Bennet and Jean Marie Laskas
Women in Bio Crowdshot
Photos by Tony Piscitelli
attendees when it started in 2013. There were four music acts in
the first year, and nearly 20 acts will be featured in 2017. The acts
also continue to get bigger and bigger. This year, the festival’s
headliners are Wiz Khalifa, Logic, Carnage, GRiZ and Two
Door Cinema Club, with Kyle, Kiiara, TokiMonsta and more.
For Thrival Innovation, the first (and only) programs in
2013 were thought talks and demos prior to the music. It was
only a few hours long. Now, Thrival Innovation is two days,
and will host dozens of national and international technology
and innovation leaders, with over 15 programs and events.
The “marquee” Thrival Innovation event will be hosted at the
Carnegie Museum of Art on Thursday, Sept. 28, where the entire
museum will feature an array of interactive, artificial intelligence-
inspired exhibits and demos, as well as keynote talks.
The proceeds from Thrival (tickets, sponsorships, food/
beverage sales) go to support Ascender and its mission. Each
year, the size of the festival grows—and so does the budget—
but whatever remaining funds subsidize the incubator program,
community events and nonprofit operations.
“If you believe in the power of new ideas and creativity, then
Thrival is for you,” says Law. “As a rule, we are always open to
new partners and collaborators. Each year, there are new faces
and new organizations helping make Thrival a reality.”
For more information, visit thrivalfestival.com. Follow Thrival
on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. To learn more about
Ascender and its mission, visit ascenderpgh.com. n
“IF YOU BELIEVE IN THE POWER
OF NEW IDEAS AND CREATIVITY,
THEN THRIVAL IS FOR YOU.”
CHVRCHES
Sewickley | Fall 2017 | icmags.com 19