Ladies and gentlemen, friends and mortal enemies, the time has finally come: TNW conference is this week!

After performing our show on our way to València in April, we are returning to where it all started: Amsterdam. The two-day event kicks off June 15 — and you’re all invited.

Expect our usual smorgasbord of conversations, networking, learning and festival vibes, but with a new unifying theme. After a turbulent few years, this year we want to reclaim the future – and revive the positive power that technology can have.

That spirit has permeated the entire conference agenda. It featured prominently in our guide to day one, and it’s equally pervasive in our top picks for day two. Read on for our highlights from the packed agenda.

1. Mesmerizing speakers

Our great program is bursting with wonderful speakers, but we have to narrow the day down to four favourites. Why? Well, because that’s what we did the first day, and we love our conference days like our kids: just as much (at least that’s what we tell them).

Lila Ibrahim, Chief Operating Officer of Google DeepMind

DeepMind is one of the most exciting artificial intelligence laboratories in the world. From its humble roots as a British startup taking games by storm, the company has risen to lead the AI ​​revolution at Google. At 10:10 on the Vision Stage, we hear from the woman leading the company’s growth: Lila Ibrahim, DeepMind’s first-ever COO.

We had the pleasure of interviewing Lila ahead of her keynote, which left us eager to hear more about the groundbreaking topic of her talk: the future of AI.

Viktoriia Itskovych, Deputy CIO of the City of Kyiv

Ukraine’s tech sector has proved remarkably resilient since Russia’s invasion. IT has not only kept the country’s economy going, but has also played a central role in the fight against war.

At 2:40pm on the Vision Stage, we get the inside story from one of the key figures on the digital frontline: Victoria Itskovich, the Deputy CIO of Kiev.

Philip Rosedale, founder of Second Life

Virtual worlds have been around long before the metaverse hype. The most popular of them all, Second Life, has provided a parallel reality for 20 years.

At 4pm on the Discovery Stage, the platform’s founder, Phillip Rosedale, will share his insights on running the community – and what it can teach us about the future of virtual worlds.

Nagin Cox, Spacecraft Systems Engineer at NASA Jet Propulsion Lab

Nothing fascinates us more about the future than space travel. At 4:10pm on the Vision Stage, we get a peek at the direction we’re headed.

Nagin Cox, spacecraft systems engineer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, will explain our path to the cosmos — and the role robots will play in the mission.

2. Fun and games on our renewed festival site

Our festival site has received a major makeover this year. Wi-Fi has been ramped up, co-working spaces have expanded, and badge retrieval has become automatic. But most importantly, we bring games.

You can find ping pong and shuffleboard all over the venue. It’s a great way to break the ice, conduct business or ruthlessly humiliate your rivals.

To find your way around the game and fun, you can use our map.

3. Healthy running and a delicious breakfast

A hodgepodge of great side events takes place on the sidelines of the big show. Our advice for day two is a healthy run through the picturesque Vondelpark, followed by some unhealthy drinks with our friends at Techleap.

iIf you don’t like a balanced diet, there’s something for everyone on the menu.

4. The Startup Liasion Network + Netherlands Point of Entry breakfast session

TNW Conference is an international festival, but we also highlight the opportunities in our home country. At 09:00 we will open a gateway to the Dutch tech ecosystem in TNW HQ.

During breakfast, the Netherlands Point of Entry and the Startup Liaison Network of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs join forces to bring entrepreneurs together and explain how the Dutch government can support startups. After dinner, the hosts will take you directly to TNW Conference by bus.

You can reserve a spot at the event here.

5. DEI Talks, Mentoring and Networking

TNW Conference 2023 partners with the Dutch DEI Coalition to celebrate and accelerate diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in technology.

The day’s agenda kicks off with a round table discussion on the challenges and opportunities of driving DEI in the industry. Then there is a plenary lecture on the role of technology and new statistics in DEI strategies. In the afternoon there are mentoring sessions with senior representatives of Diversity Hero, Techleap, Taskforce D&I of NLdigital and Booking.com. Then we close the program with a networking drink.

The full program for the day can be found here.

6. Startup pitch battles (and lessons)

It wouldn’t be an TNW Conference without a pitch battle, but this year’s game has a more harmonious edge. In line with our conference theme, at 10:10 a.m. on the Glasshouse stage, we will put the sector in the spotlight for good. The winner will advance to the final at 4:10 PM on the Growth Quarters stage.

The pitching doesn’t stop there. At 2 p.m. at the Glasshouse, pitching coach David Beckett will give a masterclass on the art. At 2 p.m. there will also be the second half of the impact-driven Startup Pitch Hour in the Amsterdam Paviljoen.

7. The official closing party

What would TNW Conference be without a massive closing party? From 5 p.m. we will close the event in style in the event garden. Bring your dancing shoes and head to the giant disco ball to catch our DJ on the wheels of steel.

8. The ferry shuttle

We like to think that the entire calendar is filled with must-see events, but one thing you definitely shouldn’t miss is your drive to the venue.

Our favorite means of transport is the free ferry service. The boarding point is next to Amsterdam Central at SUPPER Cruise. You can find the location on Google Maps and the full timetable here. The boat trip from there to our conference grounds takes about 45 minutes.

If you prefer to travel by road, you can get to the location by public transport, car or bicycle. We also offer a free shuttle bus service between Zaandam Central Station and the venue. Check out our travel guide for everything you need to plan your trip to the event.

See you there!

If you want to experience TNW Conference (and say hello to our editors!), we have something special for our loyal readers. Use the promo code READ-TNW-25 and receive a 25% discount on your business pass for the event. See you in Amsterdam!