Sesame Summit 2026 – application open

The Heart of Tech

To start off, it would not be a surprise given the success of TNW but for what other reason(s) did TNW decide to branch out and create TNW València?

TNW has hosted regional events in more developed ecosystems New York and Sau Palo before but when we look at what value our flagship event TNW Conference has brought to developing the Amsterdam startup ecosystem over the last 1.5 decades, it made us realize that our sweet spot is helping more immature and developing startup innovation ecosystems form quicker by using our platform.

València is exactly that. An admittedly fairly nascent startup ecosystem – but with a strong government mandate and support to digitise its economy, a mix of highly relevant verticals which are game changing, and what we believe is the right culture of entrepreneurship and collaboration. We believe that these are the necessary ingredients that will accelerate València’s innovation ecosystem over the next 5-10 years, and TNW València is here to be the platform to make that happen faster and with greater impact. Oh, and to ensure those doing the hard work get to have some fun along the way…

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friendly networking opportunities

TNW València’s speaker lineup is quite impressive! Who are you most excited to hear from during this inaugural event?

We are super excited to be bringing a number of international investors into València for the very first time. Such as.. Monica Wheat from Venture Catalysts, Scott Hartley form The Fund, and Darien Shirazi from Gradient Ventures. Alongside this we want to showcase the best of the local ecosystem of startups, corporates and government speakers. A couple of headliners I am looking forward to are Àlex Roca, FC Barelona’s latest ambassador and Javier Gómez Molina, CEO of La Liga.

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main stage

TNW València is shaping up to be a great opportunity for startups to showcase their innovative new tech to industry experts. Are there any unprecedented technologies included in the batch of applicants that we should keep our eye on this year?

Just like every tech event in 2023, AI or Generative AI to be more specific is coming out strongly from our TNW for Startups cohort. But, based on vertical strengths in the region, there are dozens of startups across sports, health and wellbeing, agritech and supply chain and logistics. We will have over 95 exhibiting startups and companies which span quite a mix, but that is the point.

We’re pleased to see that you’ll be focusing on sustainability during this event. What can potential attendees look forward to re: new sustainable tech / initiatives this year?

We take on our responsibility for delivering a sustainable but also inclusive experience seriously. Therefore we’ve made sure that wherever possible we are collaborating with local suppliers to deliver TNW València. This has been a challenge for us and the ecosystem as an event like this has never been held in the city, and we have very high production values. The closest examples would be consumer events like the marathon or even back to the America’s cup and F1. We will also be storing and reusing much of our printed produce for future editions.

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speakers from all over the world

Finally, TNW València is planning to tackle topics that aren’t usually presented on stage during most Tech events. What are some of the innovative topics that will be included in the program this year?

Something that makes TNW a bit different, is not always about what the topics are, but how they are delivered to cut through the crap and get to the stuff that you really won’t get (even from the same person) on another stage. You’ll see this in a session we have titled “confessions of an investor” – where founders will get to hear what keeps investors up at night.

You’ll see other tech events leaning into AI this year, creating their propositions and themes, but as TNW is the <3 of tech, we are leaning into the humanisation of bringing people together. The beating hearts that attend TNW Conferences are reclaiming the future of tech.

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Fundraising 4 hours ago

Sequoia unveils €874M across two Europe venture funds, with partner Luciana Lixandru declaring Europe's founder pool "never been stronger" amid AI boom.

Fundraising 5 hours ago

The European media technology sector is witnessing a remarkable transformation as traditional entertainment boundaries blur with digital innovation. In this evolving landscape, Steven.com has secured €46 million in funding, marking one of the most significant media tech investments in the UK this year. The round, led by Slow Ventures and Apeiron Investment Group, positions the company at the intersection of content creation and technology platforms. This substantial investment reflects growing confidence in European media tech ventures that can bridge traditional entertainment with digital-first approaches, particularly those with proven track records in the competitive UK market. Media tech funding reaches new heights with strategic investor backing Slow Ventures, known for their investments in Twitter, Slack, and Robinhood, brings Silicon Valley expertise to this European venture, whilst Apeiron Investment Group adds deep media industry connections. This investor combination signals a strategic bet on the convergence of technology and entertainment sectors. “We’re seeing unprecedented opportunities where content creation meets scalable technology platforms,” noted a spokesperson from Slow Ventures. “Steven.com represents exactly the kind of European innovation that can compete globally whilst maintaining strong local roots.” The dual-lead structure is particularly noteworthy in the current European funding environment, where cross-Atlantic partnerships are becoming increasingly important for scaling media technology ventures beyond fragmented European markets. Building the Disney of digital-first entertainment Steven.com’s platform approach addresses a critical gap in the European media landscape—the lack of integrated content creation and distribution ecosystems. Unlike purely American platforms, the company’s model acknowledges European market fragmentation whilst building for global scale. The funding will accelerate product development and international expansion, with particular focus on European markets where regulatory frameworks like the Digital Services Act create opportunities for compliant, privacy-first platforms. Steven Bartlett, the company’s founder and former Dragons’ Den investor, brings unique credibility to the venture. “Our vision extends beyond traditional media boundaries—we’re building infrastructure that empowers creators whilst respecting European values around data privacy and content responsibility,” Bartlett explained. The company’s timing appears strategic, capitalising on the European Union’s increasing focus on digital sovereignty and supporting homegrown technology champions that can compete with American platforms whilst adhering to European regulatory standards. This funding round exemplifies the maturation of European media tech, where ventures are increasingly attracting international capital whilst maintaining their European identity and regulatory compliance advantages.

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Events 6 hours ago

Most startup founders treat events like they’re going travelling: count the days, block the calendar, done. But event tickets don’t come cheap, and the actual affair can eat into your budget in so many different ways, you’ll be left with a hole in your company wallet. You see, the problem here is a simple case of math: one can’t budget for unforeseen expenses. That’s why we’ve put together a simple formula that founders can tweak to suit their business needs. The 2:1 rule nobody talks about Here’s a simple rule: Every single day at an event requires two full days of preparation. This isn’t bureaucratic overhead, it’s the operational reality of doing events properly. Why does this ratio work? Because events operate on a timeline that’s fundamentally incompatible with how startups work. Most conferences lock speaker slots, booth spaces, and partnership opportunities months in advance. You can’t A/B test them or sprint your way in at the last minute. Scaleups and corporates have dedicated field marketing teams who start preparing months in advance for events. They’ve already mapped the venue, scheduled meetings, and briefed their booth staff. If you show up with two hours of prep, you’re invisible. But why should you set aside two days for every event day? You’ll fill them with research, targeting, outreach, scheduling, content, positioning, logistics operations, internal coordination, and post-event planning.  You can’t change your pitch deck the morning of your panel. Events punish improvisation because the stakes are live and all opportunity windows close fast. That’s why a 2:1 ratio is the minimum buffer you need to make showing up worthwhile. A three-day conference isn’t a three-day commitment; you’ll have to set aside at least six days before factoring in travel, team coordination, or what you’ll actually do at the event. Treat it as the baseline for local events that you’re only attending, too. And when you add distance, team members or booth logistics to the equation, that number explodes. The winning formula Here’s what no event organizer will tell you upfront: Total Time = (Event Days × 2) × Distance Factor × Team Factor × Activity Factor Distance multipliers Team size factors Activity type factors What does it look like in the real world? Let’s run an example scenario: Say you’re exhibiting at Web Summit with two co-founders. Calculation: (3 days × 2) × 1.5 (international) × 1.3 (team of three) × 1.5 (exhibiting) = 17.6 days That’s nearly four working weeks of founder time. Not calendar days — productive working days. An entire sprint. A fundraising cycle. A product release window. That’s before you account for the inevitable chaos: marketing materials might get delayed, or your booth might require a last-minute redesign, or one of your team might fall ill on day two. This matters more than you think Startups don’t fail because they attend too many events. They fail because they attended the wrong events and didn’t realize the true cost until it was too late. Most early-stage founders operate on razor-thin runways and even thinner margins. Losing 17 days to the wrong conference can mean missing a critical hiring window, pushing a launch back by a quarter, or running out of cash. The opportunity cost is immense. Three filters to help you decide Preparation is table stakes, but the real competitive advantage is selection. Before you commit to any event, run it through these three filters: 1. Are your top 10 target customers actually attending? Don’t settle for “the industry will be there,” or “it’s a great brand.” Will the specific people who can write cheques or sign contracts be in the venue? If you can’t name at least five confirmed attendees you want to meet, you’re engaging in speculation, and speculation is expensive. 2. Can you get time with decision makers? Networking is not the same as dealmaking. Conferences are full of people collecting business cards and having “great chats” that go nowhere. Look for pre-scheduled meetings, private roundtables, investor office hours, or curated dinners. If the event doesn’t facilitate structured access, you’re paying to work a room. 3. Does the timing align with your fundraising or launch cycle? Attending a major event two weeks before a funding deadline is fundraising malpractice. Exhibiting at a trade show when your product isn’t ready to demo is theatre, not business development. Timing isn’t everything, but mistimed events have the potential to burn capital and credibility in equal measure. The real decision Preparation is hard, but preparing brilliantly for the wrong event isn’t going to yield the results you’re looking for. The formula above isn’t meant to scare founders away from conferences. If you’re going to invest 17 days of founder time, you’d better know exactly what ROI you’re chasing and have a plan to capture it. Most founders wing it. The folks who don’t tend to be the ones still standing when funding dries up. At Sesamers, we’ve spent years inside the event ecosystem, watching startups burn time and capital on conferences that looked good on paper but delivered nothing. The startups that survive and thrive aren’t the ones who attended the most events; they simply skipped those that weren’t relevant, and attended the right events at the right time, with the right preparation. So before you book your next booth or confirm that speaking slot, do the math, and see if you can afford to go wrong.

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