Have you ever left an industry event feeling disappointed?
It happens a lot.
You choose the the perfect attire (professional, yet relaxed).
You print out fresh business cards (designed on heavy card-stock).
You even manage to get your elevator pitch under 30 seconds (woohoo).
Enthusiasm is running high on the way to the event. You're jamming to your favorite Spotify playlist. And you're thinking about the business connections you will surely make.
Nothing can stop you now!
Unfortunately, that initial optimism begins to wane as the day goes on. While the event itself is enjoyable, you come out of it with few take-aways or LinkedIn connections.
It's a lesson many tech founders learn the hard way: Networking for the sake of networking, at events that may not be tech-specific enough, is just not worth it.
With that said, attending the right tech events, at the right time and with the right strategies in place can pay huge dividends. A whopping 10,000+ tech events took place in London in 2016. Thus, before committing to any event, it's imperative to take an honest look at where you are in terms of growth and what you hope to gain from attending an industry event.
The Best Tech Events in London for Tech Startups
Tech founders usually attend events with one of the following goals in mind:
- To meet potential new hires
- To meet investors
- To meet potential customers
- To meet potential partners or advisors
- To learn more about a specific topic
If you're a tech startup operating in and around London, it can be difficult to know which of the many daily events to attend. Below are seven events centered around tech that London startups should check out:
1. Big Data London
Did you know the UK's largest data and analytics event is 100 percent free?
Big Data London features an impressive 100 expert speakers, 80 exhibitors, and several live demos with the goal of providing attendees with effective data-driven strategies and tools. Topics discussed include everything from Big Data to Self-Serving Analytics to Machine Learning & AI.
Here you will find a large pool of developers, many of whom may be interested in exploring work opportunities with a growing startup. Attending Big Data London is a great event for tech founders either looking to acquire top developer talent or stay current on Big Data trends and happenings.
- Next Event: November 15-16, 2017
- Speakers Include: Data scientists, chief analytics officers, and data solutions architects
- Who Should Attend? Founders looking for development talent; startups with a focus on AI or Big Data.
Want an insider's take on navigating the London startup scene? Skip the hours of research and download our free guide below.
2. London Tech Week
At first glance, London Tech Week can appear a bit overwhelming. Over the course of five days, more than 40,000 attendees from 70 different countries come together to learn, showcase, and celebrate every type of tech imaginable.
Sponsored by some of the most influential companies on the planet (Microsoft, Facebook, Google), last summer's event featured eight leading tech forums: 5G World, IoT World Europe, Cloud & DevOps World, Apps World Evolution, VR & AR World, AI & Machine Learning World, Connected Cars & Autonomous Vehicles Europe, and Project Kairos. Additionally, the event provided one headline keynote stage, 20 tracks of content, and eight demo zones.
The key to making London Tech week work for you? Be extremely focused with your time. With everything from drone racing to musical concerts to fancy galas available, it can be easy to forget what's most important.
- Next Event: June 11-15, 2018
- Speakers Include: Global CEOs, technology trendsetters and luminaries in various disciplines.
- Who Should Attend? Tech startup founders and entrepreneurs who want to network with peers and learn about the latest global tech trends.
3. Hardware Pioneers
Are you interested in Internet of Things (IoT), and seeking an informal environment full of tech-savvy individuals to demo your startup's product or service in? Hardware Pioneers hosts free monthly meetups featuring guest speakers specializing in IoT and entrepreneurs wanting feedback on concepts.
Past evens have included presentations on: IoT Products to Market, The Role of Design and UX In IoT Products, and Breeding Successful Hardware Startups. The community attracts an impressive roster of speakers from established companies like HP, Intel, and Nordic Semiconductor.
Since Hardware Pioneers limits most events to 200 participants, it's a great option for founders seeking to both learn from peers and gain feedback on their own ideas in a more intimate setting.
- Next Event: September 7, 2017
- Speakers Include: Tech founders and CEOs.
- Who Should Attend? Tech startup founders and entrepreneurs interested in IoT and IoT product development.
4. ODSC Europe
ODSC Europe, or Open Data Science Conference, is Europe’s largest applied data science conference, featuring 10 training sessions, 28 workshops, and 75 speakers.
The conference is known for releasing groundbreaking information on topics like data wrangling, machine learning, and predictive analysis. While you will undoubtedly meet many multi-lingual individuals at ODSC Europe, the languages you are most likely to hear are Python, JavaScript, and other programming languages.
Considering the event hosts some of the world's most famous contributors to open source tools, languages, and libraries, it's not too surprising that it has become a magnet for talented developers. Tickets range from £219 to £769.
- Next Event: October 12-14, 2017
- Speakers Include: Data scientists, data solutions architects, core contributors of open source.
- Who Should Attend: Founders looking for development talent; startups with a focus on AI or Big Data.
5. Mind the Product London
Mind the Product is London’s leading product management conference, attracting product designers from around the world who want to further their skill sets. The event seeks to explore the intersection of design, technology, and business by providing attendees with expert speakers, workshops, and networking opportunities.
Last year's event drew more than 1,400 passionate product people from 40 countries. One of the event's co-creators is Martin Eriksson, founder of London's very own ProductTank: a monthly product management meetup with more than 5,000 members. If you're looking to learn more about product road maps, market fit, and the psychology of product design, look no further than Mind The Product.
- Next Event: September 8, 2017
- Speakers Include: Program architects, authors, founders, and more.
- Best Suited For: Founders looking to fine-tune their MVPs; product design talent acquisition.
6. SDD Deep Dive
Software Design and Development Deep Dive is unique in that it encourages attendees to develop a deeper understanding of one particular topic during the conference. Participants choose one of seven intensive workshops, lead by a leading expert, to attend over the three day period.
This year's workshops include: Hands-on Software Architecture Fundamentals, Building Cloud-Based Applications with Microsoft Azure, Identity &Access Control for Modern Applications, Becoming a Better C# Programmer, Mastering ASP.NET Core with Angular, Practical Micro-services and .NET Under The Hood.
- Next Event: November 15-16, 2017
- Speakers Include: Data scientists, chief analytics officers, and data solutions architects
- Who Should Attend: Founders looking for development talent; startup entrepreneurs seeking to further their tech-education.
7. AI Tech World London
AI Tech World was created with an interesting goal in mind: How can we best maximize the busy schedule of a senior executive who cares about Artificial Intelligence. The event promises to deliver visionary keynotes, relevant case studies, and industry specific labs that cut to the core of what you need to know about AI.
Last year's event featured 500 attendees, 60 speakers, and 34 sessions. Attendees at this year's event will have the option of centering their experience around one of eight themes: Innovation & Technology, Data Analytics & BI, CRM, Redefining The Enterprise, Security/Privacy/Regulation, Marketing/Advertising/Sales, or Personal Assistants & Bots/and Robotics. Overall, AI Tech World is a fantastic opportunity to meet with business and industry leaders looking to harness the power of artificial intelligence within their organisations.
- Next Event: November 7-9 2017
- Speakers Include: Data scientists, chief analytics officers and data solutions architects
- Best Suited For: Startups with a focus on AI
Looking For More Tech Startup Events?
There is no shortage of tech events to choose from in London.
While all of the events on our list are great for filling knowledge gaps, none of them should be exclusively relied upon for meeting potential investors, customers, or talent.
While you should never underestimate the power of picking up the phone and making your own introductions, there is another option: Work in the building that holds the events you want to attend!
At RocketSpace London, we provide members with flexible work options, premium amenities and exclusive member's only events. Featuring tech luminaries, VCs, and corporate partners, our events allow members to forge valuable connections just steps away from personal workspaces.
Are you a tech startup founder with an MVP and Seed to Series C funding? If so, we invite you to come work at RocketSpace for a free day.
Get your free day pass now.
