Sesame Summit 2026 – application open

Selected Events: May 2023

NFT Tallinn

May 8-10 – Estonia
NFT Tallinn features speakers across the different corners of the Web3 industry with firesides, keynotes, panels, workshops, expo arena, pitch competitions, creative installations, performances and more.

PAUA Paris

May 12-13 – France
PAUA is a gathering of entrepreneurs, explorers of consciousness and conscious business leaders. PAUA’s mission is to explore uncharted territories, rediscovering ancient and unveiling new technologies that offer a broader and richer perception of reality.

Podim

May 15-17 – Slovenia
The main focus of the event is to connect startups with investors, potential customers, and partners, as well as to provide a platform for networking and learning from industry experts. The event features a diverse program that includes keynote speeches, panel discussions, workshops, pitching competitions, and one-on-one meetings.

Digital Construction Week

May 17-18 – UK
The event features a diverse range of activities, including keynote speeches, panel discussions, interactive workshops, live demonstrations, and exhibitions. It covers various topics related to digital innovation, such as building information modelling (BIM), virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR), drones, artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and smart cities.

Digitalk Conference

May 17 – Bulgaria
In its 2023 edition, Digitalk will present people, innovation and technology breakthroughs that will drive humanity and businesses forward. Ambitious companies will not try to build a bridge to the past, but instead, embrace the disruption and use their investments and best ideas to design a new future.

Women in Tech Global Summit

May 22-23 – France
The Women in Tech Global Summit is an annual conference that aims to promote gender diversity and inclusion in the technology industry. The event brings together women from around the world who work in technology or are interested in pursuing careers in the field. The summit features a variety of activities, including keynote speeches, panel discussions, workshops, and networking sessions. It covers various topics related to women in technology, such as leadership, career development, entrepreneurship, diversity and inclusion, and emerging technologies.

EcoMotion Week

May 22-24 – Israel
EcoMotion Week is an annual event that takes place in Tel Aviv, Israel, and is considered the largest smart mobility gathering in the world. The event brings together startups, investors, policymakers, and industry leaders from around the globe to discuss the latest trends and innovations in the smart mobility industry.

Innovate4Climate

May 23-25 – Spain
I4C 2023 will bring together the public and private sectors to turn up the volume on innovative climate solutions across finance, markets, policy and technology. Participants will have the opportunity to connect with leaders driving climate ambition, learn about cutting-edge approaches to accelerate climate action, and identify new investors, customers and partners.

Tech.eu Summit

May 24 – Belgium
Tech.eu Summit is an annual conference that brings together entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, and industry experts from across Europe to discuss the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities in the European tech ecosystem.The event features a range of activities, including keynote speeches, panel discussions, workshops, and networking sessions. It covers various topics related to the European tech industry, such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, cybersecurity, fintech, and digital health.

Latitude59

May 24-26 – Estonia
Latitude59 is an annual startup and tech conference that takes place in Tallinn, Estonia. The event brings together entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, and industry experts from around the world to discuss the latest trends and developments in the European startup ecosystem. The event features a diverse program that includes keynote speeches, panel discussions, pitching competitions, workshops, and networking sessions. It covers various topics related to entrepreneurship, innovation, and technology, such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, e-governance, and sustainability.

Infoshare

May 24-25 – Poland
Infoshare is an annual technology conference that takes place in Gdansk, Poland. The event brings together entrepreneurs, investors, developers, and other stakeholders from around the world to discuss the latest trends and developments in the technology industry. The conference features a diverse program that includes keynote speeches, panel discussions, startup pitches, workshops, and networking sessions. It covers various topics related to technology and entrepreneurship, such as artificial intelligence, fintech, e-commerce, and cybersecurity.

ChangeNOW

May 25-27 – France
ChangeNOW is an annual global summit that brings together entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, and thought leaders from around the world to discuss and promote solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges. The conference aims to inspire and facilitate positive change by showcasing innovative and sustainable initiatives and promoting collaboration among stakeholders. The conference features a diverse program that includes keynote speeches, panel discussions, workshops, and exhibitions. It covers various topics related to sustainability, social impact, and innovation, such as circular economy, climate change, clean energy, and social entrepreneurship.

EMERGE Conference

May 28-29 – UAE
Started in Belarus in 2018, EMERGE conference has become the hotbed for tech, founders, community leaders, bigger companies and investors from across the New East — including countries from Eastern Europe, the Balkans and Central Asia.

ViennaUP

May 30 – June 7 – Austria
ViennaUP’23 is a decentralized community-driven festival blooming in the heart of Europe. Initiated by the Vienna Business Agency, this exciting adventure connects startup ecosystems, businesses, founders, investors, tech enthusiasts, creatives, and visionaries. This year, they are looking forward to a nine-day experience emerging out of the cooperation with 30+ program partners, resulting in 50+ opportunities to network, pitch, invest, develop and hack the code.

Dublin Tech Summit

May 31 – June 1 – Ireland
The event brings together entrepreneurs, investors, developers, and other stakeholders from around the world to discuss the latest trends and developments in the technology industry. The conference features a diverse program that includes keynote speeches, panel discussions, startup pitches, workshops, and networking sessions. It covers various topics related to technology and entrepreneurship, such as artificial intelligence, fintech, e-commerce, and cybersecurity.

Web2Day

May 31 – June 2 – France
The Web2Day Conference is an annual technology and innovation event that takes place in Nantes, France. The conference brings together entrepreneurs, investors, developers, and other stakeholders from around the world to discuss the latest trends and developments in technology and innovation. The conference features a diverse program that includes keynote speeches, panel discussions, workshops, and networking sessions. It covers various topics related to technology and innovation, such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, design, e-commerce, and entrepreneurship.

GITEX AFRICA

May 31 – June 2 – Morocco
GITEX AFRICA, the continent’s largest all-inclusive tech event, will connect tech titans, governments, SMEs, startups, coders, investors and academia, to accelerate, collaborate and explore new ventures. A curation of emerging technologies from fintech, e-commerce, cloud, IoT, AI, telecom to cybersecurity will be heavily featured during the three-day annual pan-African forum in Marrakech, Morocco.

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crowds throng the avenue before the Blue Stage at VivaTech 2025
Events 2 days ago

At Sesamers, we’re always looking to be the first to learn about the latest trends in the startup and tech events space. That’s why it feels like a privilege that Sesamers was invited by Olivia Hervy, chief ecosystem officer of VivaTech, to the exclusive kick-off VivaTech 2026, alongside key partners.  As Europe’s largest startup and tech event prepares for its 10th anniversary, scheduled for June 17-20, 2026 in Paris, being part of this circle of industry professionals gives us early insight into what promises to be VivaTech’s most ambitious edition yet, with significant expansions and new experiences that reflect a decade of growth and evolution. Major infrastructure expansions After calling Hall 1 and 2 at Porte de Versailles home for a decade, VivaTech 2026 is relocating to Hall 7, a new three-floor building that the event will occupy fully. The venue now features 30% more exhibition space across three floors; upgraded infrastructure; excellent internet connectivity, and a much larger business center. The building has 12 dedicated restaurant areas, providing ample dining options to better accommodate the growing crowds. The centerpiece is a brand new, 2,200-seat main stage where the event’s most significant announcements and keynotes will be held. Greater business focus Building on 2025’s  success (180,000 attendees, 14,000 startups), VivaTech 2026 introduces several business-focused improvements: Doubled innovation showcase The “Garden of Innovators” concept has been expanded upon, with organizers promising to double startup participation, product announcements, and exhibition surface area compared to previous editions.  Located on the first floor, the welcome area will showcase exemplars of innovation through the centuries to remind attendees of humanity’s continuous drive to invent and create. Germany takes center stage For 2026, Germany has been selected as the “Country of the Year,” and VivaTech will highlight the nation’s contributions to the European tech ecosystem with an eye towards strengthening Franco-German technological cooperation. Thematic villages  VivaTech 2026 introduces a new organizational approach: We have four dedicated thematic arenas, each of which features its own startup village and specialized programming: Each thematic village will feature startups building in those sectors, creating focused ecosystems where attendees can explore innovations that cross-pollinate within a concentrated area. Every theme features its own dedicated stage, which will host talks, panels, and presentations tailored to that sector. An additional Executive Arena will cater specifically to marketing and tech leaders, providing a hub for C-level discussions and strategic content. “Revolutions in Progress” VivaTech2026’s theme emphasizes ongoing technological revolutions, with particular focus on: Special anniversary experiences To mark the event’s 10th anniversary, VivaTech 2026 will feature several special events: Looking forward With its tagline, “VIVA LA REVOLUTION,” VivaTech 2026 positions itself not just as a retrospective celebration, but as the launch pad for the next decade of European tech innovation. The expanded format and new experiences point to how the event is evolving from a showcase into an increasingly sophisticated business platform for the global tech community. VivaTech 2026 builds on last year’s impressive satisfaction metrics (92% of exhibitors satisfied, 82% of attendees planning to return) while substantially expanding capacity and capabilities to serve the growing European tech ecosystem.

a wall of amplifiers
Events 3 days ago

Europe recorded €108 billion from exhibitions and events in 2024, according to UFI’s latest data. The continent welcomed 102 million visitors to over 2,000 certified exhibitions across 17 countries; Web Summit Lisbon set a record with 71,528 attendees in November 2024, making it the largest edition to date; and Stockholm’s Techarena secured just over €1 million from VC firm BackingMinds to expand internationally. By any reasonable measure, Europe’s events space has absolutely crushed the events game. End of story. Fin. However, from where I’m sitting, the elephant is still lurking quite comfortably in the room. At the risk of being ostracized, I’ll go ahead and ask the question: Why are some of the most innovative companies on the planet still schlepping to Austin for SXSW to make their biggest announcements (Salt Lick and Stubbs BBQ’s aside)? The room vs. the world Looking at the numbers: Europe’s events spark more meaningful connections per square meter than anywhere else on Earth. In 2025, VivaTech set records with 180,000 visitors, a 10% increase from a year earlier. MWC Barcelona authoritatively anchors a circuit stretching from Kigali to Las Vegas. The continent plays host to an estimated 32,000 exhibitions annually, generating 4.3 million full-time equivalent jobs. These are numbers you cannot take lightly. But walk into any European tech conference and you’ll witness something that should make every one of us reach for the Advil: major announcements received by something akin to a boisterous golf clap from 500 or so people. And that’s it. Those announcements then usually disintegrate into the digital ether, seemingly never to be heard of again. Meanwhile, across the pond, a throwaway tweet about the same topic has the potential to garner upwards of 50,000 shares and three podcast invitations faster than you can drink your morning coffee. But data and numbers don’t lie, and when it comes to events, they’re frankly embarrassing. Europe’s events sector processes roughly €108 billion, and is  extraordinarily efficient in bringing decision makers together in the same space.  European startups consistently struggle with what should be the easier bit: translating those promising conversations into sustained media coverage, investor attention and market validation. The great muppet caper Picture this scene playing out roughly 847 times per week across Europe: Monday: A Finnish startup leveraging AI presents a true breakthrough in supply chain management/optimization/operations to 200 logistics executives at a specialized track. The demo is genuinely impressive. The potential is genuinely massive. The audience is the very definition of target market. All the right pieces are in all the right places. Tuesday: Three tech publications publish brief summaries, perhaps even covering the entire conference, and not just the logistics breakthrough. The fledgling company’s LinkedIn post gets 47 likes (including the founders’ mothers, university mates, and the intern). A single podcast interview is scheduled for three weeks later. It may or may not happen. Wednesday: The story is now less alive than disco was on July 13, 1979. Look that one up, kids. Now let’s compare the same actions to the American playbook, which, if I’m honest, makes me simultaneously impressed and nauseous. The same company makes the announcement at a Bay Area-based event (yep, you know it as well as I do). It generates immediate response across a variety of channels from some  truly influential voices and some noise makers, but enough to garner the attention of major media (print, podcast, and pulp) outlets within 48 hours. It then spawns derivative content, and creates a sustained conversation that drives real, true, business development for the startup for weeks. The difference here isn’t the quality of the innovation; it’s how the messaging was amplified. Folks, you can hate me for saying this, but this is where Europe is getting schooled. There is no stopping in the Red Zone Take one look at today’s media landscape, and you’ll leave with a rather morbid impression. The problem isn’t structural fragmentation; it’s an endemic contraction. Leon may be growing, but European tech media is shrinking,  at precisely the wrong moment. A brief reminder: TechCrunch, long the go-to outlet for European startup coverage, quietly shut down its entire European operation in 2025 when private equity firm Regent LP acquired the publication.  Digital Frontier, the London-based tech publication that launched in early 2024 with a team of 20, “paused” operations just a few months ago, making all 16 staff members redundant.  Business Insider cut 21% of its staff in 2025, citing “extreme traffic drops” and AI disruption. Just days ago, we all found out that The Next Web, once one of Europe’s flagship tech conferences and media brands, was shutting down its events and media operations after nearly 20 years. The Financial Times, which bought TNW in 2019, confirmed it was winding down the business by the end of September following a “strategic review.” Conference attendance had dropped to 4,500 in 2025, less than half of pre-pandemic levels. The failure to capture content The folks at Black Unicorn PR earlier this year put together a guide that reveals something anyone working in European tech media already knows but pretends isn’t true: “Unlike the U.S., which has a few dominant tech media outlets and an emerging class of star indie writers, Europe hasn’t yet consolidated its practitioners’ knowledge in one place.” Stop and think about what that really means for a second. Sure, we’ve got strong regional players, and I salute Sifted, EU-Startups, and Tech.eu doing the do. But the lack of a unified amplification machinery, by definition, puts Europe at a disadvantage over Silicon Valley stories that are destined to be heard in Phuket faster than you can finish reading this sentence. To put it bluntly, European tech events suffer from content capture failure. The most valuable insights surface within conversations, at roundtable discussions, and networking sessions that generate no permanent content.  Unlike American events, which increasingly operate as content factories designed for social media amplification, European conferences optimize to create value in the room rather than post-event content distribution. All that

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New Materials 3 days ago

Winning the JEC Startup Booster's 2025 Sustainability Award transformed Strong by Form from a 'promising startup' into a serious player with industrial credibility.

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