PROVIDENCE – The Business Innovation Factory and RI Nexus will hold a free event featuring Jason Fried, the founder and CEO of the Web app company 37signals, on Oct. 15.

The evening will feature an onstage interview with Fried, an open Q&A and socializing. It will follow Fried’s appearance at the Business Innovation Factory’s BIF-4 summit.

Fried is described by the organizers as “a passionate leader in the field of simple, clear and elegant Web application design.” Fried helped conceive, design and develop Basecamp, which is 37signals’ Web-based project management tool for designers, freelancers and creative services firms. He is also the co-author of “Getting Real: The Smarter, Faster, Easier Way to Build a Successful Web Application,” and writes the blog Signal vs. Noise.

The event will be held at the Black Repertory Company, 276 Westminster St., in downtown Providence at 6:30 p.m. Snacks will be served.

The event is 18+. Space is limited, and IDs will be checked at the door. RSVP by e-mail to moconnor@riedc.com. Registration is first come, first served.

The event is co-sponsored by Basics Group, BankRI, Bridge Technical Solutions and Providence Geeks.

The Business Innovation Factory’s BIF-4 innovation summit will be held Oct. 15 to 16, mostly at Trinity Repertory Company in downtown Providence. Registration is $1,200. A limited number of full and partial scholarships are available. Space is limited to 300 participants. For more information or to register, visit www.BusinessInnovationFactory.com/bif-4.