As a technology-focused start-up culture continues to brew in Philadelphia, the second annual Philly Tech Week, presented by AT&T, is becoming the equivalent of an anniversary networking party.

The conference kicked off over the weekend and is running through Saturday. Almost a third of more than 80 events focus on entrepreneurship and investment in the region.

And that’s with good reason. In recent months, Old City-based mobile application provider appRenaissance and Center City-based business analytics firm RJ Metrics each announced $1.5 million in early-funding rounds. The region is rife with meetups, networking and conversation.

“We’re moving the needle in Philly’s start-up world,” said appRenaissance CEO Bob Moul.

It’s all something of an ongoing experiment to see what types of start-up shops will thrive in Philadelphia, a city that has spent a half-decade or so restarting its innovation business community. Much of the country is also battling for recognition in the technology venture sphere.

In a statement on the growing status of the region’s startups, five young technology businesses will pitch their products during Philly Tech Week to three judges: Mayor Michael Nutter, legendary venture capitalist Josh Kopelman and local investor Ellen Weber.

In another event, the Entrepreneur Expo, more than 50 exhibitors are showing off their slice of the region’s entrepreneurial pie.?Workshops will cover topics including raising start-up capital, minorities in the technology field and civic engagement.

If you go

Philly Tech Week 2012 runs through Saturday. Check out www.phillytechweek.com for a full schedule of events, including entrepreneurial seminars such as:

Tales of a Philly Entrepreneur

Today, 2-4 p.m.

$15-$50,

Cira Center

Startup 101

Today, 6-8 p.m.

$10, Pyramid Club

Preparing to Raise Capital

Today, 6-7:30 p.m.

Free, Venturef0rth

What it Takes to be a Black Tech Entrepreneur

Thursday, noon-1 p.m.

Free, WHYY