Tumblr Joins Google, Microsoft as NY Tech Meetup Sponsor

One of New York's hottest startups, Tumblr, will join the likes of Google and Microsoft as it becomes an annual sponsor for New York Tech Meetup. The popular blogging platform and New York Tech Meetup have a particularly close relationship because Tumblr's growth was fostered at one of the groups meetings back in 2007.

New York Tech Meeting Managing Director Jessica Lawrence has not disclosed how much Tumblr donated, though she did specify that the company will be an annual sustaining sponsor. Lawrence said that the amount was comparable to what other tech companies were donating according to a Crain's report.

Since its inception in 2004, New York Tech Meetup, has grown to more than 19,000 members. Participants in the group include technologists and entrepreneurs. Members gather to watch emerging companies demo new ideas, listen to thought on new technology and to build their networks and develop their business.

The group was originally hosted as a group on the site Meetup, but after gathering several loyal supporters and corporate interest, the group turned into a not-for-profit. In November, the group held its second annual elections.

When NY Tech Meetup became a non-profit back in 2010, the board of directors wanted to be sure that there would be consistent direct representation of the New York technology community on the board, said Lawrence in an email to International Business Times. By giving members an opportunity to elect board members, they are able to choose the person they think will best represent their interests as a member of the community.

In her email, Lawrence also explained in detail how each New York Tech Meetup works: Each meetup involves having 9 to 12 companies do live demos of new technology - from mobile apps, to websites, to hardware. Demos are either 3 or 5 minutes and are followed by Q&A, said Lawrence. Unlike typical business pitches, the focus is on the technology and not the business model, and PowerPoint is never used.

Tumblr has a particularly special relationship with New York Tech Meetup because its founder and CEO David Karp presented an early version of Tumblr to a group of NY Tech Meetup members in November 2007. It means a tremendous amount for Tumblr to return to NYTM, four years after our very own demo, as an annual sustaining sponsor, said Karp in a blog post on Crain's.

The next New York Tech Meetup will take place on Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 7 p.m. at the NYU Skirball Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets were $10 per person and were released in three batches at 1 p.m. on January 5, January 30, and February 3. Several people commented on the NY Tech Meetup event page because tickets sold out so quickly. Insanity. Sold out in 2 minutes? Sigh, wrote one commenter. The event has been capped at 131 attendees with no more spots remaining.

NY Tech Meetup's March event will also take place at the NYU Skirball Center for the Performing Arts. The price of admission is also $10 per person. Tickets will be sold in three batches starting at 1 p.m. on February 9, February 20, and February 24.