TF Blockchain is bringing its blockchain conferences across North America with new chapters in Vancouver (BC), Seattle (WA), Portland (OR), and Austin (TX). CryptoSlate interviewed Preet Deol, the Vancouver chapter director, to determine what factors differentiate TF Blockchain from other conferences.

Preet Deol and How She Discovered TF Blockchain

Preet Deol is an entrepreneur with an interest in the intersection between virtual reality and blockchain technology. She is the founder and CEO of Boethius Tech, a computer software company with a focus on financial technology and socio-economic impact.

Preet attended her first TF Blockchain conference in August 2018 based on a friend’s recommendation. According to the Vancouver chapter director, participating in the TF Blockchain conference gave her one of the “most rewarding” experiences she has had at any technology event. She has since followed TF Blockchain events and has been a regular contributor to its community. TF Blockchain’s decision to support blockchain growth and education in other cities was therefore welcome news to Preet.

How Different are TF Blockchain Events

Preet Deol believes that practical education and relationship building should be the main objectives of professional conferences. In her opinion, the conferences have also been fun and focused on blockchain community growth.

.@jgproduct opening the @tfblockchain Vancouver Chapter which will be led by @preetdeolk Hosted by @WeWork Not sharing an audience photo because I'm sitting near at front and want to respect others' privacy. pic.twitter.com/c7eDIqaLd1 — Alexandra933 🇨🇭🇨🇦 (@Alexandra933) March 15, 2019

The Boethius CEO described TF Blockchain conference as having a more intimate style and allowing effective networking. She revealed that she still receives support from some of the relationships she built at TF Blockchain conferences.

The Need for Blockchain Communities

Preet Deol on the need for blockchain communities:

“To be a part of and witness communities in Vancouver, Seattle, and Portland actively working together, to become a connected powerhouse for emerging tech in the Pacific Northwest, is incredibly inspiring. With a strong sense of community, talent and economic support—creating impact and seeing growth in the blockchain industry is inevitable. I’m excited to see more use cases occur for the industry that have a genuinely positive influence on society.”

Preet added that the building of a supportive and welcoming community is necessary to provide a platform for discussing blockchain adoption-related issues. She also identified a need for more consistent blockchain-related events in Vancouver.

To tackle the identified issues, TF Vancouver will educate, support and connect the growing blockchain community in the area. The chapter will also place emphasis on building a cohesive and engaged network of talented professionals in the blockchain industry and other related industries. These goals are summarized in the chapter’s mantra of “collaborate, innovate, elevate.”

In working towards its goals, TF Vancouver can draw lessons from the Seattle blockchain community. The burgeoning blockchain hub—which has seen a number of blockchain conferences in the past—is anticipating TF Blockchain 3, the third edition of the premier blockchain conference in the Pacific Northwest.

As previously reported by Cryptoslate, the event will feature notable speakers like Anthony Pompliano, founder of Morgan Creek Digital and the host of Off The Chain Podcast, Unikrn (UKG) founder Rahul Sood, Bittrex chief security officer Kiran Raj and Trust Wallet founder Viktor Radchenko.

Major developments in the Seattle blockchain community include the establishment of a Seattle office by NEO, the partnership between Coinme and Coinstar to sell bitcoin in kiosks all over the United States, and a successful fundraiser by a local stablecoin project, Stably and its StableUSD (SUSD). Preet Deol and TF Vancouver hopes to replicate this kind of network in Vancouver.

Participants at TF Vancouver

Professionals from the IT, finance, media, sales, marketing, and consulting were represented at the conference. Turn out from blockchain startups and investors was also strong.

According to Preet, the participants were eager to learn about blockchain technology and belong to a local blockchain community. Many were there to find out how blockchain technology will affect their industries, how the technology can be applied in their area of work and learn about the general use cases of the blockchain.

A high-profile panel was present to make presentations and answer questions from participants. Derrick Foote, founder, and CEO of RTrade Technologies; Tiger Morgan, blockchain payments expert and former politician; Ganesh Swami, co-founder, and CEO of Covalent; were members of the Panel while Jonathan Blanco, founder, and CEO of TF Blockchain was the moderator.

Why Vancouver

Preet Deol revealed that Vancouver’s proximity to TF Blockchain’s Seattle (HQ) contributed to the establishment of a chapter in the city. With just three hours between the two cities, collaborating while making innovations within the region’s blockchain ecosystem becomes easier.

More importantly, Vancouver is a center for emerging technology in Canada with a history of innovation. The large industrial city is home to several successful startups and a top university. These factors made the city an ideal location for building a blockchain hub. TF Blockchain also announced that it has launched chapters in Austin Texas, Portland Oregon, and a formal chapter in Seattle Washington.

In all, TF Vancouver is expected to provide a deeper level of understanding in advanced blockchain topics for interested people while connecting business and technology executives with blockchain innovators. The chapter is also charged with pooling resources in the Pacific Northwest together for growth in the region’s blockchain industry.

Come stop by the TF Blockchain 3 Conference in Seattle on Mar. 28th at the Columbia Tower Club.

Disclaimer: CryptoSlate is a media partner for TF Blockchain.