4 things you want to know about The Next Web Conference 2018

This Thursday and Friday, there will be another edition of The Next Web Conference. Over the past twelve editions, the conference has grown to a leading technology event. TNW brings together 12,500 attendees a day and 3,500 companies from all over the world. However, we did notice four remarkable facts about TNW Conference.

Find the list below – and do let us know if there is anything else that should be on this list.

#1 The fit-hype is real

Of all the side events – ranging from the Startup Fissa at TQ to Baltic Startup Ecosystem Breakfast – there was one event that was fully booked as first: We Run TNW, by Nike, at VondelCS, this Friday morning, from 06:30 – 08:00.

Tons of people want to ‘Stay smart and stay healthy at the TNW Conference this year.’ However, the free pair of Nikes might actually turn the attendees sports-fanatics: ‘As a reward for working up a sweat, Nike is partnering with TNW to give 100 conference attendees a pair of Nikes. Now that’s a prize worth running for!’

#2 Don’t pick the CEO

Being a founder means making choices. Attending an event means missing certain sessions or speakers. If you’d ask us, there is another rule to TNW – or congresses in general. Don’t follow job titles: dare to choose differently.

During the last year’s session, it was the presentation of Hardwell that caught our eye, while the talk of co-founder and CEO of 9Gag was as predictable as memes in general.

#3 Women first on the Gosschalk- street

About half of the speakers are women. There are several events and tracks that focus on woman, including Women in Tech Unite, a track by Ambitieuze Meisjes (ambitious girls). Silicon Canals <3 this – almost if TNW has read our #1 rule on events. The irony: this festival has done a great (female friendly) Job, takes place at the Gosschalk-street.

#4 TNW premiers workshops

Alongside the keynote content, this year TNW is also hosting deep-dive group sessions. The roundtable session with the most specific (and longest) title is: ‘How to build a real-time, AI-driven omnichannel marketing stack for real-life production setting.’

PS: TNW = great fun

However, the party doesn’t stop when TNW ends.

What REALLY went on after #TNW2017 closed… ???? pic.twitter.com/BEoO0afbMe

— Matt Navarra (@MattNavarra) May 20, 2017

The official opening ceremony of TNW is at the Gashouder in Amsterdam at 10 AM, this Thursday. Find tickets via this site.