The season ahead: the startup events worth the trip
From Lisbon to Helsinki, Dubai to Doha — the conferences shaping the founder calendar between now and February.
The next four months are the busiest stretch of the startup calendar. Here is where founders, investors and operators will be gathering — and why each stop matters.
Web Summit — Lisbon, 9–12 November
The flagship. Web Summit turns Lisbon into the centre of the tech world for four days, with founders, investors and press from every continent. It is still the single best place to meet a wide cross-section of the ecosystem in one week.
Slush — Helsinki, 18–19 November
Smaller, darker and famously founder-first. Slush is built around meetings between startups and investors, and its reputation for serious deal-making has made it a fixture for European venture capital.
New York Venture Summit — New York, 18–19 November
A focused gathering for early-stage founders looking for capital on the US East Coast, running the same week as Slush.
GITEX Global — Dubai, 7–11 December
One of the largest technology shows in the world, and the moment the Gulf's ambitions in AI, government technology and startups are on full display. Its startup and investor programmes draw founders from across the Middle East, Africa and South Asia.
CES — Las Vegas, 6–9 January
The year opens with hardware. CES remains the stage for consumer technology launches, from devices to mobility.
Web Summit Qatar — Doha, 31 January – 3 February
Web Summit's Middle Eastern edition has quickly become the region's meeting point for founders and capital. Doha's growing role as a base for startups — and for regional investors — makes this one to watch.
Step Dubai — Dubai, 3–4 February
Running back to back with Web Summit Qatar, Step closes the Gulf fortnight with a festival-style programme for founders and creators across the region.
Dates and details change. Always confirm on each organiser's official website. The full, filterable calendar lives on our Events page.