European Tech Events Evolve Post-COVID

The Evolution of Tech Events in a Post-Pandemic World

The COVID-19 pandemic has instigated substantial shifts within the technology events landscape, an area traditionally vital for industry networking and growth. Numerous startups have secured funding through event pitches, and countless teams have originated from hackathons. However, this established pattern is currently disrupted, with a return to normalcy potentially distant.

Infobip Acquires Shift to Enhance Developer Experience

Infobip, a Croatian-born success story having secured over $200 million in funding, originated alongside Shift, a prominent developer conference also based in Croatia. Recognizing the importance of the engineering community and the need for stability, Infobip has strategically acquired Shift.

This acquisition positions developers as central to Infobip’s corporate strategy. Ivan Burazin, Shift’s founder and CEO, has been appointed to Infobip’s board as chief developer experience officer. Shift will now serve as the foundation for Infobip’s newly established Developer Experience department.

Burazin articulated the long-term ambition: “The goal was consistently to evolve into one of the world’s largest developer conferences and to reinforce Croatia’s ties to the global software developer community.” He believes that with the support of a unicorn company and continued operational independence, this vision is now attainable.

Shift’s presence will not diminish; instead, it will undergo global expansion, beginning with remote events in the U.S., followed by Latin America and Southeast Asia.

Silvio Kutić, Infobip’s CEO, stated: “Infobip is experiencing growth as it expands into the B2C sector, specifically the Business-to-Developer (B2D) space.” He emphasized that Burazin’s experience, stemming from his work with Codeanywhere, a B2D SaaS company, and his creation of Shift, the region’s largest developer conference, will be invaluable.

Tech Open Air Berlin Reimagines Itself as TOA Klub

A significant conference focused on startups and investment, “Tech Open Air Berlin,” is also undergoing a transformation.

Previously known for its technology and startup festival, attracting over 20,000 attendees annually in Berlin, Tech Open Air (TOA) has transitioned into a new entity: TOA Klub. This new format is a “cohort-based learning and doing platform.”

TOA Klub will deliver four to six-week online programs designed to facilitate professional advancement within the tech industry.

The Klub will feature specialized tracks, including Founders Klub (for startup founders), Investors Klub (for emerging investors), Crypto Klub (an introductory course on cryptocurrency), and Co-Creators Klub (for founders seeking to pivot or scale their businesses).

Confirmed mentors and speakers include Rolf Schrömgens (Trivago founder), Dominik Richter (HelloFresh founder), and Jeannette zu Fürstenberg (founding partner, La Famiglia VC).

Nikolas Woischnik, TOA’s founder, commented: “The pandemic has accelerated digital adoption by decades. The complexity of the business landscape has increased dramatically.” He added that this reinforces TOA’s mission of “making people, organizations and the planet futureproof,” and that Klub will leverage technology to deliver on this mission more effectively.

A Positive Outlook for Established Brands

It is encouraging to witness these respected brands adapting and finding new avenues for growth. Both the brands themselves and their founders command considerable respect within the European startup ecosystem.