC Smiley

Newsletter

This Week in Memphis Tech (March 30–April 5): Epicenter Live! Leads the Week + 10 Must‐Attend Events

Mar 29, 2026

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9 min read

This Week in Memphis Tech (March 30–April 5): Epicenter Live! Leads the Week + 10 Must‐Attend Events

A fast way to see where Memphis tech is moving this week. From live founder energy to security breakthroughs and new Python workflows. Epicenter Live!, MEMSEC’s NixOS lab, and Python Foundry lead the lineup.

JC Smiley

Newsletter

This Week in Memphis Tech (March 23–29): Digital Delta Defense CTF Leads the Week + 10 Must-Attend Events

Mar 22, 2026

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12 min read

This Week in Memphis Tech (March 23–29): Digital Delta Defense CTF Leads the Week + 10 Must-Attend Events

Your weekly shortcut into Memphis tech: 11 events this week, headlined by the Digital Delta Defense CTF, Unreal Blueprints, and Copilot Dev Days.

JC Smiley

Newsletter

This Week in Memphis Tech (March 16–22): Memphis AgentCamp Returns + 7 Must‐Attend Events

Mar 15, 2026

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10 min read

This Week in Memphis Tech (March 16–22): Memphis AgentCamp Returns + 7 Must‐Attend Events

A high‐momentum week in Memphis tech. AI leadership, cloud fundamentals, and hands‐on front‐end skills that keep our builders sharp and our community moving forward.

JC Smiley

Tech Meetup

When the Why Comes First: Code & Share and the Vulnerable Tech Talk

Mar 8, 2026

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6 min read

When the Why Comes First: Code & Share and the Vulnerable Tech Talk

Where Memphis technologists bring the real reason they're building, and the room meets them there.

JC Smiley

Newsletter

This Week in Memphis Tech (March 9–15): Oracle Innovation Day Memphis Leads + 5 Must‐Attend Events

Mar 8, 2026

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11 min read

This Week in Memphis Tech (March 9–15): Oracle Innovation Day Memphis Leads + 5 Must‐Attend Events

A high‐momentum week of Memphis tech. Hands‐on creation, AI breakthroughs, and community meetups that keep our ecosystem learning, building, and moving forward together.

JC Smiley

Rising Stars of Memphis Tech

From Accounting Ledgers to Analytics Dashboards: How George Osei Is Teaching Memphis to Trust Its Own Data

Mar 2, 2026

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7 min read

From Accounting Ledgers to Analytics Dashboards: How George Osei Is Teaching Memphis to Trust Its Own Data

A graduate student with a finance background is quietly reshaping how Memphis institutions make decisions, one dashboard at a time.

JC Smiley

Newsletter

This Week in Memphis Tech (March 2-8): DevMemphis Monthly Meetup Leads + 8 Must-Attend Events

Mar 1, 2026

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11 min read

This Week in Memphis Tech (March 2-8): DevMemphis Monthly Meetup Leads + 8 Must-Attend Events

Memphis builders are in motion: Code Connector goes live, Women Innovating gathers leaders, and Mock Interviews invest in talent. Nine events. One week to plug in.

JC Smiley

Tech Meetup

Before You Need To: What Memphis Founders Learned About Being Understood

Feb 22, 2026

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9 min read

Before You Need To: What Memphis Founders Learned About Being Understood

Carl Fredrick Hill didn't teach pitching. He taught founders how to be understood.

JC Smiley

Newsletter

This Week in Memphis Tech (Feb 23–March 1): GiveCamp Memphis 2026 Leads + 9 Must-Attend Events

Feb 22, 2026

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11 min read

This Week in Memphis Tech (Feb 23–March 1): GiveCamp Memphis 2026 Leads + 9 Must-Attend Events

10 Memphis tech events this week: lead with GiveCamp 2026, build your circle at Data Speed Networking, and level up with GitHub Copilot at Memphis Python UG.

JC Smiley

Voices of Memphis

Teaching the Future: A Memphis Tech Leadership Spotlight of James Quick

Feb 19, 2026

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4 min read

Teaching the Future: A Memphis Tech Leadership Spotlight of James Quick

How Consistent Teaching, Open Doors, and Community Stewardship Helped Shape Memphis Tech

JC Smiley

Tech Meetup

When Memphis Builders Shared the Work and the Struggle: Inside BDPA's Code, Create + Conversate

Feb 15, 2026

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7 min read

When Memphis Builders Shared the Work and the Struggle: Inside BDPA's Code, Create + Conversate

Game developers, bootcamp grads, and IP strategists gathered at Aldar Cafe for something rare: unstructured time to share projects, question AI tools, and talk about what building costs.

JC Smiley

Newsletter

This Week in Memphis Tech (Feb 16–22): Mock Interviews, Speed Networking + Founder Pitch Prep + 5 more Events

Feb 15, 2026

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11 min read

This Week in Memphis Tech (Feb 16–22): Mock Interviews, Speed Networking + Founder Pitch Prep + 5 more Events

Build what’s next in Memphis tech: strengthen the talent pipeline, expand your network with intention, and sharpen your pitch. All in one high-impact week.

JC Smiley

Memphis Startups and Entrepreneurs

SpeciNate, Part 2: Building for Trust, Constraint, and Conservation That Works

Feb 13, 2026

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12 min read

SpeciNate, Part 2: Building for Trust, Constraint, and Conservation That Works

What it really takes to build trust-first technology in Memphis. Lessons from SpeciNate on clarity, constraint, and designing for people doing real work.

JC Smiley

Tech Meetup

Experimentation Over Polish: Inside February’s Code & Share

Feb 8, 2026

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7 min read

Experimentation Over Polish: Inside February’s Code & Share

At the Code Connector’s Code and Share event, Memphis technologists shared unfinished ideas, asked honest questions, and learned faster by building together.

JC Smiley

Newsletter

This Week in Memphis Tech (Feb 9–15): Tech on Tap with Lia + 3 Must‐Attend Events

Feb 8, 2026

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10 min read

This Week in Memphis Tech (Feb 9–15): Tech on Tap with Lia + 3 Must‐Attend Events

Fuel your week with Memphis‐driven momentum. Four standout events built for connection, clarity, and career growth.

JC Smiley