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.