🐣 re:compass #46: Tipping Point
Navigator for events during 05–11 April 2021
There are rumours that virtual events are reaching a tipping point. But to which direction exactly are they ‘tipping’? Are virtual events sure to be our future and in-person events will disappear? Did they became the ‘default’ option that will persevere after the pandemic restrictions are lifted? Have investments in eventtech came to a saturation point?
Maybe the ‘tipping point’ has been reached because virtually everyone on planet Earth participated in a virtual event by now? I somehow arrived at this conclusion after reading an article about 6 Steal-Worthy Event Strategies From SXSW’s First Virtual Edition that listed unique suggestions such as use “all the latest technology” (with XR elements, of course), make it “accessible and user-friendly” as if 340+ eventtech tools aren’t spending all the investment on that already and making it “easy” to network. By filling out a thorough profile with a picture, short biography, links to their social handles and information about their companies and manually entering availability to chat each day. Easy.
While those insights are not particularly noteworthy for any event organizer that survived 2020, the possibilities offered by virtual events can still blow minds of less tech savvy attendees. What actually blows mind is the fact that everyone in the developed world, from toddlers to grandparents and even their cats and dogs, have FaceTimed, Zoomed, Vibered (vibed?) or used other messaging and video conferencing software to get in touch with anyone, really. This could be the real tipping point in the society but less so in the traditional event industry.
The ‘tipping point’ article refers to the way meetings are held. Businesses have adopted video conferencing as a viable alternative to business trips and in-person meetings. It’s ok now to have board meetings online. Shocking, I know. But it’s a stretch to compare meetings and events as if they are the same type of happenings. They are not. Meetings are driven by a clear objective: talk to this person(s) to obtain or exchange information about specific subject. Events are driven by serendipity, inspiration and discovery value.
The same article ends with a very different sentiment. “The most critical delivery will always be done through the live experience. It’s about brain chemistry, and you can’t get all the way there by seeing each other on a screen.”
I suspect that in the future the cost-benefit analysis will simply become more complicated. Knowing online is an alternative, people will be more careful weighting costs of travel and time required versus perceived benefits. Similarly to our choices when we are hungry — there are fast food restaurants and there are Michelin star experiences. Choice becomes a balancing act between availability, ability to afford it, and personal preferences.
P.S. Happy Easter to everyone who celebrates!
☁️ Using a cloud-based data platform to track and support your startup ecosystem
When: 06 April 2021, 08:00 GMT
Access: free
Format: online session
Join this online session by Startup Genome to discuss “using a cloud-based data platform to track and support your startup ecosystem” together with Stephan Kuester, Head of Ecosystem Strategy at Startup Genome, Yoram Winjgaarde, Founder and CEO of Dealroom, and Kat Borlongan, Director at LaFrench Tech.
🧱 Databricks and Google Cloud Launch Event
When: 06 April 2021, 17:00 BST
Access: free
Format: online session
Join Thomas Kurian, CEO of Google Cloud, and Ali Ghodsi, CEO of Databricks, as they launch Databricks on Google Cloud — delivering an open platform on the open data cloud for analytics and AI that empowers customers to innovate faster. Databricks on Google Cloud provides an open, integrated platform to unify data engineering, data science, machine learning, and analytics.
📡 Podim DX Satellite: Beneath the surface of successful companies
When: 06 April 2021, 18:50 CET
Access: free
Format: online session
There are many factors one should consider when discussing why a certain company is successful. Some are more apparent than others. Join Gregor Rebolj from Silicon Gardens, Florian Gschwandtner from Leaders 21 and Maja Mikek from Celtra and hear them reveal how various types of leadership impact a business and other success factors that stem from it. They’re all leaders with a great deal of experience they are willing to share! As usually, the event is going to be streamed on Podim’s Facebook page and on Der Brutkasten Facebook page while there are limited number of tickets available to join in the Zoom call as an active attendee.
📑 Printify Tech Talks with Irene Au, Design Partner at Khosla Ventures
When: 07 April 2021, 16:00 UTC+1
Access: free
Format: online session
TechChill is hosting the Printify Tech Talk with Irene Au, an experienced professional and Design Partner at Khosla Ventures, as well as a Printify investor, to discuss the importance of the design. In her keynote “Tales from the Trenches: Lessons Learned from Netscape, Yahoo, and Google” Irene will share the story of her career and lessons learned for a successful career. The keynote will be followed by Q&A session moderated by Alex MacLeod, the Head of Design at Printify. The event will be held LIVE on Facebook and Delfi.lv.
✔️ Extra Crunch Live: Accel and Scale AI
When: 07 April 2021, 19:30 BST
Access: free
Format: online session
Extra Crunch Live session with Alexandr Wang who has raised nearly $300 million for Scale AI, the data platform for machine learning. Dan Levine, an entrepreneur-turned-investor, led the company’s Series A financing back in 2017. Hear from this duo about what it takes to raise funding successfully and use that capital efficiently.
When: 08 April 2021, 12:30 EDT
Access: 172,46 CA$ — 517,37 CA$
Format: series of online events
8th of April marks the start of Spark April month, i.e. Spark The Change Montreal that will be hosting series of online session on April 8th, 15th, 22nd, 27th, 28th and 29th. Spark The Change is dedicated, well, to making change and transforming people into change agents. The theme of Spark the Change 2021 is “The Transitional 20s” and will offer an interactive and humane path with generous programming that will guide and encourage to make the transition “From Ego to Eco”. During 30–45 min session change experts will share what they are all about, their passions, their interests and present their professional path and their approach to change management. Event is more appropriate to French language speakers but big portions of the event will be also held in English.
🌌 The God Equation — The Quest to Find a Theory of Everything
When: 08 April 2021, 18:30 BST
Access: £15 — £25
Format: online session
Michio Kaku, the superstar physicist, takes on the mind-bending ride through the twists and turns of an epic scientific journey: the quest to find a Theory of Everything in conversation with Robin Ince. This conversation will guide us through the key debates in modern physics, from Newton’s law of gravity via relativity and quantum mechanics to the latest developments in string theory. This tale of dazzling breakthroughs and crushing dead ends will be illuminated by Kaku’s clarity, storytelling flair and infectious enthusiasm.
When: 09 April 2021, 12:00 EST
Access: free
Format: online session
Founders Fridays brings Google’s People Ops experts Jeremy Neuner, Annika Stephan, Lucero Tagle and startup founders from Kabo, Skillit, and Google’s Area 120 to unpack the traits of the most impactful and successful leaders for a productive team culture. The live Q&A will begin right after the content so be sure to stay tuned!
A special mention goes to ViennaUP’21 online startup festival brought to you by the Vienna Business Agency. ViennaUP is a unique festival with a series of online events from 27 April to 12 May organized by the community for the community of startups, investors, and talents. Participants from all around the globe have the opportunity to tune in to 100+ events and get involved with smart minds from different industries and branches. Sign-up for each event separately to create your individual agenda and explore meaningful connections with ViennaUP.b2match matchmaking system. Let’s make magic together!
re:compass is a weekly event navigator for entrepreneurs in the tech industry. Subscribe to receive the guide to your inbox every Friday or join re:compass calendar to have event recommendations right next to your schedule.
