I’ve always been skeptical with the use of the word “communities” in the business world. According to dictionary.com:
A community is a social, religious, occupational, or other group sharing common characteristics or interests and perceived or perceiving itself as distinct in some respect from the larger society within which it exists.
A community isn’t:
- A directory
- A freelance community manager
- A Facebook / Slack / Telegram group
- A member section of your website
- A statement
For me, event organizers aren’t community builders per se. I’m not saying they can’t be good at creating elements of belonging that are similar to these groups, but events are temporary gatherings by definition. This is their strength.
So by this definition, I propose the words, “network” or “club” as more appropriate and descriptive as to what a number of self described “communities” actually are.
The recent evolution of the event industry was mostly focused on turning tradeshows and fairs into content marketing machines, with the rise of conference programs and educational initiatives.
Web Summit is living proof of this trend. What started as a small conference became one of the largest tradeshows in the Tech industry.
With social networks and in particular LinkedIn disrupting the way information and business relations were traded, some event organizers already understood that they needed to become platforms and that turning their audiences into communities would be both the most important and hardest task for them.
Renting square meters has nothing to do with a cult.
Initiatives launched by the World Economic Forum and TED are worth mentioning but their platforms are mostly an extension of the content/conference activity. It is not a community business.
You are not Reddit.
Community is the new moat
Investors are raging for communities and startups that built a following that goes beyond business. As reported in First Round Capital’s State of Startups in 2019, “nearly 80% of founders reported building a community of users as important to their business, with 28% describing it as their moat and critical to their success”.
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OIW, founded in 2004 by Oslo Business Region, has become a key event in the global startup ecosystem. Its mission is to support Oslo’s growing startups and connect them with public organizations. Celebrating 20 years in 2023, OIW now hosts over 70 events, attracting more than 16,000 attendees worldwide. “What started as a local initiative has grown into a global platform for innovation, collaboration, and sustainability,” an OIW representative shared. Key Highlights from Recent Editions of OIW Oslo Innovation Week fosters a strong sense of community and continuous collaboration. Notable companies like Kahoot!, Oda, No Isolation, and Strise have participated in OIW, contributing to the ecosystem. “Seeing startups that once pitched their ideas now hosting their events is a true testament to the power of this community,” said the OIW team. This growing collaboration has positioned OIW as a platform for emerging leaders and problem-solvers. Themes Driving OIW Each year, Oslo Innovation Week adopts a theme aligned with global innovation trends. The 2023 theme, “Pioneers,” celebrates individuals and organizations pushing the boundaries of innovation. “We engage with the ecosystem daily to ensure our themes resonate with the startup and innovation community. Climate innovation and sustainability have always been core,” an OIW organizer explained. This focus on addressing climate change has been a consistent driver behind OIW’s success. A Global and Industry-Agnostic Event Oslo Innovation Week attracts diverse participants, including startup founders, investors, and public leaders. OIW is industry-agnostic, with events spanning sectors from health and life science research to the blue economy to ClimateTech and SportsTech. 30% of attendees come from outside Norway, reflecting OIW’s growing global presence. “It’s important to engage with international participants to expand Oslo’s reach beyond the Norwegian bubble,” the OIW team noted. International Collaboration and Global Outreach Managed by the Oslo Business Region, Oslo Innovation Week actively engages with the international innovation community. This involves collaboration with embassies, investors, and Nordic neighbors, and attending events in the UK, Germany, and the US to attract talent and investment to Oslo. “This year, we will welcome back a team from Hokkaido, Japan to the program, hosting an event to support initiatives for female entrepreneurship in the Hokkaido prefecture,” an organizer shared. OIW’s international collaborations continue to strengthen its global reputation. Commitment to Sustainability and Diversity Sustainability is central to OIW, with every event supporting at least one United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG). The event has implemented practices like the Zero Waste Takeaway project to reduce waste,” As an umbrella event, we collaborate with over 200 organizers to create sustainable events, promoting vegetarian meals, environmental impact reduction, and providing the City of Oslo’s Climate and Environment Guide for guidance. Additionally, OIW emphasizes diversity and inclusion, requiring gender balance among speakers and hosting DEI workshops, “Last year 52% of all speakers were female. This year, we’ve added a workshop on diversity and inclusion for all event organizers by Diversify, which organizes the Diversify Nordic Summit, emphasizing the importance of DEI in growing successful companies.” “Our goal is to ensure that every attendee finds value in the event while promoting sustainable and inclusive practices,” stated an organizer. OIW continues to evolve, connecting global innovators with Nordic pioneers and expanding its impact. For more information on Oslo Innovation Week : ➡️ Visit the Oslo Innovation Week program for details on events. ➡️ Sign up for the Oslo Innovation Week newsletter to learn about becoming an OIW event organizer.
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