The coronavirus-scourged world of 2020 has seen countless in-person events postponed or scrapped as part of global containment efforts. The dearth of live events amid the pandemic has truly been a downer, but we can still end this surreal year off with some inspiring virtual get-togethers.
In the tech universe, enthusiasts from around the world can make the last three months count by tuning in to a great variety of informative events that take place on online platforms.
Not sure which events are worth attending? StartupBeat has you covered. We are breaking down some of the top-notch online tech meetups for those who would like to sail deeper into uncharted waters of technology and entrepreneurship.
Check them out, register or buy tickets, and say adios to 2020 in style.
CloudBlue Innovators Virtual Forum (Oct. 12-14)
This year’s event, which carries on CloudBlue’s annual legacy of convening top players in the realm of cloud, provides a space for sharing ideas and building networks that will have positive knock-on effects on economies around the world.
It will feature dedicated sessions to help attendees gain better insight into the latest trends and innovations across digitization, subscription management, remote work, marketplaces, channel enablement, automation, cybersecurity, and much more.
Representatives of some of the world’s fastest-growing ISVs and largest service providers are slated to speak about how they are creating new markets and rapidly expanding their portfolio offerings.
The roster of keynote speakers includes:
- Nimesh Davé, president of CloudBlue and Ingram Micro Cloud
- Terry Jones, founder of Travelocity.com and founding chairman of Kayak.com
- Jay McBain, principal analyst at Forrester
- Tarik Faouzi, vice president of CloudBlue
SaaStock EMEA (Oct. 12-15) and SaaStock APAC (Nov. 23-24)
SaaStock, a global community of software as a service (SaaS) players, has decided to host two major conferences before ringing in the new year as part of its efforts to help companies gain traction, grow, and scale.
Its October event, which has been branded “the most actionable online conference for B2B SaaS founders, executives, and investors in Europe, Middle East, and Africa,” will bring 3,000+ attendees, including 300+ investors, 70+ partners, and 200+ startups under one virtual roof.
Experts who will share their insights include Jonno Southam from Amazon Web Services, Paul Adams from Intercom, and Philippe Botteri from Accel.
In addition, SaaStock APAC, Asia Pacific’s premier online conference for SaaS community members, will be held over 2
days in November, with the participation of hundreds of attendees from over 10 countries. The event will feature 50+ VC funds and 50+ exhibitors.
AI for Good Global Summit (Oct. 13 through Dec. 17)
The summit, which is the leading action-oriented, global, and inclusive United Nations platform on artificial intelligence, aims to harness the power of this revolutionary technology to solve global challenges.
A large number of innovators and industry players are sharing their experience and brainstorming ideas in the 2020 edition that is being presented as a continuous digital event, featuring weekly programs in a variety of formats across an array of platforms.
The event is a mix of keynote lectures, expert webinars, project pitches, Q&As, performances, demos, interviews, and other activities.
Some of the topics being discussed include:
- AI applications in disaster management and risk reduction
- AI-based language learning technology
- AI for self-driving car safety
- AI ethics
- AI and financial inclusion
- AI in e-sports
Building Great Startup Communities – Founder Institute (Oct. 13)
The Silicon Valley-based Founder Institute, the world’s largest pre-seed startup accelerator, has organized a virtual event where aspiring entrepreneurs, investors, policy makers, educators, and other people from related backgrounds and interests can hear from Brad Feld, a leading expert on startup communities.
Feld is an early-stage investor, serial entrepreneur, and co-founder of Techstars, a top-tier global startup accelerator. He is also a writer and speaker on the subjects of venture capital investing and entrepreneurship.
Jonathan Greechan, co-founder of the Founder Institute, will join him to discuss best practices for building thriving startup ecosystems.
DevOps Enterprise Summit (Oct. 13-15)
Experts from Deloitte, American Airlines, CSG, United States Air Force, COX Automotive, H&R Block, and PeopleNotTech will come together at this high-level summit that targets technology leaders of large, complex organizations implementing DevOps principles and practices.
The virtual conference promises three days of intense learning, meaningful interaction, and insightful remarks.
Broadband World Forum (Oct. 13-15)
Broadband World Forum is where industry leaders will gather to ensure they are keeping pace with the newest tech trends, find solutions to their business challenges, and explore monetization opportunities.
Africa Tech Summit Kigali (Oct. 20-22)
Featuring a plethora of speakers, this virtual summit will be focused on African tech and investment across the continent. It will explore the latest trends and connect attendees with key industry leaders so that they can stay ahead of the competition.
Horasis Asia Meeting (Nov. 30)
Using its new ground-breaking digital conferencing platform, the Zurich-based think tank will bring together 400 of the foremost business and political leaders from around the globe to jointly develop solutions that can help shape a sustainable economic system for Asia’s post-COVID future.
The discussions will center around the need and opportunities for novel business models, new political cooperation, and deeper social cohesion that can give the continent’s economy a new lease on life.
Attendees will have a chance to hear from some high-level speakers, including:
- Frank-Jürgen Richter, Chairman of Horasis
- Noritaka Kobayashi, founder and CEO of Bajji
- Ravi Chidambaram, founder and president of TC Capital
- Henry Wang, president of Los Angeles China Investment Promotion Center
USC Marshall events (Oct. 13 through Dec. 9)
The oldest accredited business school in Southern California, which is also home to the USC Marshall / Greif Incubator, is holding a series of online conferences, workshops, and lectures in line with its commitment to leave behind a legacy of innovative thinking, entrepreneurial action, and global impact.
Participants will deliberate on topics that are hotly debated in the news, such as the 2020 US presidential election. Here are the titles of some of the programs:
- 8th Annual Global Supply Chain Excellence Summit
- How Will the 2020 Election Shape Legal & Social Constructs for Black Identity?
- Optimizing the Operating Model Beyond COVID-19
Dell Technologies World Digital Experience (Oct. 21-22)
Dell’s 2020 online meeting is designed for businesses that are keen to discover new ways to utilize the power of technology throughout their accelerated journey of digital transformation.
Participants are promised to learn how to seize emerging opportunities and develop strategies that stand the test of time.
Although 2020’s tech event season got off to a rough start with nearly all events being canceled, the tech community rallied together to innovate new ways to deliver valuable knowledge and keep the community growing. Support some of these events today by attending!
Disclosure: This article mentions a client of an Espacio portfolio company
