Silicon Canals
TRENDING
  • Mobility
  • AI
  • FinTech
  • Software & SaaS
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • COVID-19
    • Startups
    • Scaleups
    • FinTech
    • AI and chatbots
    • Travel & Mobility
    • Software & SaaS
    • Health & Medtech
    • (Crowd)funding
    • Blockchain
    • Internet of things
    • Hardware
    • Accelerators
    • E-commerce
    • Cybersecurity
    • Gaming & Virtual Reality
    • Drones
  • Features
    • Promoted content
    • How-to
    • Knowledge & Insights
    • Guest Contributions
    • Scaling-up in Europe
  • Amsterdampartner
  • Events
  • Newsletter
  • Jobs
  • About
    • Partner with Silicon Canals
    • Team
    • Contact
  • Home
  • News
    • COVID-19
    • Startups
    • Scaleups
    • FinTech
    • AI and chatbots
    • Travel & Mobility
    • Software & SaaS
    • Health & Medtech
    • (Crowd)funding
    • Blockchain
    • Internet of things
    • Hardware
    • Accelerators
    • E-commerce
    • Cybersecurity
    • Gaming & Virtual Reality
    • Drones
  • Features
    • Promoted content
    • How-to
    • Knowledge & Insights
    • Guest Contributions
    • Scaling-up in Europe
  • Amsterdampartner
  • Events
  • Newsletter
  • Jobs
  • About
    • Partner with Silicon Canals
    • Team
    • Contact
No Result
View All Result
Silicon Canals
No Result
View All Result

This is my number one rule for tech events that you should uphold too

Remco Janssen by Remco Janssen
December 8, 2017
in Startups
0
This is my number one rule for tech events that you should uphold too
3
SHARES
LinkedInTwitterWhatsAppFacebook

I’m pretty much done with tech events, awards, and conferences. Not because they’re boring; most of the time they are actually quite interesting. Some, like TNW, Angel Island, and Pirate Summit, are amazing and my absolute all-time favorites. Here’s why I’m fed up with them.

It has more to do with diversity: in general, tech events tend to be one gigantic sausage fest, attendee-wise.

 - Partner content -
Cost of software - The Software house
The cost of building software
Marek Gajda, CTO of The Software House, shares his insights on building high-quality...Show More
Marek Gajda, CTO of The Software House, shares his insights on building high-quality software. Show Less
Read more

*Yawns*

But often, it’s worse: the nominees, jury members, or panelists are all white males, full stop.

Look, I’m not a social justice warrior or part of the policor movement. My wife’s a feminist so that basically makes me one (that was a joke people, don’t forget to laugh every now and then). There might even be a good reason for it; at Silicon Canals we get significantly fewer pitches from female entrepreneurs than from male.

Nevertheless, I’m tired of lame excuses.

Last year I decided I wanted to do something about it. For the events we organize, we’re making an extra effort to have as much of a diverse group as possible. Because, apparently, that’s really, really necessary. It’s hard work – believe me.

That wasn’t enough for me. I have a new rule that I’m upholding, whenever I receive an invite to a tech event. I’ll check the speaker program. Jury members. The panel(s). If it has less than 20 percent ‘diversity’, I am not coming.

If I’m invited to a panel or a jury, I’ll insist that it has a diverse blend of people. Otherwise, no Mr. Remco Janssen present.

It’s not just A rule. It’s now my number one rule. Make your tech event diverse, or I’m not coming. Period.

It shouldn’t be just my number one rule; it should be yours too.

Image: me (red cap) in a panel during this year’s Angel Island. Without Ayelet Noff, center, it would have been a panel solely consisting of white, middle-aged, bearded, four-eyed males. She helped review this article by the way (thanks!).

close

Want to stay on top of the latest rounds, coolest tech and hottest startups?

Subscribe to our free, daily news blast and stay up-to-date!

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

 - Partner content -
Nebula CTO Andre Witte
Cloud spend management 😱
Tracking cloud spend can be tricky. Learn from Nebula's CTO Andre Witte how to keep the...Show More
Tracking cloud spend can be tricky. Learn from Nebula's CTO Andre Witte how to keep the costs at bay in 2021. Show Less
Read more
ShareTweet1SendShare1

Featured events

07apr10:0012:30FeaturedWorkshop: pr for startupsHow to grow your startup with the help of public relations

Partner content | Work with us

Future Hamburg Award: Looking for the best startups to forge the city of the future

The Humblebrag launches online course to help emerging leaders amplify their visibility and voice

Blue Tulip Awards announce 5 finalists in the Food & Water and Education & Employment theme

Impact media foundation 5 Media offers grants up to €100,000 per year to drive a sustainable future

Here’s how cryptocurrency will take over the world

Breaking news from Amsterdam | Partner

Amsterdam’s Crisp raises €30M: Here’s what this online-only supermarket plans to do with this capital

Amsterdam-based Tellow’s parent company raises €60.2M: An interview with Thomas Vles, Tellow’s new CEO

Amsterdam-based fast-charging startup Fastned charges itself with €150M through accelerated bookbuild offering

Amsterdam-based Founda Health raises €12.3M to build infrastructure for global healthcare sector; here’s how

  • About Silicon Canals
  • Partner with Silicon Canals
  • Contact us
  • Newsletter
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy policy
  • Terms & Conditions Silicon Canals

Silicon Canals 2014-2020 | Website: Bright Idiots

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • COVID-19
    • Startups
    • Scaleups
    • FinTech
    • AI and chatbots
    • Travel & Mobility
    • Software & SaaS
    • Health & Medtech
    • (Crowd)funding
    • Blockchain
    • Internet of things
    • Hardware
    • Accelerators
    • E-commerce
    • Cybersecurity
    • Gaming & Virtual Reality
    • Drones
  • Features
    • Promoted content
    • How-to
    • Knowledge & Insights
    • Guest Contributions
    • Scaling-up in Europe
  • Amsterdam
  • Events
  • Newsletter
  • Jobs
  • About
    • Partner with Silicon Canals
    • Team
    • Contact

Silicon Canals 2014-2020 | Website: Bright Idiots

X

This website uses cookies to ensure the best possible experience. We may share this information with our advertising and analytics partners. By clicking 'Accept', you agree to our use of cookies and similar technologies. More info