The Financial Times (FT) acquired a controlling stake in The Next Web (TNW) on March 5, 2019. Since the acquisition, the events and media company, which focuses on new technology and startups in Europe, has organized five major events before 2024. The strategic decision has deepened FT's reach into the European technology community and enabled synergies with its existing events business.

Written by Keyvan Thomsen Bamdej

June 27, 2024 / 6 min. read

The Next Web 2024:

Key takeaways & five persons I met;

Including Helle Thorning-Schmidt,
Former Prime Minister of Denmark,
and Co-chair of The Meta Oversight Board

The Next Web (TNW):

The Financial Times (FT) acquired a controlling stake in The Next Web (TNW) on March 5, 2019.

Since the acquisition, the events and media company, which focuses on new technology and startups in Europe, has organized five major events before 2024. The strategic decision has supposedly deepened FT's reach into the European technology community and enabled synergies with its existing events business.

I decided, along with two of my colleagues, to attend the event for the very first time in 2024 on behalf of TechBBQ to explore the vibe and talk to founders, investors, community players, politicians, speakers, and media. To understand what TNW is all about, and why people from the startup and tech community, locally, regionally, and internationally, travel to Amsterdam to be a part of the event.

TNW was again this year located in the beautiful settings of Taets Art and Event Park. Dates were June 19 & 20.

Read more HERE:

Key Takeaways:

Right off the bat, here are my main takeaways:

Positives:
1) Plenty of quality stage content and master classes for startups.
2) Strong focus on AI, human creativity, democracy, privacy, equity, diversity, and inclusion.
3) Diverse mix of attendees, strong focus on founders.
4) The venue area was small, compact, and accessible.
5) Stages were almost always full.
6) Great outdoor area with lots of space for casual mingling and relaxation.
7) Sharp focus on sustainability and reusable cups, plates, and cutlery.
8) Dedication to vegan and vegetarian food options.

Negatives:
1) Not enough media-related side events or press activities.
2) Startup competitions lacked the entrepreneurial excitement and prize awards.
3) The Grip Matchmaking app was OK, but I would have personally preferred a different solution.
4) The matchmaking area was small and far from always buzzing and at full capacity, which was a shame to see.
5) I didn't meet many other media representatives other than the FT team.
6) Very limited WIFI and mobile signal for the entire duration of the event.
7) No audience Q&A sessions from any of the stages to engage the audience.
8) The atmosphere was a bit more corporate than entrepreneurial.

Founder and board member of TNW, Boris Veldhuijzen van Zanten, took centre stage to open the 2024 edition on the main "Vision" stage on June 19, 2024. Photo: TechBBQ

TNW was built on eight overarching themes.

1) The AI-Powered Rebirth
2) Igniting Tomorrow's Techscape
3) People, Planet, Product
4) Breaking barriers through Leadership
5) Shaking The Foundations Of Finance
6) Crafting Pixels, Maximizing Profits
7) Sink Or Swim
8) Show Me The Money

Read more HERE:

The outside space of TNW looks like a festival area, with tents, high tables and chairs, enabling attendees to have casual small talk in an open space. Photo: PR / TNW

In total, there were six stages + a lounge dedicated to masterclasses:

Inside:
1) Vision Stage
2) Growth Quarters
3) TNW Talks

Outside:
4) Disrupted Stage
5) Discovery Stage
6) Partner Stage

DEI Coalition Lounge:
7) Masterclass

Read more HERE:

Helle Thorning-Schmidt, Former Prime Minister of Denmark and Co-chair of Meta Oversight Board:

Helle Thorning-Schmidt on the main "Vision" stage to talk about her role at The Meta Oversight Board. Interviewer and moderator is Financial Times journalist Murad Ahmed. Photo: PR / TNW & Financial Times

Keyvan Thomsen Bamdej:
"What brought you to TNW?"

Helle Thorning-Schmidt:
"Financial Times asked me to come on stage to talk in full sentences about the work that I’m doing at the Meta Oversight Board and what impact the board has had on Meta platforms. I thought it would be an amazing opportunity, so I said 'yes'.”

Keyvan Thomsen Bamdej:
"What did you specifically talk about?"

Helle Thorning-Schmidt:
"Democracy. How social media platforms should have a responsibility in our elections. As most people know, we have unprecedented numbers of people going to vote this year. We in the Oversight Board have taken so many cases now that we felt that we have a strong base to advise Meta. We published a white paper not long ago where we, basically, said that they have to label if a piece of content is AI-moderated. They started doing that in May. They have to give access to researchers to their data around elections.

Keyvan Thomsen Bamdej:
"What else do you advice Meta?"

Keyvan Thomsen Bamdej:
"Obviously, they also need to remove harmful content as soon as they see it. Particularly in markets and conflict areas where that harmful content can cause real-life harm. After the American election four years ago, we asked them to do an election protocol. What we are seeing now is that they are using that protocol for the UK and Brazilian elections. They still have a long way to go, and I’m Meta's watchdog, so I’m asking them every day to do more, but for this year’s election year, they are much better prepared. Not only because of the Oversight Board but also because of what we’ve told them.”

Read more HERE:

Polly Barnes, Talent Operating Partner at EQT Ventures:

Polly Barnes, Talent Operating Partner at EQT Ventures, was on the "Growth Stage" with four other panelists to talk about "Out Here Thriving: What makes a Pioneering Founder". Photo: PR / TNW

Keyvan Thomsen Bamdej: "What brought you to TNW?"

Polly Barnes: "I came to speak about what makes a pioneering founder with four other operators from the startup scene in Europe."

Keyvan Thomsen Bamdej: "What is your background and how did you end up becoming a Talent Operating Partner at EQT Ventures?"

Polly Barnes: "I'm somebody who has changed career paths quite a lot. I've been a marketeer as a brand strategist consultant, and by total accident, I ended up working in the VC world as a Talent Operating Partner. I guess what I enjoy the most about the job today at EQT is that I get a chance to work with exceptional talents."

Keyvan Thomsen Bamdej: "Can you highlight some of the companies and what you especially enjoy about your collaboration with them?"

Polly Barnes: "Sure. I've worked for some of the most extreme and smart entrepreneurs in our portfolio. One that I'm proud of mentioning is Sifflet, which is a data analytics AI startup based in France. Incredible founders. Apart from them, I can mention Anyfin, a fintech company working with consumer lending in Sweden, and Sana Labs, who is an Edutech company, also based in Sweden, developing an AI-powered learning tool."

Learn more HERE:

Sebastian Kortmann, Professor and Director at University of Amsterdam:

Sebastian Kortmann, Professor and Director at University of Amsterdam, was invited by Ernst & Young (EY) to talk about 'Capitalism 2.0 and the pivotal role of tech. Photo PR / TNW

Keyvan Thomsen Bamdej: "What brought you to TNW?"

Sebastian Kortmann: "Together with Igor Mikhalev, Partner and Head of Emerging Technologies Strategy at EY-Parthenon, I gave a talk on 'Capitalism 2.0 and the pivotal role of Tech: Profit, Ownership, and Competition'. We have been collaborating for quite some time already on topics related to the question of how emerging technologies can change not only companies or industries but societies at large. For example, we provided various workshops on Generative AI and its application to areas such as retail banking, wholesale banking, and cybersecurity."

Keyvan Thomsen Bamdej: "Can you tell us a bit more about you and your work?"

Sebastian Kortmann: "Sure, I work as a Professor of Strategy and Innovation Management at the University of Amsterdam, and I'm the Director of the Amsterdam MBA. My main focus is tech-driven growth in corporations, startups, ventures, and NGOs".

Keyvan Thomsen Bamdej: "With your expertise, what impact would you like to see in the world?"

Sebastian Kortmann: "I suggest corporations to build decentralized business systems and reinvest in the community for the greater good of society. When you reinvest in local stakeholders; People, profit, and the planet, you also get a better understanding and different perspectives. A good example is the South African scale-up company, TooMuchWiFi, which connects the unconnected, using a community-driven approach and a shared revenue model. They not only sell internet for a relatively low price, but they also allow customers to resell it to their communities; to their neighbors, families, and friends."

Learn more HERE:

Oleg Polovynko, Adviser to the Mayor of Kyiv City on Digitalization and Founder of MISTO:

Oleg Polovynko, founder of Misto.Tech, attending TNW as a speaker to talk about his invention, the user-centric ecosystem shaping Smart City digital solution of the future. Photo: PR / Oleg Polyvynko

Keyvan Thomsen Bamdej: "What brought you to TNW?"

Oleg Polovynko: "Well, I'm in town with my company MISTO to talk about digitization in Smart Cities. Before founding this company and becoming the advisor of the mayor, I was the CIO of the city of Kyiv where I developed a strategic digital plan for the city. My experience in Kyiv equipped me with profound knowledge of the challenges in the digital tech industry and effective communication strategies with citizens. This background drives my passion for exploring innovative solutions at TNW."

Keyvan Thomsen Bamdej: "What are you especially looking for here in Amsterdam?"

Oleg Polovynko: "I'm actively looking for expanding and scaling of MISTO - a revolutionary super app designed to enhance the lives of citizens. This comprehensive app offers a wide array of services, including smart mobility and parking, e-democracy, personal ID, household payments, and other city digital services. So, my goal in Amsterdam is to seek partners and propel the promotion of MISTO as a transformative app for worldwide cities living, to make dwellers comfortable, safe, guided, and active participants of urban life."

Keyvan Thomsen Bamdej: "How can it create value for the city and for the citizens?"

Oleg Polovynko: "MISTO stands out as a user-centric app that consolidates various services under one platform, eliminating the need for multiple apps with singular functionalities. By unifying services, the app streamlines access for citizens and fosters seamless engagement with the city authorities. The app's dedication to robust security protocols underscores its commitment to safeguarding users' information and providing a sense of trust and reliability in its operations. MISTO offers direct communication channels with the government, and cultivates a dynamic and interactive interaction between residents and city officials, promoting transparency and responsiveness. This collaborative approach contributes to the creation of a vibrant urban landscape that prioritizes the needs and preferences of its citizens, shaping a more harmonious and thriving community."

Learn more HERE:

Bart Breggerman, Client Executive, at Ernst & Young:

Bart Breggerman, Client Executive, (to the left) and his team at Ernst & Young at the TNW conference 2024. Rosa Eggink, Responsible for GenAI Consulting, (to the right). Photo: PR / EY

Keyvan Thomsen Bamdej: "What brought you to TNW?"

Bart Breggerman: "Well, I think a lot of people know Ernst & Young (EY), right? We have 420.000 employees globally and are expanding more and more, with our advising role increasing every day. A main part of our advising is connected to technology and business transformation, hence we support TNW and the startups and scaleups attending the event, and get some brand visibility out of it at the same time."

Keyvan Thomsen Bamdej: "You have a padel court here, and a dome full of stage content and guest speakers, as well as handing out free coffee on both days. Why are you doing all of this?"

Bart Breggerman: "TNW is like a festival, so we like to contribute and make a positive impact and try to engage in new conversations, and bring some new fresh perspectives to the table."

Keyvan Thomsen Bamdej: "So, has it been a success this year, and have you met new interesting people?"

Bart Breggerman: "Yes, we sure have. We among many met a person from Jordan who's interested in collaborating with us. He was particularly interested in AI and energy and wanted to enter the European market, so we probably will try to make that work. Aside from business, the event is also a team-building opportunity for us, as we are here with great colleagues, all learning something new. So, yes, I would say it's been a big success."

Learn more HERE:

TNW 2025:
According to the press team, the TNW Conference will in 2025 return to its roots. After three editions in the upper part of the city, Zaandam, the TNW Conference will be hosted at the NDSM Werf in Amsterdam on June 19 and 20.

The move is part of the ToekomstTiendaagse, ten days of celebrating innovation for Amsterdam’s 750th ‘Birthday’.

Read more