TechLife Columbus relaunches under new leadership

TechLife Columbus is relaunching in Columbus under Hive+Co CEO Kristine Tsirigotis, with a bigger focus on education, mentorship, wellness and year-round community programming. The reboot aims to make TechLife a central hub for Central Ohio’s tech ecosystem and draw thousands of attendees each year.

Why it matters: - TechLife Columbus is trying to become a broader entry point into Central Ohio’s tech scene, not just an event series. - The relaunch could expand access to mentors, jobs, partnerships and community for students, founders, technologists and executives. - The renewed model is designed to connect hundreds of organizations and engage thousands of people annually.

What happened: - TechLife Columbus announced an official relaunch under new leadership on Oct. 16, 2026. - Hive+Co CEO and Co-Founder Kristine Tsirigotis will lead the next chapter of the Columbus tech community group. - The relaunch expands TechLife’s mission to connect people, companies and organizations across Central Ohio’s technology ecosystem. - TechLife will revive signature events including IT Martini, Tech Strategy and Tech Takeover. - The community is invited to the TechLife Columbus 2.0 Launch Party on Oct. 24, 2026, from 3–11 p.m. at COhatch Westerville. - The launch party will be held alongside COhatch CarniFall. - Registration is available at TechLifeColumbus.com.

The details: - TechLife was founded in 2008 by Ben and Sandy Blanquera after 15 technology and startup leaders gathered in their living room. - The group grew into a community serving thousands of professionals, executives, entrepreneurs and students. - The relaunch will add year-round programming built around three pillars: Learn, Connect and Belong. - Learn will cover technical education, professional development, mentorship and executive leadership programming. - Connect will focus on networking events, community gatherings and cross-industry experiences. - Belong will include wellness initiatives, volunteering and shared-interest experiences outside the workplace. - A Technical Advisory Group will guide educational programming. - A Volunteer Team will help shape events, partnerships and community experiences. - Revel IT is providing foundational support for the relaunch. - Big Kitty Labs is helping refresh the brand and digital community experience. - COhatch will support expanded programming tied to professional development, wellness and shared interests. - TechLife will also work with existing user groups, meetups, educators and community organizations. - Historical attendance included 150–200 people at Tech Takeover, more than 100 at Tech Strategy and up to 400 at IT Martini.

Between the lines: - The relaunch signals a shift from occasional gatherings to a more structured community platform with recurring programming. - Tsirigotis is positioning TechLife as a “front door” to Columbus tech, which suggests a broader audience than the group’s traditional core of industry insiders. - The emphasis on wellness and belonging reflects a push to compete with isolated networking models by building longer-term community ties. - Ben Blanquera’s comments frame the relaunch as a continuation of TechLife’s original mission, while also acknowledging a new leadership era.

What’s next: - TechLife will roll out its year-round programming under the new Learn, Connect and Belong structure. - The Technical Advisory Group and Volunteer Team are expected to help shape future events and partnerships. - TechLife aims to increase participation to thousands of attendees each year and deepen connections across Central Ohio’s tech community. - The October 24 launch party will serve as the public kickoff for the relaunch.

The bottom line: - TechLife Columbus is betting that a stronger mix of events, education and community-building can turn a long-running tech meetup brand into a larger regional hub.