Events

After a decade at the helm of UFI, the global association of the event industry, Kai Hattendorf is one of the most knowledgeable experts about exhibitions.

At Sesame Summit 2025, we put VC comms experts and event pros in the same room and asked: how can this relationship actually work?

Podcasts are not a passing trend, and this evolution presents an opportunity for the event media space.

The VDS Startup Competition, part of the international tech event organized by Startup Valencia, has officially opened its 2025 call, in collaboration with Sesamers.

Dealroom’s recent Green Computing White Paper argues that Europe is well positioned to combine DeepTech with climate impact.

CEW Communications drove a 51% increase in LinkedIn followers for Nordic venture capital forum GoWest.

Composites are everywhere around us: they’re used to make everything from spacecraft and racing cars to swimming pools, bath tubs and countertops. Still, most people don’t know what “composite materials” mean — the materials industry isn’t really the best fit for consumer-focused marketing after all.  But the potential of composites to increase efficiencies in industry is putting the highlight on its potential to improve sustainability. That, in turn, is attracting corporates and investors to the space. That trend of innovation was quite apparent at the 60th edition of JEC World in Paris, which showcased the latest and greatest in the composite materials industry this week.  The event saw a range of products being launched, awards given, a startup competition, conferences, networking events for investors and the industry, live demos, and much more.  The 2025 edition of the trade show also saw its first Investor Day, co-organized by Sesamers, which had top venture capital investors from across the world meeting founders, networking and evaluating interesting startups. Meet the JEC Startup Booster 2025 winners Speaking of startups, this year’s JEC Startup Booster competition had 20 uniquely interesting finalists that Sesamers (acting as JEC’s sourcing partner) helped shortlist from over 200 entrepreneurs, startups, and university spin-offs to highlight the most intriguing new companies in the space.  Over the years the competition has become a true springboard for participants, thanks in no small part to the support of industrial sponsors: the 2025 edition is supported by Airbus, ProxximaTM (An ExxonMobil Product) and Owens Corning as its main innovation partners, and Mercedes-Benz and Swancor as innovation partners. These companies were also represented in the jury that judged the finalists in the competition. Even being a finalist in Startup Booster can open doors for a startup: for example, former finalist UBQ Materials is now working with Mercedes Benz. Of course, getting an award is even better — the prize package is worth €25,000, including a cash prize and a fully equipped booth at JEC World 2026. This year there were three awards — two corresponding to the main categories, and one focused on sustainability. Product & Materials Award: Tree Composites Tree Composites is trying to improve offshore wind turbine foundations with its wrapped composite joint, which helps make structural connections that drastically reduce steel usage.  The company says it offers 60% savings in materials as well as increased durability, and is one of the more unique names helping in the transition to more efficient and sustainable offshore energy projects. “Winning this award validates our technology and accelerates our ability to scale,” shared Lead Manufacturing Engineer at Tree Composites, Berend van Leengoed. Process, Manufacturing & Equipment Award: Perseus Materials Perseus Materials is tackling one of construction’s biggest challenges — reducing labor costs and replacing steel with fiber-reinforced polymer composites (FRPs). Its on-site manufacturing process is designed to make large, load-bearing FRPs more accessible and cost-effective, instead offering lightweight, high-strength alternatives. “Being recognized by the JEC jury — composed of industry leaders — proves that our approach has the potential to truly disrupt how structures are built,” said Perseus Materials’ CEO, Dan Lee. Sustainability Award: Strong by Form Strong by Form has developed Woodflow, a timber composite that delivers a lightweight, high-performance alternative to traditional materials like concrete and steel, reducing carbon footprints in critical industries. “This award is not just a win for us — it’s a signal that the industry is ready for a fundamental shift toward bio-based, sustainable solutions,” the startup’s founders said. JEC World 2025: A Convergence of Startups & Investors While Startup Booster put the spotlight on the innovation in materials, JEC Investor Day turned out to be a good experiment for facilitating funding and strategic partnerships. Investors from leading funds and corporates’ investment arms gathered to see where composites are heading next, meet founders, and network. Composites are evolving at an incredible pace, but the most exciting impact will come from startups and large enterprises and manufacturers working together. That connection is being facilitated by corporates’ venture capital arms. Several investors in attendance were representatives of corporations.  Syensqo Ventures’ managing partner Matt Jones told Sesamers ahead of the trade show, that his firm was particularly interested in how composites can help make lighter, more manufacturable, cost-effective parts for several use cases. “Everything that flies or rolls needs to be higher performance; whether you’re switching to sustainable aviation fuels or electric vehicles, they all need to be lighter. They all need to have higher performance. Composites are going to be a big part of that future,” he said when we spoke to him at JEC.  The road ahead All trade shows bring people together, but few succeed in truly uniting diverse stakeholders under one roof. JEC World 2025 did showcase the best in composites, but it also accomplished something that many industry events struggle with: facilitating meaningful connections between investors and startups to bring composites innovation to the market.  This suggests that the inaugural JEC Investor Day was just the beginning, and you can be sure we’ll bring you the highlights again. Until next time.

JEC’s head of events programs, Benjamin Debusschère, talked to Sesamers ahead of JEC World 2025.

Tech is evolving faster than ever, and in 2025, staying ahead isn’t an option—it’s a necessity. From AI breakthroughs to game-changing startups, Europe’s tech scene is buzzing with opportunities to connect, innovate, and scale. This year, the continent will once again host some of the most influential tech events, where entrepreneurs, investors, and industry leaders come together to share insights, forge partnerships, and shape the future. Whether you’re a startup founder seeking funding, a corporate leader driving transformation, or an ecosystem builder scouting the next big trend, these must-attend European tech events are where big ideas turn into reality. Don’t miss out! What Are the Top Tech Events in Europe for 2025? MID3M+ 2025 January 24-27 | Cannes, France MID3M+ is a leading music industry event that serves as a neutral platform for discussions, collaboration, and innovation. Held in France, it brings together artists, industry professionals, policymakers, and tech innovators to tackle the current and future challenges of the music industry. With a focus on digital transformation, policy alignment, and emerging trends, MID3M+ fosters meaningful debates and strategic partnerships, shaping the future of music, media, and entertainment on a global scale. GoWest Conference 2025 January 28-30 | Gothenburg, Sweden Held in Gothenburg, West Sweden, this leading venture capital forum serves as a key hub for startups, scaleups, and investors, showcasing the region’s rich industrial heritage and forward-thinking innovation. The event offers a prime opportunity for networking, matchmaking, and presenting cutting-edge research and development, reinforcing Sweden’s role in tech growth and investment. TechChill Riga 2025 February 5-7 | Riga, Latvia One of the Baltic region’s leading tech and startup events, this Riga-based gathering will unite global and local investors, founders, and key ecosystem players. With over 2,300 attendees, 310 startups, and 230 investors, the event will spotlight Frontier Technologies, Startup Growth, and Industry Shifts, while showcasing the latest emerging innovations. Techarena 2025 February 20-21 | Stockholm, Sweden This flagship Scandinavian event will bring together business leaders, entrepreneurs, investors, and policymakers in a dynamic setting. With a strong focus on innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainability, the program features keynotes, panel discussions, and interactive sessions, fostering collaboration and forward-thinking solutions. 4YFN & MWC Barcelona 2025 March 3-6 | Barcelona, Spain Taking place side by side, 4YFN (4 Years From Now) and Mobile World Congress (MWC) Barcelona create one of the most significant global gatherings for startups, investors, and technology leaders. 4YFN is the ultimate platform for early-stage companies, focusing on startup growth and fundraising opportunities, while MWC Barcelona serves as the world’s largest mobile and connectivity event, showcasing advancements in 5G, AI, fintech, IoT, and digital transformation. With 100,000+ visitors at once, Barcelona becomes the perfect hub for networking, deal-making, and trendspotting in early 2025. JEC World 2025 March 4-6 | Paris, France JEC World is the leading global event for the composites industry, bringing together innovators, researchers, and manufacturers to showcase cutting-edge materials, technologies, and applications. The event serves as a hub for networking, knowledge exchange, and business opportunities, shaping the future of composites and advanced materials across industries such as aerospace, automotive, and construction. A key highlight is JEC Investor Day, where startups and scaleups in the composites sector connect with top investors, fostering funding opportunities and strategic partnerships to drive industry innovation. hello tomorrow Global Summit 2025 March 13-14 | Paris, France Founded in 2011, Hello Tomorrow’s Global Summit is a leading event dedicated to advancing deep tech solutions that drive progress in human and planetary health. The summit brings together startups, investors, corporates, and researchers, with a focus on science-driven and engineering-based innovations. By highlighting breakthrough technologies that tackle global challenges and unlock new market opportunities, it fosters a cross-disciplinary ecosystem beyond traditional industry boundaries. START Summit 2025 March 20-21 | St. Gallen, Switzerland This prestigious event provides 30 early-stage startups with a unique platform to showcase their ventures to industry leaders, experienced founders, and top European venture capitalists. Designed to inspire both current and future innovators, the event builds momentum through Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and a high-stakes Final, making it an exciting highlight for entrepreneurs and investors alike. Tech.eu 2025 March 25-26 | London, UK A must-attend event for European startups, VCs, and ecosystem leaders, Tech.eu Summit focuses on scaling startups, venture capital trends, and deep tech innovations. If you’re looking for data-driven insights into the European startup ecosystem, this is the place to be. 0100 Europe 2025 April 2-4 | Amsterdam, Netherlands A high-level private equity and venture capital conference where top fund managers, investors, and startups gather to discuss trends in the investment landscape. If you’re a founder looking to meet VCs or an investor scouting for promising startups, this event provides exclusive deal-making opportunities. Gitex Europe 2025 April 21-23 | Berlin, Germany Gitex Europe is a massive global technology event, originally from Dubai, now expanding into Europe for the first time. Covering AI, cybersecurity, cloud, and deep tech, this event is perfect for corporates, investors, and startups pushing the boundaries of digital transformation. EU Startups Summit 2025 April 24-25 | Valetta, Malta Bringing together over 2,000 founders, investors, and ecosystem players, EU Startups Summit is one of Europe’s leading startup conferences. The event features pitch competitions, networking opportunities, and insights from top European entrepreneurs, making it an excellent place to connect with early-stage startups and venture capitalists. ChangeNOW 2025 April 24-26 | Paris, France Set to take place in Paris, this influential event aims to accelerate and inspire change for a more sustainable future. Bringing together over 1,000 innovative solutions and 500 speakers, it serves as a meeting point for change-makers from various industries. The event offers a platform to showcase groundbreaking ideas, foster collaboration, and create meaningful impact in tackling global challenges. Turing Fest 2025 May 7-8 | Edinburgh, Scotland Turing Fest is one of Europe’s top conferences for startup growth, product development, and scaling businesses. Bringing together founders, operators, and investors, the event features expert-led talks, hands-on workshops, and high-impact networking, making it a must-attend for those looking to build and scale successful tech […]

The Vilnius TechFusion Awards 2024 highlighted the startup that best contributed to Lithuania's economic growth and reputation last year.

About 75% of CES attendees say their business is primarily B2B, or both B2B and B2C.

Here’s the ultimate curated list of 44 must-attend events for Food & Beverages startups in 2025. Compiled by our FoodTech experts, this comprehensive guide covers Food & Beverages events happening across Europe, Asia and the U.S in 2025. Designed for founders, entrepreneurs and venture capitalists, it’s your go-to resource for exploring the latest FoodTech innovations! Horecava January 13-16, Amsterdam – Netherlands Expected participants : 60000 Horecava brings together a diverse audience from hospitality, catering, and food service sectors to explore innovations in food tech, sustainability, and culinary trends, making it a vital networking and idea-sharing hub for industry professionals. Winter Fancy Food Show January 19-21, Las Vegas – United States Expected participants : 13000 The Winter Fancy Food Show highlights premium and artisanal foods from around the world, showcasing everything from small-batch creations to organic and sustainably-sourced products, connecting specialty food brands with retailers and distributors. Grüne Woche January 17-26, Berlin – Germany Expected participants : 275000 Grüne Woche is one of the leading exhibitions for the agriculture and food industry, offering an ideal platform for exhibitors to showcase innovative products and solutions. This event not only highlights cutting-edge developments but also addresses critical societal issues such as climate protection, the circular economy, resource conservation, and sustainable land use. Sirha January 23-27, Lyon – France Expected participants : 200000 Sirha Lyon gathers the entire food service and hospitality ecosystem, offering a global stage for innovation, competitions, and knowledge-sharing. It’s where professionals come to discover the latest trends, exchange ideas, and shape the future of the industry. ISM Cologne February 2-5, Cologne – Germany Expected participants : 30000 ISM Cologne brings together industry leaders and emerging brands in the sweets and snacks sector, offering insights into the latest products, trends, and technologies shaping the global confectionery and snack markets. Pro Sweets February 2-5, Cologne – Germany Expected participants : 13000 Leading global event for suppliers and decision-makers in the snacks and sweets industry. This event covers the entire industrial value chain of the confectionery and snack industry, including finished products, raw materials, technology, and packaging. Fruit Logistica February 5-7, Berlin – Germany Expected participants : 66000 Fruit Logistica is the world’s leading international trade fair for fresh fruits and vegetables, dried fruits, and tree nuts. Manifest February 10-12, Las-Vegas – United States Expected participants : 6000 The premiere gathering that unites the entire eco-system of Fortune 500 global supply chain executives, logistics service providers, innovators and investors at the forefront of logistics tech and end-to-end supply chain. Biofach February 11-14, Nuremberg – Germany Expected participants : 35000 Biofach provides a comprehensive showcase of organic products, from raw ingredients to packaged goods. It draws a global audience of professionals dedicated to sustainability, offering insights into organic food trends and opportunities for partnerships in the green sector. Gulfood February 17-21, Dubai – UAE Expected participants : 100000 Gulfood attracts an international audience of food professionals, highlighting a wide range of products from emerging markets and offering insights into regional consumer trends, trade opportunities, and innovations in food and beverage. AFCI Con February 22-25, Dallas – United States Expected participants : 1500 AFCI Con is where frozen food industry leaders connect, showcasing new products, technologies, and strategies for sustainability and efficiency. It provides a platform for collaboration, industry insights, and exploring trends in frozen foods. Natural Products Expo West March 4-7, Anaheim – United States Expected participants : 65000 Natural Products Expo West brings together the CPG and retail ecosystem, featuring the latest in organic, natural, and sustainable products. It’s a key event for discovering emerging brands and trends focused on health, wellness, and eco-consciousness. Food Expo March 8-10, Athens – Greece Expected participants : 35000 Food Expo showcases a vast array of food products, from raw ingredients to ready-to-eat offerings. It’s an essential hub for professionals seeking to explore trends, develop partnerships, and discover business opportunities across the industry. World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit March 11-12, San Francisco – United States Expected participants : 2500 The World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit gathers leaders from agri-food businesses, tech providers, and investors for networking, market intelligence, and discovering startups. Attendees engage in high-level discussions on innovation and investment in agriculture. Foodex March 11-15, Chiba – Japan Expected participants : 80000 Asia’s largest food and beverage trade show, emphasizing innovation and market expansion. It showcases a diverse range of Asian and international food products, focusing on food tech, sustainability, and regional specialties. It serves as a major platform for business networking, culinary trends, and market insights. Future FoodTech March 13-14, San Francisco – United States Expected participants : 1450 Future Food-Tech brings together global food corporates, investors and technology start-ups from around the world to uncover the most exciting innovations in the agri-food sector, forging the right partnerships to take those solutions to market. IFE March 17-19, London – United Kingdom Expected participants : 30000 IFE (International Food & Drink Event) is where food professionals come to explore thousands of products from around the world, connect with new suppliers, and discover innovative trends and solutions shaping the food and drink industry. HRC March 17-19, London – United Kingdom Expected participants : 30000 Connects the industry’s most influential hospitality experts, chefs, and operators with the finest suppliers in the market, showcasing cutting-edge advancements in equipment, services, technology and more. Food Hotel Tech March 19-20, Paris – France Expected participants : 8000 Food Hotel Tech brings together digital tools, eco-friendly products, and tech innovations aimed at transforming the hospitality industry. It’s a hub for hotel and restaurant professionals to discover sustainable and tech-driven solutions. World Food Poland April 8-10, Warsaw – Poland Expected participants : 5000 World Food offers a comprehensive showcase of food products from around the world, connecting suppliers and buyers to explore emerging trends, expand into new markets, and discover innovative solutions in the food and beverage industry. FHA Asia April 8-11, Singapore Expected participants : 72000 Food & Hotel Asia brings together an international audience, featuring a wide array of F&B products, hospitality solutions, and […]