Entrepreneurship requires both a brilliant idea and a professional implementation team. You also need courage not to give up, passion to keep motivating your team, and of course, partners that will stand by your side, which is why attending conferences can be vital. At startup conferences, you can connect with knowledgeable partners, investors, and like-minded colleagues.
Further, participating in pitching contests and startup fairs is a great way to spread the word about your startup in a global arena. If any of these opportunities are what you are looking to include in your 2023 strategic plans, here’s a list of top startup conferences to consider.
January
StartUp Vegas LevelUp
When: January 6, 2023
Where: online
Price: free
StartUp Vegas LevelUp is free and open to all entrepreneurs. The event creates a breeding ground for new, exciting projects. For 90 minutes, the panel will hear presentations from local startups and then give feedback to help the newcomers get to grips with business exposure and investment.
February
One Giant Leap Event
When: February 6 – February 9, 2023
Where: Riyadh Front Expo Center, Saudi Arabia
Price: Free
Billed as the largest debut tech event in history, the One Giant Leap Event lives up to its name and brings together 100,000+ visitors joined by 700+ global technology giants, 330+ top investors, and 500+ global CEOs. Its speaker line-up is star-studded with football legends, astronauts, billionaire venture capital investors, and other A-list personas who are ready to cover the technology at the edge.
The first edition of the One Giant Leap Event resulted in $6.4 billion+ of initiatives and $1,000,000 won in the Rocket Fuel Startup Competition.
The OurCrowd Global Investor Summit
When: February 12 – February 17, 2023
Where: Jerusalem, Israel
Price: $199
The most significant investor event in the Middle East, the OurCrowd Global Investor Summit is a venue where private companies can land their investment while other attendees can get up close and personal with top startup entrepreneurs. For one week, industry juggernauts and innovators also share unique insights into the ecosystem of startup venture capital.
The last event became home to 23,000+ attendees registering from 183 countries.
Step Dubai
When: February 22 – February 23, 2023
Where: Dubai, UAE
Price: On request
Step started out as a series of workshops and small gatherings, and over 10 years has grown to become the largest tech festival in Dubai. With 4 main tracks, more than 400 global startups showcasing, hundreds of global investors, and 8000+ global attendees over two days, Step brings the tech world to Dubai.
MWC Barcelona
When: February 27 – March 2, 2023
Where: Online & Barcelona, Spain
Price: Discovery pass – € 799, Leader's pass – € 2,196, VIP Pass – € 4,499
This year, MWC Barcelona will shed light on the edgy technologies and innovations currently disrupting industries. The event’s agenda is centered around metaverse, 5G, fintech, immersive technologies, and digital everything.
Industry-leading experts, including Börje Ekholm, president and CEO of Ericsson; Sébastien Borget, co-founder and COO of The Sandbox; Raymond P. Dolan, CEO of Cohere Technologies; and other bright tech minds will provide expert advice and inspirational insights to the audience. Startups can get unrivaled exposure to over 75,000 attendees by exhibiting their business ideas to qualified business leads.
4YFN
When: February 27 – March 2, 2023
Where: Online & Barcelona, Spain
Price: Access to 4YFN 2023 is included in MWC Barcelona 2023 tickets
The GSMA’s startup platform, 4YFN (Four Years from Now), takes place at the heart of MWC Barcelona to crown the best digital startups at its 4YFN Awards and support networking for others.
Over 300 speakers from tech unicorns, including Glovo, Babylon Health, and others will address the topic of tech innovation, while over 500 international startups will exhibit their latest products. The 4YFN Discovery Area Pitching Stage will support companies in getting funding from leading funds, VCs, and CVCs.
March
Wolves Summit
When: March 8 – March 9, 2023
Where: Online & London, UK
Price: Scaleup online – Free and €216 options, Scaleup Gold In-person – €464
An event to change the world is what the organizers of Wolves Summit promise. They have prepared two days to participate in tech and innovation forums, find investors, and recruit talent. At this event, startups benefit the most; they can participate in a pitch contest, meet 1:1 with investors, learn the basics about business development, and expose their solutions globally.
Hello Tomorrow
When: March 9 – March 10, 2023
Where: Paris, France
Price: Student – €80, Startup – €340, Investor – from €990, Ecosystem – €410, Corporate-business – €1,190, Corporate-discovery – €980
From decarbonization to clean mobility, Hello Tomorrow bridges the gap between technology and sustainability while giving the stage to promising early-stage startups. Each year, the event gathers over 5000 applicants from 128+ countries. Eighty finalists from across all industries and technologies get the chance to pitch on stage to 300 investors and get coverage from 200 international media outlets.
sTARTUp Day
When: March 15 – March 17, 2023
Where: Tartu, Estonia
Price: Visitor – €169, Startup – €149, Investor & Executive – €249
Here, startups will gather in smart-city Tartu to attend seminars, inspiring educational programs, and innovation events. Also, attendees participate in international pitching competitions and unforgettable parties! Everyone will be at sTARTUp Day, including 200 investors, 320 startups, media, and 182 prominent speakers. This year, the program focus topics include HealthTech, EdTech, SexTech, Digital Fashion (Metaverse/AR) and Mental Health, though the list is not limited to these.
Emergence Sydney
When: March 23 – March 24, 2023
Where: Online & Sydney, Australia
Price: From A$95.00, Online – Free
At Emergence Sydney, you have a chance to bring together ecosystems, break barriers, and make your mark with other attendees of Australia's largest investor conference. Showcase your recent advancements to attract public attention to your solutions by getting your solution in front of 5,000+ potential partners and investors, who consistently scan Emergence events to find the next startup that is going to skyrocket.
START Summit
When: March 23 – March 24, 2023
Where: Online & St. Gallen, Switzerland
Price: Student – CHF 119, Startup – CHF 399, Visitor – CHF 499, Investor – CHF 599
START Summit is Europe's leading student-run conference for entrepreneurship and technology. Meet the next generation’s founders and investors who want to promote top projects, recruit talent, and learn about new technological advancements.
All this is waiting for you at START Summit 2023. There are 3,500+ participants from 83+ nations to meet, and you can learn from more than 100 speakers. Innovation will be in the air, and this event is just what you need if you are looking for motivation.
Emergence London
When: March 31, 2023
Where: Online & London, UK
Price: From £110, Online – Free
With over 65 investment opportunities, Emergence London creates a breeding ground for fresh businesses. The event brings together over 2,000 attendees worldwide to learn from international leaders about venture investment trends, tech breakthroughs, and corporate finance. Here, you can network, dig up new insights, and land funding opportunities — all in one place.
TNW València
When: March 30 – March 31, 2023
Where: Valencia, Spain
Price: Business pass – €249, Investor pass – €374, Bootstrap package – €709, Scale-up Package – €999
For 16 years, TNW Conference has been at the center of Amsterdam’s tech ecosystem. And now, it’s time for Valencia. The city is Spain’s fastest-growing entrepreneurial ecosystem — and has the most startups per capita of anywhere in the country.
In 2023, TNW València is set to bring the heart of tech to the region. With 2,000+ visitors, 75+ investors, 100+ speakers, 300+ startups and 50+ exhibitors, this is the event for you.
April
Startup Grind
When: April 11 – April 12, 2023
Where: Online & Redwood, USA
Price: Full access – $399
If you have ever dreamt of visiting the heart of innovation, then the Startup Grind conference in Silicon Valley is an amazing opportunity. With a dedicated Startup Exhibition Booth, Quickfire pitch slot, and job board promotion to all conference attendees, fledgling businesses will get a unique opportunity to get more exposure, meet with potential partners, and leave a lasting impression on investors.
TechCrunch Early Stage
When: April 20, 2023
Where: Boston, USA
Price: Student ticket – $99, Founder ticket – $249 or Investor ticket – $449
If you are starting your journey as an entrepreneur, TechCrunch Early Stage is gathering speakers just for you. This event’s speakers will explain the basics of successful fundraising, how to evolve from a scientist to a founder, and advice on product monetization.
Also, they will provide feedback on your pitch deck, too. At this event, you'll gain the building blocks to understand your next steps and fully realize your entrepreneurial potential.
EU-Startups Summit
When: April 20 – April 21, 2023
Where: Barcelona, Spain
Price: Students and startup enthusiasts under 30 y.o. – €165, Founders, co-founders, and startup team members – €225, VCs, investors, business angels, and accelerators – €395, Smaller corporates, lawyers and service providers – €490, Big corporates, lawyers, service providers – €600
The most successful European startups are meeting again for your inspiration. The EU-Startups Summit 2023 will gather over 2,000 founders, startup enthusiasts, corporates, angel investors, VCs, and media from Europe.
Here, a specific part of the event will be dedicated to attendees to get acquainted with the role-model projects on the European market. Early-stage startups can even participate in a business idea competition and win prizes worth up to €125,000.
TechChill
When: April 27 – April 28, 2023
Where: Latvia, Riga
Price: Startup pass – €129, Investor pass – €259, Event pass – €479, Executive pass – €479, Angel pass – €269, Student/Academic pass – €49
Become one of the 300+ startups that will meet 200+ investors from Europe and Silicon Valley at this leading Baltic startup event in 2023. At TechChill, you will learn from the leaders of IBM, Single Earth, Vinted, Pipedrive, and many other reputable organizations. And don’t forget about the Fifty Founders Battle – an annual pitch competition where seed and early-stage startups from different fields compete for €10,000 by putting forth their best business ideas.
May
Podim
When: May 15 – May 17, 2023
Where: Online & Maribor, Slovenia
Price: Online tickets – €175, Startup – €145, Investor – €590, Attendee – €490, Student – €145
Podim is an event that attracts dozens of reputable names in the venture investments world. It has become a key platform in the CEE region for learning and networking.
In addition to making deals, Podim offers the opportunity to learn from and exchange experiences with the best serial entrepreneurs, investors, and tech experts from all over the globe. However, the event is limited to 1,000 participants so that each startup owner can personally meet speakers and get valuable time with investors and business executives.
Digital|K
When: May 18, 2023
Where: Online & Sofia, Bulgaria
Price: Online – BGN 97.79, Onsite – BGN 234.70
This forum hosts over 900 start-up founders, business leaders, and C-level representatives. Digital|K revolves around 15-minute keynotes where CEOs and co-founders share their experiences and flesh out innovations. The knowledge sharing is reinforced by on-stage interviews and panel discussions. During lunch breaks, start-ups can generate business leads and establish long-lasting partnerships with other global businesses.
Tech.eu Summit
When: May 24, 2023
Where: Brussels, Belgium
Price: Regular - €600, Online – €150
The Tech.eu Summit is a nexus for 1,800 European tech enthusiasts and big-name speakers. Knowledge-sharing is the zest of this conference, as the event revolves around presentations from founders, investors, COOs, and even the Prime Minister of Belgium. The topics vary from tech-related subjects, such as crypto, to business-driven ones, such as the European VC landscape and hiring challenges.
Infoshare
When: May 24 – May 25, 2023
Where: Gdansk, Poland
Price: Executive Pass – 2 399 PLN, Networker Pass – 1 299 PLN, Conference Pass – 999 PLN, Basic Pass – FREE
The Infoshare conference consists of two days full of expert speeches delivered on six stages as well as matchmaking sessions and side events. At Infoshare, you will find knowledge, inspiration, and cooperation.
Further, you can form meaningful bonds and create a truly innovative technological society. Seed and early-stage startups can take part in the Startup Contest and compete to win €20,000.
Latitude59
When: May 24 – May 26, 2023
Where: Tallinn, Estonia
Price: Startup tickets – €169, Guest tickets – €249, or Investor tickets – €359
Investment managers and founders of top-performing companies like Starship and TransferWise, as well as the president of Estonia, were previous speakers at past Latitude59 events. Further, this event is fundraising heaven for startups, as the number of investors attending almost equals the number of startups!
Participate in a pitching competition and earn the chance to pitch on the main stage or access the EstBAn investor syndicate.
ViennaUP
When: May 30 – June 07, 2023
Where: Vienna, Austria
Price: Free
ViennaUP is a decentralized community-driven festival in the heart of Europe that hosts tech talks to make our digital future brighter than ever before. Attending startups don’t just get the chance to showcase their recent achievements; they also are offered the opportunity to join the European startup community and meet investors.
Further, they can participate in the Startup World Cup, the largest startup competition worldwide, with more than 70 countries taking part every year.
Dublin Tech Summit
When: May 31 – June 1, 2023
Where: Dublin, Ireland
Price: Regular tickets – €435
Dublin Tech Summit is an event where top tech lovers can meet the Chief Decision Scientist at Google, VP of Technology and Platform at Spotify, CSO at Huawei, and many others. Their unique program called Vision X aims to create value for international startups and scaleups in Dublin's established tech and business ecosystems.
June
Techsylvania
When: June 7 – June 8, 2023
Where: Online & Transylvania, Romania
Price: Builder – €79, Premium – €289, Executive – €699
Techsylvania has always been a conference where people come to get inspired, find out what’s next in tech, and learn some of the brightest minds' do's and don'ts. At Techsylvania, there is a dedicated place for startups called Startup Alley, where they can showcase their technologies to potential business partners. Another great reason for startups to attend this event is Startup Avalanche – a competition connecting ambitious early-stage startups with international VCs and investors.
Arctic15 Helsinki
When: June 7 – June 8, 2023
Where: Helsinki, Finland
Price: Startup – €388, Investor – €988, Attendee – €988
Arctic15 Helsinki is a matchmaking startup event in Northern Europe that focuses on making deals and quality networking connections. The two-day event brings together an international crowd of startups, investors, corporates, media, and influencers. 15 tracks are focused on various industries, technologies, and topics ranging from Digital Health and AI to Social Impact and Scaling.
South Summit Madrid
When: June 7 – June 9, 2023
Where: Madrid, Spain
Price: Executive – €1,499, Business – €999, or Attendee – €199
For over 10 years, South Summit Madrid has been hosting European business enthusiasts and investors. This year, the event will take you to 2030, a critical turning point on our road to a net zero economy and a milestone we cannot miss, to learn and be inspired by our future selves who have adapted and innovated along the way to meet this ultimate goal.
London Tech Week
When: June 12 – June 16, 2023
Where: London, UK
Price: Invitation only
This year, London Tech Week returns for its 10th anniversary. Across 5 days and 7 floors, the event welcomes government and corporate leaders to share their knowledge, inspirational founders to connect and motivate, senior investors to find a star startup, and tech rising stars to gain their audience.
Key topics for 2023 that this event will cover include HealthTech, quantum computing, 5G, women in tech, and others.
Digital Enterprise Show
When: June 13 – June 15, 2023
Where: Malaga, Spain
Price: Business Pass (3 days) – €60, Premium VIP Pass (3 days) – €675 or(1 day) - €300, Honour Pass (3 days) – €1,500
At the Digital Enterprise Show, attendees have a unique opportunity to connect with the masterminds of the tech world. Startups can get even more by participating in the DES Startup Forum, where they can pitch their tech solutions in front of an international audience of high-profile executives and hold private meetings with potential partners and investors to develop their projects.
Hinterland of Things Conference
When: June 14, 2023
Where: Bielefeld, Germany
Price: Future Founder – €119, Startup – €249 , Investor – €849, Attendee – €849
Indulge in an atmosphere full of challenge conquerors and technology enthusiasts. Hinterland of Things Conference has two stages where reputable industry leaders share their knowledge with 1,700 attendees.
The majority of attendees are C-level executives, founders of unicorns or soonicorns, prominent investors, and editors. Combined with exclusive masterclasses held by leading companies like PwC, Vitra, and Slack, this conference lives up to the promise of being the deal-making and network platform in Germany.
Viva Technology
When: June 14 – June 17, 2023
Where: Paris, France
Price: Startup – €280, Attendee – €620, or Investor – €790
Once again, all the tech giants will be at Viva Technology. And it’s not an exaggeration to call this event one of the greatest in Europe, as Tim Cook – CEO of Apple, Mark Zuckerberg – CEO of Meta, Sarah Franklin – CMO at Salesforce, and other inspiring speakers have all been speakers at Viva Technology. Startups can participate in the Vivatech Challenge Platform, where startups and partners work together to create a shared future.
TNW Conference
When: June 15 – June 16, 2023
Where: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Price: Business pass – €900, Investor pass – €1000, Bootstrap package – €1,099, Scale-up Package – €1,299
At TNW Conference 2023, you will learn what’s next in tech. From scaling your business to solving impactful challenges – there's content for everyone. If you are actively looking to raise funding, grow your business, build brand awareness, or join TNW for Startups with a global audience of 10,000+ tech enthusiasts, 150+ investors, 78% decision-makers from 6,000+ companies, and 26% of C-level executives, then this is the event for you.
World Startup Fest
When: June 15 – June 17, 2023
Where: Rimini, Italy
Price: Expo Ticket – €14, Full Ticket – €149, Mainstage Ticket – €79
In 2023, the World Startup Fest will take place within the WMF – We Make Future 2023, the most complete international event for global startups, scale-ups, and investors from 50 countries. The main calls of the World Startup Fest include a B2B meeting with investors, a Startup Competition with a prize pool of over 3.3 million euros, and a dedicated Startup District with 1,000 exhibitors.
As the main benchmark event for start-ups, the World Startup Fest is a unique opportunity for growing companies to establish their presence in the market.
Collision
When: June 26 – June 29, 2023
Where: Toronto, Canada
Price: General attendee – CA$1,195
There can hardly be a better place for an emerging startup to spread the word about its potential than Collision. By applying for the ALPHA startup program, early-stage startups with outstanding potential get the chance to connect with the world's most influential people and companies from more than 130 countries.
hub.berlin
When: June 28 – June 29, 2023
Where: Berlin, Germany
Price: Standard – €800, Student – €30, Startup – €80, Afterwork – €39, Single day – €750
hub.berlin is one of the most important gatherings that aims to drive digitization into reality. Networking is the main incentive at this festival for Europe's key industries. Also, this event will have exciting keynotes and workshops, interdisciplinary matchmaking, live tech exhibitions, and digital art.
August
SHIFT
When: August 23 – August 24, 2023
Where: Turku, Finland
Price: Shift Pass – €240, Shift Executive Pass – €375
SHIFT brings change-oriented people and businesses together to network, learn, and gain inspiration. SHIFT 2023 will allow startups and industry leaders to dive into innovations, network, learn, and get inspired together.
September
Startup OLÉ
When: September 4 – September 6, 2023
Where: Salamanca, Spain
Price: Free
Discovery, knowledge, discussion, and pitches are all possible at Startup OLÉ, the largest tech event in Europe outside the capital cities. Previously, this event has gathered over 40,000 attendees from 120+ countries and 1,500+ startups and scaleups.
At Startup OLÉ, you can count on making huge deals, considering that the participating investors’ portfolio exceeds €100kM. This year’s event will be offline, which means you will have the chance to meet potential partners and investors in person.
TechBBQ
When: September 13 – September 14, 2023
Where: Copenhagen, Denmark
Price: Startup – €145, Scaleup – €195, Investor – €545, General Pass – €745
This truly large-scale event unites everyone, including thousands of startups, investors, corporates, and speakers. At TechBBQ, you will learn from various founders from companies like Trello, Unity, Zoom, and Y Combinator.
TechCrunch Disrupt
When: September 19 – September 21, 2023
Where: San Francisco, USA
Price: General Admission – $650, Founder Pass – $550, Investor Pass – $650, Student Pass – $195
TechCrunch Disrupt is a must-attend event for founders who are serious about breaking through the noise and forging the kinds of relationships that can take them to the next level. For startup enthusiasts, potential investors, and aspiring tech leaders, it’s a ticket into the ecosystem that continues to change the world. With 100+ exhibitors and 10,000+ attendees, there is no better place to make your mark.
Bits & Pretzels
When: September 24 – September 26, 2023
Where: Munich, Germany
Price: TBA, pre-registration is available
5,000 founders, investors, and startup enthusiasts will be coming to Munich to spend three days together learning and networking at Bits & Pretzels. Here, there will be a Startup Exhibition to expand your network and get inspired by other founders. Further, there is also a Startup Pitch to showcase your top solutions and compete for the Golden Pretzel Pitch Award.
Oslo Innovation Week
When: September 25 – September 29, 2023
Where: Online & Oslo, Norway
Price: TBA
Founders shouldn’t stop innovating, and Oslo Innovation Week is here to facilitate this innovation. Meet like-minded entrepreneurs, learn more about top tech trends and advancements from tech enthusiasts, and, of course, connect with investors!
October
GITEX Global
When: October 16 – October 20, 2023
Where: Dubai, UAE
Price: TBA
Mark your calendars for GITEX Global 2023, the world's largest tech event. Back for its 43rd edition, GITEX brings together pioneering tech companies, world-class researchers, and global innovators. With a focus on AI and future urbanism, this event is a must for anyone aiming to stay ahead in the tech world.
Boasting an expanded format with 10 hyper-targeted co-located shows spanning AI, Cybersecurity, Telecoms, to Sustainability, GITEX 2023 provides an unrivaled platform for networking, knowledge exchange, and forming valuable partnerships.
November
Web Summit
When: November 13 – November 16, 2023
Where: Lisbon, Portugal
Price: General attendee – €950, Executive – €4,950, Chairperson – €24,950
The Guardian called this event “Glastonbury for geeks,” and The Financial Times named this event “The world’s largest tech conference.” Indeed, the scale of Web Summit impresses many, considering that Reddit’s COO, Apple’s Senior Vice President, and the Mayor of Lisbon have all attended.
At Web Summit, startups can apply for 2023’s ALPHA startup program that offers the chance to join a global community of startups and gain access to investors, startup meetings, masterclasses, mentor hours, and much more.
Slush
When: November 30 – December 1, 2023
Where: Helsinki, Finland
Price: Startup – €345, Investor – €945, Attendee – €1,095, Angel Investor – €895
Slush is all about creating a magical concentration of the world’s brightest entrepreneurs, investors, corporate professionals, and policymakers. This founder-centric event is here to help startups attract the attention of 1,700 investors representing nearly $1 trillion in assets under management.
Summing Up
While all these conferences are unique in their own way, you will hardly be able to visit them all. When choosing an event to attend, remember your priorities.
Are you looking for public recognition or to participate in fairs? Do you want to find an investor? Or are you most interested in pitch contests and matchmaking events?
Once you know your answers, knowing which conferences you should attend becomes clearer. On this list, there is an event for all types of goals and founders.
