DigitalMara has collected a list of upcoming events for startups in 2023 that are worth attending. Each has its own specifics, but they are united in the goal of helping startups to attain visibility and find investors for their disruptive ideas. They provide opportunities to build strategic relationships, solve operational challenges, scale up, boost your public profile, meet relevant angels and VCs, and find cool partners to implement your ideas.
DigitalMara is also striving to attend such events. It’s a great opportunity to showcase our expertise and services to potential clients and partners and make valuable connections. Our team has vast experience working with startups from various business domains. Together, we can build web and mobile apps, chatbots, analytics, AI and ML solutions, and payment gateways. Starting with an MVP or prototype, the project can progress to full-fledged software products.
Looking at the calendar, these events typically take place in June and July and then, after a summer break, continue in September, November and December. They feature keynote speakers from various industries, panel discussions, startup pitches, and networking opportunities.
Money20/20 Europe
When: June 6 – 8
Where: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Money20/20 is a business event for the financial industry to discuss and showcase the latest innovations, trends, and challenges in the field of financial services, payments, insurance, crypto and FinTech in general. Startups from this domain have the opportunity to meet and connect with big investors. Only 30 selected startups get the opportunity to showcase at The Startup Hangout.
Prices: Early-stage startup pass €1.075, Growth-stage startup pass €1.375, Standard pass €3.695
South Summit
When: June 7 – 9
Where: Madrid, Spain
South Summit is an entrepreneurship and innovation platform and network for high-value connections among companies, investors, startups and other institutions. The event covers a wide range of sustainable and digital topics such as ClimateTech, a nurturing economy, the future of money, Industry 5.0, AgriTech, SportsTech and others. Startups from all industries and countries can take part in the Startup Competition. The jury picks the top 100 finalists, and then one gets mentoring and training and pitches live on stage.
Prices: Attendee €199, Business €999
London Tech Week
When: June 14 – 17
Where: London, UK
London Tech Week is a global week-long festival. This year’s themes encompass building responsible and sustainable businesses, green innovations, HealthTech, Web3 and Metaverse. There are 4 big zones, one of them devoted to startups, with a networking hub and innovation hub, marketplace, investor lounge and startup masterclasses.
Prices: Startup pod package £2.50
Viva Technology
When: June 14 – 17
Where: Paris, France
Viva Technology is a tech conference fully dedicated to innovation and startups. Topics covered are AI, energy and climate tech, future of sport, cybersecurity, Web3, DeepTech and FoodTech. Startups can apply to a partner challenge and pitch their project on the stage, if selected. Selected solutions can be exhibited at VivaTech for free on the partner’s lab. Viva Technology also organizes four major award competitions every year: Female Founder, Next Startupper, Africa Tech and Next Unicorn. Each competition has its own criteria.
Prices: Startup pass €280, Attendee pass €620
The Next Web Conference
When: June 15 – 16
Where: Amsterdam, Netherlands
The Next Web Conference (TNW) is a tech festival and trade show. It has 10 thematic clusters: creator economy, data economy, digital commerce, design and dev, future tech, futureproof, funding and founding, impact, inclusive tech and future of finance. TNW has a special Startup Program, which offers the opportunity to participate in a Pitch Battle and get reviewed by a jury of sponsors and investors. And then, if selected, to pitch on the stage in front of the whole TNW audience. In addition, shortlisted startups will be announced exclusively in a press release.
Prices: Startups bootstrap package €1.099, Startups scale-up package €1.299, Business pass €999
Collision
When: June 26 – 29
Where: Toronto, Canada
Collision is a tech conference created by the team at Web Summit. Content tracks cover areas such as robotics, AI, fintech, corporate innovation, and digital marketing. Collision offers a startup program called ALPHA for early-stage startups. Chosen startups will get access to Investor-to-startup meetings, an opportunity to apply for the PITCH program, get masterclasses, mentor hours and more.
Prices: Startups ticket CA $790, General attendee CA$895
hub.Berlin
When: June 28 – 29
Where: Berlin, Germany
hub.Berlin is a business festival for tech and digitalization. Topics covered are sustainability, mobility, AI, policy, digital transformation, security, Metaverse, and lifestyle. This year’s festival will feature the Innovators’ Pitch, a European startup competition. Early-stage startups have the opportunity to present their products to a jury and expert audience. Projects in the field of EdTech and AI are invited to participate.
Prices: Startup ticket €80 (2 people included), Regular ticket €800
VentureBeat Summit
When: July 11 – 12
Where: San Francisco, USA
The Summit is organized by VentureBeat, a technology media company that covers the latest trends and innovations in the tech industry. This year, the conference will be built around the topic of Generative AI, talking about its potential and pitfalls, as well as healthcare, security, manufacturing, financial services, retail, and other industries. VentureBeat hosts Women in AI Leadership Awards, honoring the women leaders, mentors, researchers and entrepreneurs who are transforming the AI industry. There are 5 categories for nomination, with one winner in each. Self-nomination is forbidden.
Prices: Leadership summit pass $899, Conference pass $149
Startup Òle
When: September 4 – 7
Where: Salamanca, Spain
Startup Òle is a tech event funded by the European Union NextGenerationEU. The conference covers various topics such as innovation, technology, entrepreneurship, and investment. Startups can apply to participate in the Pitch Competition by sending a video or a presentation. Selected startups will pitch on the stage in front of the audience. Also, investors will choose candidates to have private meetings with. In addition, several awards are envisaged for startups.
Prices: Startup pass €300
Tech BBQ
When: September 13 – 14
Where: Copenhagen, Denmark
Tech BBQ is the biggest summit for startups and innovation in Scandinavia. The aim is to support and strengthen the Nordic startup ecosystem. Any disruptive ideas with a positive impact are welcome. The Special Startup Program provides the possibility to pitch and showcase during the summit. It has 4 separate categories: Playground for hardware startups, North Star pitch; Startup showcase; Life Science pitching competition and tech talent. An important point: some programs are available only to Nordic and Baltic startups.
Prices: Startup pass €145, Scaleup €195, General pass €745
TechCrunch Disrupt
When: September 19 – 21
Where: San Francisco, USA
TechCrunch Disrupt is an original startup conference meant to showcase game-changing startups that use cutting-edge technology. Main tracks are devoted to AI, FinTech, security, sustainability and hardware. The Startup Battlefield 200 are selected annually from thousands of early-stage startups. They showcase their products on the expo floor all 3 days of the conference, and 20 of them compete for the TechCrunch prize of $100K for growth and development.
Prices: General admission $650, Founder pass $550
Oslo Innovation Week
When: September 25 – 29
Where: Oslo, Norway
Oslo Innovation Week unites about 60 events organized by Norwegian incubators, science parks and other entities. Major topics covered are CleanTech, DeepTech and HealthTech. Several events will have pitching opportunities, the biggest being the pitching marathon, OIW 100 Pitches. Startups have a chance to win €20,000 from DNB and mentoring from top international VCs. What is important is that startup activity should correspond to at least one of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Prices: not available.
TBX (Tech Means Business)
When: November 1 – 2
Where: Utrecht, Netherlands
TBX is a trade show that allows participants to share experiences, learn and understand how tech evolution impacts businesses. Topics covered include smart world, data factory, new work, GreenTech, Web 3, DeepTech, IT ethics, cyber resilience. For startups, the Heroes stage allows them to demonstrate their solutions and ideas.
Prices: register for free.
Web Summit
When: November 13 – 16
Where: Lisbon, Portugal
Web Summit is one of the biggest technology conferences and startup events in the world. The range of topics is extremely wide. For example, software development, design, crypto, marketing, SaaS, security, health, DeepTech and much more. Web Summit has the same ALPHA program as Collision, including investor-to-startup meetings, opportunity to apply for the PITCH program, get masterclasses, mentor hours and more. Also, they have a special offer to join the community of women in tech: discounts on tickets, a Tech Lounge zone sponsored by Toptal, masterclasses, roundtables and more.
Prices: General attendee €595; applications for startups are completed individually.
SLUSH
When: November 30 – December 1
Where: Helsinki, Finland
SLUSH is an annual startup and technology event attracting thousands of attendees including entrepreneurs, investors, and corporations. They have a special opportunity for early-stage startups – Startup Studio. Organizers will choose 80 ambitious companies to participate. Priority sectors are DeepTech, AI&ML, SpaceTech and some others. Also, startups can get more visibility presenting their products and services at the Startup Booth at the Slush venue. Some 40 companies will be selected. One can apply for both programs on the Slush Platform, after buying a ticket.
Prices: Startup pass €345, Attendee pass €945
NOAH Conference
When: December 13 – 14
Where: Zurich, Switzerland / online
NOAH is an annual event to connect the smart capital with the most exciting startups. Their key objective is to fund sustainable tech solutions and empower collaboration within the natural capital ecosystems. To do that Nature Data Alliance was organized. Priority is given to projects like B2B platforms and SaaS, consumer services, FinTech, InsurTech, HealthTech, EduTech, sustainable agriculture, food, water and other eco-friendly technologies.
Prices: Startup pass CHf690, Corporate CHf1.715
